The Stock Market in 2018: Best Performing Stocks, Worst Sectors & More

TL;DR

Analyzing investment performance in 2018, comparing indices, sectors, and styles for insights on portfolio management.

Transcript

Alison Southwick: So Bro, what's up? Robert Brokamp: Well, Alison, very soon you'll start receiving those year-end account statements from your brokerages, your 401(k), all your investment accounts [if you haven't already started to receive those]. You'll get an idea of how your portfolio fared in 2018 and you'll want to know how you did on an abso... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫰 Performance of major indices like S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq varied in 2018.
• ↩️ Company size and style (growth vs. value) influenced investment returns.
• 🚙 Sector analysis highlighted top-performing sectors like healthcare and utilities.
• 🙈 International markets, especially emerging markets, saw more significant declines compared to U.S. markets.
• 🫰 Benchmarking against relevant indices and financial planning are crucial for assessing portfolio performance.
• 💄 Evaluation of financial advisors and investment decisions is essential for making informed choices.
• 🍉 Absolute and relative returns should be considered for effective long-term financial planning.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did major indices like the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq perform in 2018?

The S&P 500 dropped by 4.6%, Dow by 3.7%, and Nasdaq by 1%, indicating mixed performance in the market.

Q: What impact did company size and style (growth vs. value) have on investment performance?

Smaller companies underperformed large-cap stocks, and growth-focused stocks were flat while value stocks declined by 9.2% in 2018.

Q: Which sectors performed well in 2018, and which ones lagged behind?

Healthcare, utilities, and consumer discretionary sectors were top performers, while energy, materials, and industrials sectors struggled.

Q: How did international markets fare in 2018 compared to U.S. markets?

Non-U.S. markets, particularly emerging markets, experienced more significant declines, with some countries like Ukraine showing positive performance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Year-end account statements provide insight into portfolio performance for financial goal planning.

• Major indices like the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq reflect varied performance in 2018.

• Analysis of sectors, styles (growth vs. value), and top-performing stocks offers valuable investment insights.