The Unpleasant Truth: The Stock Market Is Still Historically Pricey, Even With the Nasdaq and S&P 500 Recently Falling Into Correction Territory
Double-digit percentage declines in the benchmark S&P 500 and growth-centric Nasdaq Composite have hardly made a dent in the stock market's premium valuation.
Roughly two-and-a-half years ago, the iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), widely followed S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and innovation-inspired Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) bottomed out during the 2022 bear market. Much of the ensuing 30-month stretch has featured optimists running the show.
But history is quite clear that while the stock market is a phenomenal long-term wealth creator, it doesn't move up in a straight line for extended periods.
Over the last four weeks, a level of volatility and uncertainty has returned to Wall Street that hasn't been witnessed in quite some time. Between Feb. 19 and March 13, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite respectively lost 10.1% and 13.7% of their value. This placed both indexes in official correction territory -- i.e., down more than 10% from their highs.
