Do stocks outperform Treasury bills?
TL;DR
4% of stocks account for all net wealth creation above T-bills
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Demonstrates extreme concentration in stock market wealth creation - just 4% of listed stocks accounted for ALL net wealth creation above Treasury bills in U.S. markets from 1926-2016. 57.4% of stocks underperformed T-bills over their lifetimes.
This empirical evidence validates power law logic in investment: most stocks destroy value while a tiny fraction generates all gains. Provides quantitative foundation for concentration strategies like Berkshire Hathaway's approach.
Key Findings from Bessembinder (2018)
- 4% of stocks account for all net wealth creation above T-bills
- 57.4% of individual stocks underperformed T-bills lifetime
- Extreme positive skewness in stock returns
- Justifies concentrated investment strategies for skilled investors