US Stocks in 2012: Despite Volatility, A Bright Spot Overall

US Stock performance (as reflected in the S&P 500 index of the top 500 US firms whose stock is available for sale on stock exchanges) by sector and company for 2012 were solidly up. We saw the more growth oriented Consumer Discretionary and the Financial sectors grow well above norm and the more defensive Utility, Energy, and Consumer Staples sectors lag the average.

We have found that this is as often an indicator of what next year will as won’t look like so consider this as nothing more than a historic snapshot, and a way of seeing what firms in particular were relative winners and losers.

Click anywhere in the graphic to jump to the Wall Street Journal article…