The COVID crash and snapback
The S&P 500 fell about 34% in roughly five weeks in Feb-Mar 2020, then recovered its prior high within about six months.
What it means for your portfolio
The fastest crashes can also recover fast; selling at the bottom often locks in the loss.
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The dot-com crash
The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell roughly 75-80% peak-to-trough in the 2000-2002 dot-com bust, and took around 15 years to reclaim its 2000 high.
The global financial crisis
The S&P 500 fell about 57% peak-to-trough during the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.
Recovery math is asymmetric
A 50% loss requires a 100% gain just to get back to where you started.
General information only, not financial advice. Historical figures are approximate and provided for education.