Range of 1-year investment returns, 2006–2025

Absolute returns

Return on its natural scale

Box plot of absolute annual returns, 2006 to 2025.

Shape, level removed

Each year centered on its median (pp)

Box plot re-centered on each year's median, 2006 to 2025.
25th–75th percentile Median ×Mean Whiskers reach 1.5× IQR

Source: Equable Institute analysis of public plan valuation reports, ACFRs, investment reports, and asset benchmarks. State of Pensions 2026, Pg. 57. Each observation is one plan’s reported one-year return; n rises from 231 plans in 2006 to 253 in 2025. Hover over any year for that year’s median, mean, interquartile range, whisker range, and plan count.