Key Points The index has historically enjoyed double-digit returns, although a slowdown could be coming. A simple buy-and-hold strategy can still grow your portfolio over the long haul. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › If you want to invest in the stock market with little time and effort, a good strategy can be to simply "buy" the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). This benchmark index includes 500 of the biggest U.S. companies, and it's a popular choice for many investors. While you cannot i ...