...yes I wasn't kidding, that stocks can go to zero, including many large cap ones (e.g AVZ).
...indices however will tell you stock only go north over time. But you may not know that indices remove dud underperforming stocks over time, as they get re-calibrated. In other words, when you compare the indices at two points in time perhaps 5-10 years apart, you're no longer comparing apples to apples. Your stocks could have died along the way and no get any representation.
...and am sure there would be many more (going to zero) in due time when the next bear market arrives.
