Following up on the February update, it’s time to look at how the portfolios performed throughout a very turbulent March 2026. While the all-time returns still look impressive, this month was a clear “risk-off” period where we saw a noticeable dip in performance compared to the peaks of February.
Here is the breakdown of the performance for the month ending March 31, 2026.
Portfolio Summary (as of April 1, 2026)
| Portfolio | Net Deposits (USD) | Current Value (USD) | Total Returns (USD) | Time-Weighted Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05 SRI 16% | $12,405.14 | $15,294.89 | +$2,889.75 | +34.86% |
| 2022-09 BR Very Aggressive | $10,126.45 | $12,835.45 | +$2,709.00 | +71.95% |
| 2022-10 SRI 36% | $9,907.93 | $12,876.15 | +$2,968.22 | +77.22% |
Why Returns Dropped in March 2026
If you’ve been following the news, you’ll know that March was a difficult month for global markets. After a strong start to the year, several major factors converged to pull down equity prices and stall the growth we saw in February.
1. Geopolitical Shock: The 2026 Iran Crisis
The primary driver for the market decline was the sudden and sharp escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Following “Operation Epic Fury” at the very end of February, the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global energy—became a major flashpoint. With shipping traffic effectively halted, global oil supply was immediately threatened.
2. The Energy-Inflation Trap
As a result of the disruption in the Strait, crude oil prices surged by over 40% during the month. This energy shock reignited fears of stagflation (high inflation combined with slow growth). For my equity-heavy portfolios, this was difficult news; higher energy costs act as a “tax” on corporate profits and consumer spending alike.
3. Tech and Growth Stocks in “Correction”
The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 both saw significant volatility this month. Growth and Tech stocks—which make up a large portion of the SRI 36% and the BlackRock Very Aggressive portfolios—were hit the hardest. Investors pulled money out of high-risk assets and moved into safe havens like the US Dollar and Gold.
4. The Federal Reserve’s Pause
Given the new wave of inflation triggered by the oil spike, the Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates steady at 3.5%–3.75% during their March meeting. The market had previously been hoping for rate cuts, but the Fed’s cautious stance signaled that “higher-for-longer” interest rates are back on the table, further impacting stock valuations.
Portfolio Performance Deep Dive
2022-05 SRI 16%
This portfolio was my most resilient. Because it has a higher allocation to protective assets like bonds and gold, it managed to cushion the blow from the stock market slide. Its current value stands at $15,294.89.
2022-09 BR Very Aggressive
This investing portfolio powered by BlackRock, which is heavily skewed toward growth and global equities, also tracked the broader market decline, ending the month at $12,835.45 with a time-weighted return of +71.95%.
2022-10 SRI 36%
As a high-risk portfolio, this one felt the full weight of the tech sell-off. While the +77.22% all-time return is still fantastic, it is down from its February highs. It currently sits at $12,876.15.
Final Thoughts
March 2026 served as a stark reminder of how quickly geopolitical events can shift market sentiment. While it’s never fun to see the green numbers dip, this is exactly why we stay diversified. The core strategy remains unchanged: ignore the short-term “sawtooth” volatility and focus on the long-term trend.
If you’re thinking of starting your own investment journey with StashAway, feel free to use my referral link: https://ecgan.com/referrals/stashaway/. By signing up through this link, we both get to enjoy a management fee waiver for our portfolios!
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