Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. That downside risk was realized by First American Financial Corporation (NYSE:FAF) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 32%. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 21%. Longer term shareholders haven't suffered as badly, since the stock is down a comparatively less painful 19% in three years. Furthermore, it's down 13% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. Of course, this share price action may well have been influenced by the 5.2% decline in the broader market, throughout the period.