The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate represents the goods and services so provided by the subject country, as compared to the amount so produced, the previous year. The stock return in a given country reflects the biggest and most stable of those publically traded companies' price appreciation, in regards to the previous stock return of such, on a yearly basis. One would logically think that the GDP of a nation should essentially mirror the stock returns of that nation, since the more goods and services produced should be indicative of better business for publically held stocks, in aggregate, but this isn't the case really at all. For instance, as reported by wealthsimple.com, since the inception of the Dow Jones Index in 1896, until May 25, 2018, the average annual return of this index has been 5.42%. Yet, the last time that the USA had GDP growth of at least 5.42%, was all the way back in 1984! This then, indicates that GDP growth and stock market returns do not act harmoniously, one with another.
While pundits will claim all of the time that the stock market is forward looking, it is hard to fathom, that the market as such, is so forward looking that it can't ever seemingly recognize the obvious, which is that the United States will not ever be able to produce again, a growth rate of 5% or beyond. So too, it would be one thing, if the yearly dividends so being provided to stockholders of record, (that is the monetary yield so provided to investors for owning the stock), was at such a substantial percentage that it made sense for people to invest in stocks, in order to receive those dividends; but in actuality the stock dividend yield, in aggregate, has been in steady decline over recent decades, so that those that simply own equities, in order to receive dividends so as to augment their income, must either invest specifically in those industries that have high yields, such as utilities, or Real Estate Investment Trusts, or find themselves having to live with yields which typically are below 1.5% or lower, or non-existent.
It would appear that no matter what the given GDP is of a nation, that the stock market seems to have a mind of its own, and in recognition that the investors that invest in stocks, are entitled to purchase whatever stock that they so fancy, and pay whatever price, per their discretionary choice; that it is fairer to state that investing in stocks, is more akin to speculation -- for the game seems to be played, more often than not, with one very simple rule and mindset, which seems to reflect that a given investment is good, not so much because of the stock's intrinsic value and worth, but rather it is good, when the price goes up.
The purchasing of stocks may perhaps be an art, or it may perhaps be something as simple as buying a given stock in the sole hope that somebody else will "value" it even higher, and will therefore buy it at a higher price, of which, money is thereby made, at least on paper, and the thought is that this will go on, forever. The thing is, stock prices should reflect something of substance, and the less grounded stock prices are to the things that are germane to such, the less safe those investments will be.