Will the Santa Claus Rally Deliver This Winter—and Lift Stocks in 2026?

The purported rally isn't just a stock stuffer. It's sometimes seen as a directional market indicator for the year ahead—meaning that if Saint Nick is spotted lifting the major indexes over the next week or so, it could be a bullish sign. The choppiness seen earlier this month is consistent with the seasonal pattern that eventually leads to the Santa Claus rally, Jeff Hirsch, son of Yale Hirsch—the writer of the Stock Trader's Almanac and the coiner of the term—said in an interview with Investopedia. His ye ...