US Stocks Record Third Consecutive Year of Double-Digit Gains Heading into 2026

The year 2025 proved to be another strong period for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 delivering a total return of approximately 16.4%. This marked the benchmark index’s third straight year of double-digit advances, a rare achievement seen only a handful of times since the mid-20th century. The performance underscored the market‘s ability to navigate challenges while capitalizing on key growth themes.At the core of the stock market gains was the ongoing surge in artificial intelligence. Investor enthusiasm f ...