Historical Correlation
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Will the Stock Market Skyrocket in 2026 Under President Donald Trump? A Historically Flawless Correlation Will Be Put to the Test.
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-04 13:56
Core Viewpoint - The article discusses historical correlations between U.S. presidential terms and S&P 500 returns, suggesting that the stock market may experience significant gains during the sixth year of a two-term presidency, particularly under Donald Trump [2][4][7]. Group 1: Historical Performance of S&P 500 - Since 1950, the S&P 500 has shown average returns of 3.4%, 6.9%, 22.2%, 10.5%, and 15.5% during the first to fifth years of a two-term president's tenure [1]. - The average annual return of the S&P 500 during the sixth year of a two-term presidency over the last 75 years is 20.9% [7]. - In 2025, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite gained 13%, 16%, and 20% respectively, continuing the upward trend from Trump's first term [5]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Future Performance - A more aggressive rate-easing cycle by the Federal Reserve could lead to increased borrowing and investor willingness to accept higher valuations, potentially supporting continued market gains [7]. - The ongoing AI revolution, characterized by strong demand for AI infrastructure and enterprise adoption, may further fuel the S&P 500's bull market [8]. Group 3: Market Valuation Concerns - The Shiller Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio, which averaged 17.3 since 1871, reached 40.23 by the end of 2025, indicating the second priciest stock market in 155 years [12]. - Historical data shows that Shiller P/E readings above 30 are unsustainable, often leading to declines in major indexes ranging from 20% to 89% [13]. Group 4: Potential Risks to Market Trends - The article highlights the risk of a potential AI bubble bursting, which could undermine the current bull market [14]. - Trump's tariff and trade policies have shown a negative impact on labor productivity, employment, sales, and profits for affected companies, which could pose challenges in the upcoming year [16].