Sentiment – Risk Appetite and Expected U.S. Equity Market Performance For the first time since January 2025, U.S. equity investors’ risk appetite turned positive in July, fueled by stronger confidence in both fundamentals and the macroeconomic landscape. Image: S&P Global Market Intelligence
S&P 500 Performance After a >10% Quarter Since 1950, when a quarter’s return exceeds 10%, the next quarter typically performs better than average—gaining 4.7% on average compared to the overall average of 2.3%, and posting gains 85% of the time. Image: Carson Investment Research
S&P 500 Performance Up YTD Between 5-10% at the Midpoint of the Year Since 1950, when the S&P 500 has been up between 5% and 10% by mid-year, the full-year performance has been positive 93% of the time, with an average annual return close to 14%, giving bulls ample reason to remain optimistic. Image: Carson…
S&P 500 Performance While the S&P 500 is on track for a third consecutive monthly gain, supported by strong earnings expectations, some investors remain cautious about its sustainability given high valuations and geopolitical uncertainties. Image: Bloomberg
S&P 500 Performance After a Negative Q1 and Then a >10% Q2 The 2025 market exhibits a favorable pattern: a negative Q1 followed by a strong Q2 rebound of over 10%. Historically, Q3 has consistently risen by an average of 7.7%, and the rest of the year has seen an average increase of 15.9%. Image:…
Performance – Value vs. Growth The U.S. market is experiencing outperformance in growth sectors driven by innovation and strong earnings, whereas value sectors dominate outside the U.S. due to slower earnings growth and differing economic dynamics. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 Performance After Green in Both May and June Since 1988, when the S&P 500 gains in both May and June—a rare bullish sign—the rest of the year rose 15 of 16 times, averaging 8.8% gains, indicating strong momentum and positive investor sentiment for the year’s second half. Image: Carson Investment Research
S&P 500 Index Performance After Geopolitical and Major Historical Events While geopolitical events may cause short-term market disruptions, markets have historically shown resilience and recovered over time, especially beyond the usual 12-month tactical window. Image: Carson Investment Research
Performance – S&P 500 Index vs. MSCI ACWI ex-US Despite rebounding after the tariff pause, the S&P 500 has not regained global equity leadership; European and Asian stocks have outperformed in 2025 due to better valuations and more stable policies. Image: Bloomberg
Performance – % of S&P 500 Stocks Outperforming the Benchmark by Year Market leadership has broadened in 2025. Whereas a handful of large tech companies dominated in 2023 and 2024, more than half of S&P 500 stocks are now outperforming the index. Image: Ned Davis Research
S&P 500 Yearly Performance During Bull Markets Historically, the first two years of a bull market tend to deliver robust returns. While the third year may test investors’ patience, historical trends suggest that better times often follow. Image: Carson Investment Research Click the Image to Enlarge