Russell 2000 Annual EPS Growth Analysts are betting big on 2026, forecasting a 60% surge in U.S. small-cap earnings, fueled by Fed easing, deregulation, and fiscal tailwinds. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Index Performance – S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000, Mag 7 The broad market is quietly rotating: the S&P 500 is just below its October highs, but small caps and the average stock are outperforming, while mega-cap growth and Tech soften. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Median Stock Short Interest as % of Market Capitalization – Russell 2000 vs. Nasdaq 100 vs. S&P 500 Short sellers are crowding into U.S. small‑caps, where weaker balance sheets, higher borrowing costs, and exposure to slower growth make easy targets. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500, Russell 2000, Stoxx 600 and EM Equities – 12-Month Forward EPS Consensus Estimates Market leadership is widening. U.S. small-caps are catching up fast as EPS growth fires up in both the S&P 500 and Russell 2000—a clear sign the rally is broadening beyond the tech giants. Image: Societe Generale Cross Asset Research
Russell 2000 Net Futures Contracts Asset managers and leveraged funds hold large net short positions in Russell 2000 futures despite recent small-cap gains, creating conditions for potential short covering that could trigger further upward momentum in small-cap futures. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Gold Spot Price and Russell 3000 Gold Miners Subindustry Goldman Sachs is bullish on gold over the next 12 months, projecting a 14% rise driven by central bank demand and anticipated rate cuts, with even greater gains possible in riskier scenarios. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Most Shorted Stocks Relative to Russell 3000 Heavily shorted stocks generally underperform the broader market over the long term, but in 2025, they significantly outperformed, driven primarily by aggressive short covering. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Performance of the Most Shorted Stocks vs the Russell 3000 The recent three-month period has been exceptionally strong for the most heavily shorted stocks outside the pandemic boom, driven significantly by retail investors and short squeeze dynamics. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Performance of the Most Shorted Stocks Relative to Russell 3000 Over the last 3 1/2 months, the most heavily shorted stocks have experienced extraordinary rallies, significantly outperforming the broader market. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
U.S. Small-Cap Stocks – Russell 2000 vs. S&P 500 While U.S. small-cap stocks have notably underperformed large caps for an extended period, history suggests that such cycles are not unusual and are often followed by multi-year stretches of small-cap outperformance. Image: Bloomberg
Valuation – Russell 2000 vs. S&P 500 The current undervaluation of U.S. small-caps relative to the S&P 500 presents an attractive investment opportunity for those looking to diversify their portfolios and potentially capture higher returns in the coming years. Image: Fundstrat Global Advisors, LLC