S&P 500 and VIX Closes Down 25% from Intraday Peak Good news for bulls: big fear fades, stocks surge. Each time the VIX finished more than 25% off its intraday high, the S&P 500 was…

S&P 500 Seasonality If history is any guide, the S&P 500 is heading into its seasonally strong window, with October through December typically delivering the market’s best performance of the year. Image: Topdown Charts

Weekly Change in Equity Positioning Equity positioning saw its sharpest weekly pullback since “Liberation Day” in April—a dip many traders were quick to buy. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation

S&P 500 Yearly Performance During Bull Markets History favors the bulls: since 1950, only once has an S&P 500 bull market ended in its fourth year—history therefore favors further upside over a transition to bear…

Valuations – Market Values as a Proportion of World GDP Global equities have tripled their weight since the 1990s, jumping from 75% to above 200% of world GDP—an expansion that screams just how far valuations…

S&P 500 Various Declines per Year Volatility is part of the market’s DNA; the real skill lies in how investors navigate the bumps to keep compounding. Image: Carson Investment Research

U.S. vs. Non-U.S. Equities Valuations vs. ROE Investors aren’t shy about paying a premium for U.S. stocks. The payoff? Superior returns on equity and earnings growth that few markets can match. Image: Goldman Sachs Global…

S&P 500 and Margin Debt Now above $1 trillion, margin debt stands at just about 1/57th of the total U.S. equity market cap, up 35% from a year ago—still a far cry from the surges…

Materials Group Positioning Sitting at the 65th percentile, positioning in materials signals confidence creeping back into the sector—without yet crossing into euphoria. Image: Deutsche Bank

Cumulative Change in Real S&P 500 and Real Profits Earnings remain solid, especially in tech, but the widening gap between the real S&P 500 index and real corporate profit growth suggests investors may be chasing…

Market Capitalization – United States vs. Asia vs. Europe Wall Street has smoked global rivals on roaring earnings, fat margins, and deep capital. But, sky-high prices and overheated expectations could break its stride. Image: Goldman…