EPS – GS Top-Down vs. Consensus Bottom-Up Estimates Goldman Sachs is adopting a more cautious stance than the street, expecting S&P 500 EPS to rise 24% in 2026, reaching approximately $340. That is notably below the 31% growth projected by consensus estimates. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Share of Global Market Capitalization With just 4% of the world’s population, the United States accounts for 63% of global equity value. Foreign capital continues to pour into its innovation economy. When Wall Street moves, the world feels the impact. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Earnings Sentiment (Analyst Upgrades Minus Downgrades Across Markets) Across markets, upgrades are still outpacing downgrades. For the S&P 500, solid earnings expectations and resilient profits are easing recession worries and lifting investor optimism. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 – September Average Monthly Return Since 1928, September has been the only month to post an average loss, falling 1.1%, or 1.5% in midterm years. Its second half also contains the calendar’s weakest two-week stretch. Could history repeat? Image: Real Investment Advice
S&P 500 Index – Trend Channel After a relentless rally since 2009, the S&P 500’s secular bull market looks mature, the long-term trend channel signaling rising risks beneath the surface momentum. Image: Ned Davis Research
Seasonality of the VIX Index Middle East tensions, surging oil prices, higher yields and a U.S. midterm election are all flashing warning signs, but 2026 has so far defied the usual seasonal jump in volatility. Image: Deutsche Bank
U.S. ISM Services Prices Paid Index vs. U.S. CPI Inflation (Leading Indicator) The ISM Services Prices Paid Index, which typically leads U.S. CPI by around three months, just surged to its highest level since 2022. Inflationary pressure is building in the pipeline. Image: Deutsche Bank
Carson Proprietary Leading Economic Index – USA Carson’s LEI shows the U.S. economy in good shape and recession risk fading, leaving bulls with room to stay bullish. Image: Carson Investment Research
Index Performance – S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000, Mag 7, S&P 600 Since October 2025, the Mag-7 has been a drag on U.S. indices, posting gains of less than 5% as June selling picked up on doubts over AI capex payoffs and a more hawkish Fed. Image: Deutsche Bank
S&P 500 Around First Fed Rate Hikes vs. Speed of Hikes In fast tightening cycles, the S&P 500 typically struggles in the 12 months post-first hike; in slow or no cycles, it tends to rally. Near term, stocks stay shaky until investors believe in a “slow-hike” or “one-and-done” Fed. Image: Ned Davis Research
S&P 500 Performance in this Cycle Measured against prior four-year election cycles, the current bull market is unusually powerful: the S&P 500 is up nearly 100% since the end of 2022, the second-strongest performance in history after the early dot-com rally. Image: Bloomberg