Indexed Market Cap and Consensus Fwd 12m EPS Estimates for S&P 500 Companies Earnings momentum is driving the AI infrastructure complex’s outperformance so far this year, with capital flowing to names that are already translating AI demand into visible revenue growth, order strength, and profit expansion. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Weight of Top 10 Positions in Median Hedge Fund Long Portfolio Hedge fund portfolio density is now at 72% and holding firm, with greater concentration in top 10 positions. Such concentration leaves markets vulnerable to sharp swings if popular trades begin to reverse. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Annual U.S. Equity Issuance as % of Russell 3000 Market Cap “$600 billion in U.S. equity issuance in 2026” grabs attention and feeds the doom narrative. But relative to the total value of U.S. equities, it is not that large. Big number, yes, but scale matters. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Equities – Global Valuation Range U.S. stocks carry a rich premium, while markets abroad sit closer to their historical ranges. The result is a global landscape where relative value is easier to find outside the U.S., though true bargains are still hard to come by. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
S&P 500 Net Profit Margin Profit margins are widening across the S&P 500 this year, extending beyond mega-caps and the tech sector. This trend should continue into 2027, pointing to a healthier and more diverse market outlook. Image: BCA Research
S&P 500 Performance After Eight Week Wins Streaks Up >12% An eight-week winning streak and a rise of more than 12% set the tone. Since 1950, U.S. stocks have followed up with a median 12-month return of 20.1% and have never finished lower. That is the kind of backdrop bulls like. Image: Carson Investment Research
S&P 500 Weekly Announced Buybacks Buyback announcements are picking up across corporate America, pointing to healthy balance sheets and a greater appetite to spend surplus cash. That wave is supporting equities and keeping sentiment constructive. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
S&P 500 Performance Around Issuance Upcycles Past issuance waves tell a familiar story: they usually line up with strong U.S. equity performance, underpinned by steady buying interest. That pattern is tough to ignore in a rising market. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Equity Fund Flows vs. S&P 500 EPS Growth Investors are pouring into equities on the back of solid earnings momentum. As long as earnings hold up, the trend should carry on. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
Volatility – VIX and SKEW Index The VIX–SKEW divergence is less about calm and more about caution. Volatility looks subdued, but the steady rise in SKEW suggests investors are quietly paying up for protection against a downside shock. Image: Real Investment Advice
Dow Jones Performance Under Various Federal Reserve Bank Chairs The Dow has performed well under Jerome Powell, delivering an annualized return of 8.4%, comfortably above the long-term average of 6.2%. That puts him 8th among the 16 Fed chairs. Will Kevin Warsh do better? Image: Carson Investment Research