Breakdown of U.S. Households’ Equity Ownership

Breakdown of U.S. Households’ Equity Ownership In the United States, stock ownership is heavily concentrated among the wealthiest households. Recent data indicates that the top 10% of American households own approximately 90% of all stock market wealth. Image: Real Investment Advice

S&P 500 Market Capitalization vs. U.S. GDP

S&P 500 Market Capitalization vs. U.S. GDP The wealth creation in the U.S. stock market has significantly outpaced the broader economy, leading to increased sensitivity of consumer spending to equity moves. Image: Bloomberg

U.S. Breakeven Inflation Rate

U.S. Breakeven Inflation Rate Breakeven rates, which reflect the market’s inflation expectations, suggest that the fight against rising prices is far from over and will likely continue in the foreseeable future. Image: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

S&P 500 Earnings Estimates

S&P 500 Earnings Estimates Morgan Stanley forecasts S&P 500 earnings per share to hit $271 in 2025 and $303 in 2026, indicating a bullish market outlook. Image: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Inequality – Inflation Adjusted Household Equity Ownership by Brackets

Inequality – Inflation Adjusted Household Equity Ownership by Brackets Wealth inequality in the U.S. may be further exacerbated by the current stock market ownership structure, where 88% of household equity is controlled by just the top 10% of income earners. Image: Real Investment Advice

Household Asset Allocation

Household Asset Allocation The wealth gap between the rich and the middle/lower classes is significantly influenced by their asset ownership patterns. The wealthy predominantly own equities, while the middle and lower classes tend to invest heavily in real estate. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

Two-Month Correlation Between Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Index and S&P 500 Index

Two-Month Correlation Between Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Index and S&P 500 Index The current positive correlation between stocks and bonds emphasizes the need for investors to diversify beyond traditional assets and adopt more sophisticated risk management strategies. Image: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

S&P 500 Gains of 20% Happen More Than Losses

S&P 500 Gains of 20% Happen More Than Losses Since 1950, the U.S. stock market has seen more years achieving gains of 20% or more than those with losses. This encourages investors to keep a long-term perspective and avoid panic selling—both crucial for building wealth. Image: Carson Investment Research

Equities as a Percent of Financial Assets

Equities as a Percent of Financial Assets With favorable market conditions and increasing stock valuations, Americans now hold more than 37% of all assets in equities, marking a record high. Image: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

High-Yield Bond Returns

High-Yield Bond Returns 2024 has proven to be a terrific year for low-quality high yield investments, particularly within the CCC-rated cohort, which has seen returns exceeding 16%, as economic resilience exceeded expectations. Image: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management