S&P 500 Yearly Returns The lesson from the “10 best days” rule is blunt: market timing rarely shows mercy. Miss those standout days in the S&P 500 each year and, instead of gains, your portfolio would have slipped roughly 15% a year since 1990! Image: Carson Investment Research
Valuations – MSCI Index Market Capitalization Relative to M2 U.S. market capitalization has rocketed since late 2022, pushing valuations to levels that M2 growth can’t justify on its own. There’s more at play now than just liquidity. Image: Gavekal, Macrobond
Dow Jones Industrial Average Monthly Win Streaks If February ends in the green, the Dow would notch 10 straight monthly gains, a streak seen only a handful of times since 1900. That strength says plenty about the market’s staying power. Image: Carson Investment Research
Distributions of Returns of S&P 500 Since 1928 The S&P 500 has delivered returns far above its historical norm over the past three years, but such strength will be hard to repeat given where valuations stand. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Global Earnings Growth Global earnings growth has climbed about 15% year-on-year in Q4 2025, the strongest pace in years, powered by robust gains in U.S. tech and a resurgence across emerging markets. Image: Deutsche Bank Asset Allocation
DM Manufacturing PMI vs. Global Central Bank Decision Index This year’s key macro theme is a global growth rebound, fueled by two years of aggressive monetary easing that have set the stage for a fresh wave of economic momentum. Image: TS Lombard
S&P 500 at the Start of a Presidential Term The S&P 500 experienced its worst start to a U.S. presidential term in decades after the president’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Hopes tied to tax cuts and deregulation faded fast as trade-war fears took center stage. Image: Bloomberg
S&P 500 Based on the Chinese Zodiac Signs The Year of the Horse has begun. Playful as zodiac signs may be on market trends, the Year of the Horse usually trots rather than gallops, with U.S. stocks rising an average 6.3% since 1950. Image: Carson Investment Research
YoY Growth in S&P 500 Cash Use Buyback fatigue among hyperscalers points to a strategic pivot: cash is moving to long-term AI projects over short-term shareholder returns, increasing stock volatility as buyback support fades. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Bitcoin vs. S&P 500 Software Total Return Bitcoin has been trading hand in hand with U.S. software names. Its current drawdown may stick around for a while if the pressure on tech doesn’t ease. But when the mood shifts, don’t be surprised if Bitcoin snaps back fast. Image: Gavekal, Macrobond
U.S. Inflation – Cleveland Median CPI vs. M2 Savings Deposits When fiscal policy drives money creation, inflation risk jumps. Spending and liquidity rise together, and before long, too much money chases too few goods. Recent U.S. money trends point toward price pressures ahead. Image: Bloomberg