Reminder
It's not too late to sign up for Sam Stovall's signature presentation next Wednesday! And there's no better way to start your financial journey for 2026! Some details:
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 6:30 PM Eastern Time
This webinar is free to all AAII members and guests, but you have to register. Here's the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IYQmTekfSZOqyUKUM6kvoQ
TITLE: Equity Outlook for 2026
TOPIC: The S&P 500 is on pace to record a “three-peat,” or three successive years of double-digit gains.
What is the likelihood of scoring a “four peat?” Naturally, investors wonder if 2026 will see a fourth year
of double-digit gains. Even though CFRA thinks the bull will remain intact by year-end, it projects
increased volatility along with a lower-than-average full-year percentage increase. Why so cautious?
Still-high valuations, an elevated Buffett Indicator, a softening jobs market, and mid-term elections
present formidable headwinds. Offsetting tailwinds include the fourth year of this bull market, the
second year of a rate-easing cycle, and double-digit earnings growth expectations, not only for 2026 but
also for 2027. Come hear Sam Stovall, CFRA’s Chief Investment Strategist and long-time friend of the
AAII, discuss these the factors that should weigh heavily the investment outcome for year ahead.
What you will learn:
-- STOCK RETURNS DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF A FED RATE-EASING CYCLE: See how the S&P 500 and
its sectors typically performed in the second 12 months of Fed rate cuts.
-- INDICATORS THAT POINT TO A VOLATILE 2026: Mid-Term Election Years have traditionally been quite
volatile, experiencing an average 18% drawdown since WWII, especially when a political “Wave” is at
stake (a Wave is when the Presidency, and both houses of Congress are controlled by the same party).
-- INVESTMENT STRATEGIES: Investors will learn whether it has been more profitable to buy last year’s
winners (“Let your winners ride”) or losers (buy low/sell high).
ABOUT SAM STOVALL:
Sam Stovall, CFP® Chief Investment Strategist
As Chief Investment Strategist, Sam Stovall serves as analyst, publisher, and communicator of CFRA's outlooks for the economy, market, and sectors. He is the author of The Seven Rules of Wall Street and writes weekly "Sector Watch" and "Investment Policy" reports on CFRA's MarketScope Advisor platform, as well as maintains the Industry Momentum and Seasonal Rotation portfolios. His work is also found in CFRA's flagship weekly newsletter The Outlook.
Prior to joining CFRA, Sam was Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at S&P Global for more than 27 years and served as Editor-in-Chief at Argus Research, an independent investment research firm in New York City. He received an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University and a B.A. in History/Education from Muhlenberg College, in Allentown, Pa.