Overview
- The S&P 500 posted three straight annual gains of 24%, 23%, and 16%, with AI and other growth stocks driving the advance.
- The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in 2024 and again in 2025, creating a lower-rate backdrop that has supported corporate and consumer activity.
- A Motley Fool analysis says the market is displaying a setup seen only twice in 153 years, pointing to a historical signal for the year ahead.
- Over the last decade, the S&P 500 returned 256% excluding dividends and 323% including dividends, outpacing 30-year averages, according to Yahoo Finance.
- Compiled forecasts cited by Yahoo Finance show an average year-end target that implies roughly 10% further upside for the S&P 500 in 2026.