U.S. stocks experienced a pullback on Monday following an impressive five-week stretch for the S&P 500, marking its best performance since 2020, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
The rapid and substantial gains in the market have raised concerns among Wall Street analysts. Some worry that investors may be getting ahead of themselves by pricing in aggressive interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve for next year.
However, Monday’s pullback, which saw the S&P 500 close down 0.5% at 4,569.78, is seen by some as a healthy correction considering the magnitude of the recent rally. The S&P 500 recorded a remarkable 11.6% increase over the past five weeks, as reported by Dow Jones data.
A Necessary Correction
According to Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, periodic profit-taking and reassessment are essential to prevent the market from spiraling out of control. “You need some days where people reassess, take a breather if necessary, and if they do, it isn’t so terrible,” he commented.
Looking back at historical data, it becomes evident that such significant five-week stretches are quite rare. The last time the S&P 500 recorded a gain of 12% or more during a five-week period was on December 4, 2020, when the index closed with a 13.1% increase. Prior to that, the S&P 500 rose 12.8% from the week ending June 5, 2020, and an impressive 17.7% from the week ending May 8, 2020, based on Dow Jones Market Data.
Past Performance and Future Outlook
While some may question whether such substantial gains in a short duration suggest an imminent downward trend, historical data from the past 15 years indicates otherwise.
During this period, the S&P 500 recorded a gain of 12% or more on 11 occasions. In every instance, six months later, the index had continued on an upward trajectory. However, it is vital to note that stock market performance over time is not always an accurate indicator of future outcomes.
On Monday, U.S. stocks had a mixed performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 41.06 points, or 0.1%, to 36,204.44, while the S&P 500 declined by 24.85 points, or 0.5%, closing at 4,569.78. The Nasdaq Composite also saw a decline of 119.54 points, or 0.8%, reaching 14,185.49.