• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

3

Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

3

Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
FinanceDonald Trump

History Says this Bull Market Can Add Another $2.4 Trillion in 2017

Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 25, 2017, 7:01 PM ET
Donald Trump, Juan Manuel Santos
President Donald Trump accompanied by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, left, calls on a member of the media during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)Photograph by Andrew Harnik—AP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The S&P 500 may be up 8% this year even as the White House spits up scandal after scandal, but the bull market could still add another $2.4 trillion — based on history any way.

Accord to CFRA analyst Sam Stovall, based on the level of calm in the stock markets combined with the post-election bullishness, the S&P 500 is on track to set all-time closing highs 16% of the time this year, with investors surprisingly calm, with the “Fear Index” rising above 1% in just 4% of this year’s trading day.

“This year’s possible combination of an above-average count of all-time highs, and below-average frequency of… volatility days, implies an above-average full-year return for the S&P 500,” Stovall wrote.

In fact, the stock market has risen a lofty 19.4% in years that posted a similar outcome on the S&P 500. That above average percentage of all-time highs and below-average frequency of “fear” has happened in 17 separate years since 1954.

That means that if the markets this year continues as historically expected, then the S&P 500 can still run up to 2,672 at year’s end, from 2,415 now. An 11% rise—adding $2.4 trillion to the S&P 500, boosting the total market capitalization of all companies on the index up to nearly $24 trillion.

And at least to some extent, the stock market rally so far has more than just expectations of lower taxes and higher regulations backing it.

In the past two months, the majority (95%) of publicly-traded companies have reported their first quarter earnings. And the results have been robust. Earnings of the S&P 500 companies grew about 13.9% in the first quarter — its most dramatic jump in six-and-a-half years, according to FactSet.

That comes as giants such as Amazon reported earnings growth of 38% in the first quarter to $1.48 a share, while energy companies such as Exxon Mobil posted profits that grew 97% to 85 cents a share. Meanwhile, banks such as J.P. Morgan that did actually get a lift from a jump in trading following the U.S. elections grew profits by 17% to $6.45 billion.

Those strong earnings figures perhaps helped keep investors calm even as the fervent media coverage over former FBI Director James Comey’s dismissal by President Donald Trump continued — and keeping the “Fear Index,” or VIX, relatively low.

But as those who dabble in the stock markets may already know, “history is a great guide but is never gospel,” wrote Stovall in his note, “With gains ranging from 4.5% in 1992 to 45% in 1954.”

Moreover, this bull market has already been one of the longest on record.

Still, its hard to ignore history when in other similar stock market scenarios since 1954, the S&P 500 has ended in the green a tempting, but deceptively certain looking 100% of the time.

About the Author
Lucinda Shen
By Lucinda Shen
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

l
EnvironmentFrance
The hottest day in French history was so bad the Louvre and Eiffel Tower had to close early
By Samuel Petrequin and The Associated PressJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Top CD rates from major banks June 25, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on June 25, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of gold as of June 25, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of June 25, 2026
By Danny BakstJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
24 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
8 hours ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
21 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.