Market Cycles & Investing

Key Takeaways The end of a bull market marks the shift from rising asset prices to a sustained downturn, often after peaks in valuation and optimism. Typical indicators are weaker market breadth, decelerating earnings growth, tighter credit, increasing real rates, and escalating volatility. Valuations compress as cash flow outlooks cool and liquidity thins. Previous ones … Read more

Key Takeaways Investing in a bull market is the practice of purchasing securities as prices are increasing sector by sector and index by index. Trends have stronger earnings and strong cash flows and broader risk appetite. Swings and steep pullbacks persist. Smart habits help: set clear goals, spread risk across stocks, bonds, and cash, use … Read more

Key Takeaways Dividend growth investing strategy is a long-term strategy that focuses on companies that have a history of increasing their dividend year over year. Investors monitor the dividend growth rate, payout ratio below 60%, and balance yield with earnings stability. Reinvested payouts can lift your yield on cost over 10 to 15 years and … Read more

Key Takeaways Among the longest bull markets in history are the 2009–2020 U.S. Rally, the 1987–2000 U.S. Expansion, and Japan’s 2012–2018 run. The 2009 cycle lasted around 131 months, with the S&P 500 increasing approximately 400 percent. The 1987 one ran 150 months, with returns of approximately 580 percent on the S&P 500. Japan’s Abenomics … Read more

Key Takeaways Bull markets last four to six years on average, depending on the time period measured. Since 1926, a number of studies place the average around seven years, while post-1950 numbers run closer to four to five years. The 2009–2020 U.S. Run was approximately 11 years, while 1982–1987 ran for only five. Short bursts … Read more