These are the S&P 500 historical returns during election years
According to Piper Sandler, election years can be a time for strong returns in the stock market, with the S&P 500 historically averaging a 10%-20% total return since 1928.
Interestingly, the third year of a president's term seems to be the sweet spot, with Piper Sandler noting a median return of 18.08% during that period over the past 95 years. Even the fourth year holds promise, averaging a 9.5% return with a 75% chance of positive gains.
While the full year can be volatile, Piper Sandler highlights that the third quarter tends to be the strongest, averaging a 5.21% return, which is roughly 70% of the entire year's average gain. It's important to note, however, that election years since 1928 also see an average annual drawdown of 14.96% for the S&P 500.
Piper Sandler also breaks down some seasonal trends within election years. In the first half, they state that it is usually range-bound with potentially lower returns.
Meanwhile, it is said to yield stronger returns in the second half, particularly in Q3 and Q4.
When it comes to a Democratic President, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) historically underperforms, while sectors like Energy, Healthcare, and Financials might see gains.
For a Republican President, Piper Sandler says Cyclicals, Technology, and Communication Services might outperform.
Overall, equities tend to be the strongest, with small-caps historically edging out large-caps. Piper Sandler says value stocks might lag throughout the year but finish stronger than growth stocks.
Looking specifically at 2024, Piper Sandler believes its prediction of a High-Level Trading Range (HLTR) aligns with historical election year trends and is likely to continue until the November election. The firm's year-end price objective for the S&P 500 remains at 5,050.