11-4-26 Political Gridlock Could Be The BEST Thing For The Stock Market
Could a Republican president facing a Democratic-controlled Congress actually be bullish for stocks? History suggests that political gridlock may be far better for the market than many investors expect. But there's a catch: even historically bullish periods can come with significant volatility and painful drawdowns.
In this Short video, I examine seven historical instances when a Republican president governed alongside a Democratic-controlled Congress. In all seven cases, stocks delivered positive returns over the following three months, with an average gain of approximately 10.7%.
Under Eisenhower, the market gained 15.2% in one instance and 6.8% in another. Nixon saw a 14.7% advance, Ford 5.1%, Reagan 13.6%, George H. W. Bush 14.9%, and George W. Bush 4.9%.
The 12-month picture is equally compelling. Across those seven historical periods, the average annual return was approximately 15.5%, according to Lance's research. Every single period produced a positive return, ranging from just 1% under Reagan to an impressive 33% under Eisenhower.
So why might political gridlock be good for stocks? Divided government can make it harder to pass sweeping legislation or implement major policy changes, potentially reducing uncertainty for businesses and investors.
However, strong historical returns don't necessarily mean a smooth ride higher.
Some of these periods experienced drawdowns of 9% to 14%. Under Reagan, the market suffered a staggering 33% decline before recovering and ultimately finishing the 12-month period with a modest 1% gain.
And there are plenty of risks ahead.
With Democrats controlling Congress, potential impeachment proceedings, congressional investigations into AI and Big Tech, new regulatory requirements, and political battles over Trump's Federal Reserve nominees could all introduce uncertainty and weigh on markets.
That's why I am cautious against reading too much into the immediate post-election reaction. Whether stocks open higher, sell off, or stage a dramatic intraday reversal, nobody really knows how the political landscape will unfold over the coming months.
So, history favors a post-election rally, but investors shouldn't confuse favorable historical probabilities with guaranteed gains. Significant corrections can occur even during bullish periods.
Rather than trying to predict every political development or reacting emotionally to election headlines, let the market tell you what to do instead of guessing.
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