Produktdetaljer
The 59th Annual Edition of the leading desk reference on US stock market trends, seasonal patterns, and cycles
In Stock Trader's Almanac 2026, veteran trader and market strategist Jeffrey Hirsch offers an up-to-date and effective guide through the complexities of the United States stock market. It catalogues the historical cycles, trends, and seasonal patterns that you need to understand to make sound investment decisions.
This is the 59th Annual Edition of the Almanac, thoroughly updated and revised to ensure it retains its place as the preeminent, hands-on guide for US stock traders. It's organized in an accessible calendar format, demonstrating the proven, proprietary strategies – based on decades of carefully collected data – like the “January Barometer,” the “Santa Claus Rally,” the “Best Six Months,” and the four-year “Presidential Election Cycle.”
Stock Trader's Almanac 2026 remains the most profitable and valuable trading reference on Wall Street. It includes:
- Explanations of how the four-year presidential election cycle affects the economy and the stock market
- How midterm election years are a bottom picker's paradise
- How to avoid the weak spot of the 4-year cycle Q2-Q3 midterm year and capitalize on the sweet spot that begins in Q4
- Why a 50% gain in the Dow is possible from its 2026 low to its 2027 high
- What the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States has to do with the “January Barometer” and what it means for you
- How to take advantage of regular, significant market bias at certain times of the day, week, month, and year
- How holidays predictably impact market behavior
- Seasonal opportunities and risks
- Pertinent statistics on past market performance
- Useful resources for portfolio planning, record keeping, and tax preparation
A favorite resource for top money managers since 1968, Stock Trader's Almanac 2026 is perfect for retail and institutional investment professionals seeking to understand recurring patterns in the US stock market and maximize their profit potential.
7 Introduction to the Fifty-Ninth Edition
10 2026 Outlook
12 2026 Strategy Calendar
14 January Almanac
16 January’s First Five Days: An Early Warning System
18 The Incredible January Barometer (Devised 1972): Only 12 Significant Errors in 75 Years
20 Bulls Win When Market Hits the January Trifecta
22 February Almanac
24 Down Januarys: A Remarkable Record
26 Market Charts of Midterm Election Years
28 Midterm Election Years: Where Bottom Picker’s Find Paradise
30 March Almanac
32 Prosperity More Than Peace Determines the Outcome of Midterm Congressional Races
34 Why a 50% Gain in the Dow is Possible from Its 2026 Low to Its 2027 High
36 The December Low Indicator: A Useful Prognosticating Tool
38 How to Trade Best Months Switching Strategies
40 April Almanac
42 Dow Jones Industrials & S&P 500 One-Year Seasonal Pattern Charts Since 1901 & 1950
44 NASDAQ, Russell 1000 & 2000 One-Year Seasonal Pattern Charts Since 1971 & 1979
46 Welcome to the Sweet Spot of the 4-Year Cycle: Q4 Midterm Year to Q2 Pre-Election Year
48 May Almanac
50 Summer Market Volume Doldrums Drive Worst Six Months
52 Top-Performing Months: Standard & Poor’s 500 and Dow Jones Industrials
54 Best Six Months: Still an Eye-Popping Strategy
56 MACD-Timing Triples Best-Six-Months Results
58 June Almanac
60 Top-Performing NASDAQ Months
62 Get More out of NASDAQ’s Best Eight Months with MACD Timing
64 Triple Returns, Fewer Trades: Best 6 + 4–Year Cycle
66 July Almanac
68 First Month of Quarters Is the Most Bullish
70 2024 Daily Dow Point Changes (Dow Jones Industrial Average)
72 Market Gains More on Super-8 Days Each Month Than on All 13 Remaining Days Combined
74 August Almanac
76 A Rally for All Seasons
78 Take Advantage of Down Friday/Down Monday Warning
80 Market Behavior Three Days Before and Three Days After Holidays
82 Fourth-Quarter Market Magic
84 September Almanac
86 Best Investment Books of the Year
88 A Correction for All Seasons
90 First-Trading-Day-of-the-Month Phenomenon
92 October Almanac
94 Sector Seasonality: Selected Percentage Plays
96 Sector Index Seasonality Strategy Calendar
100 November Almanac
102 Midterm Election Time Unusually Bullish
104 Traders Feast on Small Stocks Thanksgiving Through Santa Claus Rally
106 Trading the Thanksgiving Market
108 Aura of the Triple Witch—4th Quarter Most Bullish: Down Weeks Trigger More Weakness Week After
110 December Almanac
112 Most of the So-Called January Effect Takes Place in the Last Half of December
114 January Effect Now Starts in Mid-December
116 Wall Street’s Only “Free Lunch” Served Before Christmas
118 If Santa Claus Should Fail to Call, Bears May Come to Broad and Wall
120 2027 Strategy Calendar
Directory of Trading Patterns and Databank
123 Dow Jones Industrials Market Probability Calendar 2026
124 Recent Dow Jones Industrials Market Probability Calendar 2026
125 S&P 500 Market Probability Calendar 2026
126 Recent S&P 500 Market Probability Calendar 2026
127 NASDAQ Composite Market Probability Calendar 2026
128 Recent NASDAQ Composite Market Probability Calendar 2026
129 Russell 1000 Index Market Probability Calendar 2026
130 Russell 2000 Index Market Probability Calendar 2026
131 Decennial Cycle: A Market Phenomenon
132 Presidential Election/Stock Market Cycle: The 192-Year Saga Continues
133 Dow Jones Industrials Bull and Bear Markets Since 1900
134 Standard & Poor’s 500 Bull and Bear Markets Since 1929/ NASDAQ Composite Since 1971
135 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: January and February
136 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: March and April
137 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: May and June
138 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: July and August
139 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: September and October
140 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: November and December
141 A Typical Day in the Market
142 Through the Week on a Half-Hourly Basis
143 Tuesday & Wednesday, Best Days of Week
144 NASDAQ Strongest Last 3 Days of Week
145 S&P Daily Performance Each Year Since 1952
146 NASDAQ Daily Performance Each Year Since 1971
147 Monthly Cash Inflows into S&P Stocks
148 Monthly Cash Inflows into NASDAQ Stocks
149 November, December, and January: Year’s Best Three-Month Span
150 November through June: NASDAQ’s Eight-Month Run
151 Dow Jones Industrials Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1901
153 S&P 500 Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1930
154 NASDAQ Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1971
155 Russell 1000 and 2000 Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1979
156 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Percent Changes Since 1950
158 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Point Changes Since 1950
160 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Closing Prices Since 1950
162 Standard & Poor’s 500 Monthly Percent Changes Since 1950
164 Standard & Poor’s 500 Monthly Closing Prices Since 1950
166 NASDAQ Composite Monthly Percent Changes Since 1971
168 NASDAQ Composite Monthly Closing Prices Since 1971
170 Russell 1000 Index Monthly Percent Changes Since 1979
171 Russell 1000 Index Monthly Closing Prices Since 1979
172 Russell 2000 Index Monthly Percent Changes Since 1979
173 Russell 2000 Index Monthly Closing Prices Since 1979
174 10 Best Days by Percent and Point
175 10 Worst Days by Percent and Point
176 10 Best Weeks by Percent and Point
177 10 Worst Weeks by Percent and Point
178 10 Best Months by Percent and Point
179 10 Worst Months by Percent and Point
180 10 Best Quarters by Percent and Point
181 10 Worst Quarters by Percent and Point
182 10 Best Years by Percent and Point
183 10 Worst Years by Percent and Point
Strategy Planning and Record Section
185 Portfolio at Start of 2026
186 Additional Purchases
188 Short-Term Transactions
190 Long-Term Transactions
192 Interest/Dividends Received During 2026/Brokerage Account Data 2026
193 Weekly Portfolio Price Record 2026
195 Weekly Indicator Data 2026
197 Monthly Indicator Data 2026
198 Portfolio at End of 2026
199 If You Don’t Profit from Your Investment Mistakes, Someone Else Will/Performance Record of Recommendations
200 Individual Retirement Accounts: Most Awesome Investment Incentive Ever Devised
201 G.M. Loeb’s “Battle Plan” for Investment Survival
202 G.M. Loeb’s Investment Survival Checklist
Praise for Stock Trader's Almanac
"Traders and investors alike look forward to getting their copy of the Stock Trader's Almanac each year. It's the perfect way to set our expectations for what's to come and to harvest the lessons of all that's come before."
—Downtown Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and star of CNBC's The Halftime Report
"Investors need to respect the seasonals and other historical factors that can influence stocks. The Stock Trader's Almanac is one of the best references for these factors and cycles."
—Thomas J. Lee, CFA, Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors
"I do not use seasonality in my work yet I find myself reaching for the Stock Trader's Almanac often. It's more than seasonality: it's data, it's sentiment, it's a must-have if you're involved in markets."
—Helene Meisler, Columnist for TheStreet and Real Money, 40-year market technician and equity trader
"The Stock Trader's Almanac gives you a daily guide to 2025 ... a year in advance. I've been reading it since the first 1968 edition was published."
—Larry Williams, Legendary stock, futures and commodities trader and author
"Churchill told us, 'The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.' Fortunately, Jeff does this for us year in and year out. The Stock Trader's Almanac is an invaluable resource."
—Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, Carson Group
"The essential guide that deservedly sits on every professional trade desk on Wall Street. Active traders who have overlooked the Almanac are just asking for trouble."
—Barry Ritholtz, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Ritholtz Wealth Management, and host of Bloomberg Radio's Masters in Business podcast
The 59th Annual Edition of the leading desk reference on US stock market trends, seasonal patterns, and cycles
In Stock Trader's Almanac 2026, veteran trader and market strategist Jeffrey Hirsch offers an up-to-date and effective guide through the complexities of the United States stock market. It catalogues the historical cycles, trends, and seasonal patterns that you need to understand to make sound investment decisions.
This is the 59th Annual Edition of the Almanac, thoroughly updated and revised to ensure it retains its place as the preeminent, hands-on guide for US stock traders. It's organized in an accessible calendar format, demonstrating the proven, proprietary strategies – based on decades of carefully collected data – like the “January Barometer,” the “Santa Claus Rally,” the “Best Six Months,” and the four-year “Presidential Election Cycle.”
Stock Trader's Almanac 2026 remains the most profitable and valuable trading reference on Wall Street. It includes:
- Explanations of how the four-year presidential election cycle affects the economy and the stock market
- How midterm election years are a bottom picker's paradise
- How to avoid the weak spot of the 4-year cycle Q2-Q3 midterm year and capitalize on the sweet spot that begins in Q4
- Why a 50% gain in the Dow is possible from its 2026 low to its 2027 high
- What the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States has to do with the “January Barometer” and what it means for you
- How to take advantage of regular, significant market bias at certain times of the day, week, month, and year
- How holidays predictably impact market behavior
- Seasonal opportunities and risks
- Pertinent statistics on past market performance
- Useful resources for portfolio planning, record keeping, and tax preparation
A favorite resource for top money managers since 1968, Stock Trader's Almanac 2026 is perfect for retail and institutional investment professionals seeking to understand recurring patterns in the US stock market and maximize their profit potential.
7 Introduction to the Fifty-Ninth Edition
10 2026 Outlook
12 2026 Strategy Calendar
14 January Almanac
16 January’s First Five Days: An Early Warning System
18 The Incredible January Barometer (Devised 1972): Only 12 Significant Errors in 75 Years
20 Bulls Win When Market Hits the January Trifecta
22 February Almanac
24 Down Januarys: A Remarkable Record
26 Market Charts of Midterm Election Years
28 Midterm Election Years: Where Bottom Picker’s Find Paradise
30 March Almanac
32 Prosperity More Than Peace Determines the Outcome of Midterm Congressional Races
34 Why a 50% Gain in the Dow is Possible from Its 2026 Low to Its 2027 High
36 The December Low Indicator: A Useful Prognosticating Tool
38 How to Trade Best Months Switching Strategies
40 April Almanac
42 Dow Jones Industrials & S&P 500 One-Year Seasonal Pattern Charts Since 1901 & 1950
44 NASDAQ, Russell 1000 & 2000 One-Year Seasonal Pattern Charts Since 1971 & 1979
46 Welcome to the Sweet Spot of the 4-Year Cycle: Q4 Midterm Year to Q2 Pre-Election Year
48 May Almanac
50 Summer Market Volume Doldrums Drive Worst Six Months
52 Top-Performing Months: Standard & Poor’s 500 and Dow Jones Industrials
54 Best Six Months: Still an Eye-Popping Strategy
56 MACD-Timing Triples Best-Six-Months Results
58 June Almanac
60 Top-Performing NASDAQ Months
62 Get More out of NASDAQ’s Best Eight Months with MACD Timing
64 Triple Returns, Fewer Trades: Best 6 + 4–Year Cycle
66 July Almanac
68 First Month of Quarters Is the Most Bullish
70 2024 Daily Dow Point Changes (Dow Jones Industrial Average)
72 Market Gains More on Super-8 Days Each Month Than on All 13 Remaining Days Combined
74 August Almanac
76 A Rally for All Seasons
78 Take Advantage of Down Friday/Down Monday Warning
80 Market Behavior Three Days Before and Three Days After Holidays
82 Fourth-Quarter Market Magic
84 September Almanac
86 Best Investment Books of the Year
88 A Correction for All Seasons
90 First-Trading-Day-of-the-Month Phenomenon
92 October Almanac
94 Sector Seasonality: Selected Percentage Plays
96 Sector Index Seasonality Strategy Calendar
100 November Almanac
102 Midterm Election Time Unusually Bullish
104 Traders Feast on Small Stocks Thanksgiving Through Santa Claus Rally
106 Trading the Thanksgiving Market
108 Aura of the Triple Witch—4th Quarter Most Bullish: Down Weeks Trigger More Weakness Week After
110 December Almanac
112 Most of the So-Called January Effect Takes Place in the Last Half of December
114 January Effect Now Starts in Mid-December
116 Wall Street’s Only “Free Lunch” Served Before Christmas
118 If Santa Claus Should Fail to Call, Bears May Come to Broad and Wall
120 2027 Strategy Calendar
Directory of Trading Patterns and Databank
123 Dow Jones Industrials Market Probability Calendar 2026
124 Recent Dow Jones Industrials Market Probability Calendar 2026
125 S&P 500 Market Probability Calendar 2026
126 Recent S&P 500 Market Probability Calendar 2026
127 NASDAQ Composite Market Probability Calendar 2026
128 Recent NASDAQ Composite Market Probability Calendar 2026
129 Russell 1000 Index Market Probability Calendar 2026
130 Russell 2000 Index Market Probability Calendar 2026
131 Decennial Cycle: A Market Phenomenon
132 Presidential Election/Stock Market Cycle: The 192-Year Saga Continues
133 Dow Jones Industrials Bull and Bear Markets Since 1900
134 Standard & Poor’s 500 Bull and Bear Markets Since 1929/ NASDAQ Composite Since 1971
135 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: January and February
136 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: March and April
137 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: May and June
138 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: July and August
139 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: September and October
140 Dow Jones Industrials 10-Year Daily Point Changes: November and December
141 A Typical Day in the Market
142 Through the Week on a Half-Hourly Basis
143 Tuesday & Wednesday, Best Days of Week
144 NASDAQ Strongest Last 3 Days of Week
145 S&P Daily Performance Each Year Since 1952
146 NASDAQ Daily Performance Each Year Since 1971
147 Monthly Cash Inflows into S&P Stocks
148 Monthly Cash Inflows into NASDAQ Stocks
149 November, December, and January: Year’s Best Three-Month Span
150 November through June: NASDAQ’s Eight-Month Run
151 Dow Jones Industrials Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1901
153 S&P 500 Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1930
154 NASDAQ Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1971
155 Russell 1000 and 2000 Annual Highs, Lows, & Closes Since 1979
156 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Percent Changes Since 1950
158 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Point Changes Since 1950
160 Dow Jones Industrials Monthly Closing Prices Since 1950
162 Standard & Poor’s 500 Monthly Percent Changes Since 1950
164 Standard & Poor’s 500 Monthly Closing Prices Since 1950
166 NASDAQ Composite Monthly Percent Changes Since 1971
168 NASDAQ Composite Monthly Closing Prices Since 1971
170 Russell 1000 Index Monthly Percent Changes Since 1979
171 Russell 1000 Index Monthly Closing Prices Since 1979
172 Russell 2000 Index Monthly Percent Changes Since 1979
173 Russell 2000 Index Monthly Closing Prices Since 1979
174 10 Best Days by Percent and Point
175 10 Worst Days by Percent and Point
176 10 Best Weeks by Percent and Point
177 10 Worst Weeks by Percent and Point
178 10 Best Months by Percent and Point
179 10 Worst Months by Percent and Point
180 10 Best Quarters by Percent and Point
181 10 Worst Quarters by Percent and Point
182 10 Best Years by Percent and Point
183 10 Worst Years by Percent and Point
Strategy Planning and Record Section
185 Portfolio at Start of 2026
186 Additional Purchases
188 Short-Term Transactions
190 Long-Term Transactions
192 Interest/Dividends Received During 2026/Brokerage Account Data 2026
193 Weekly Portfolio Price Record 2026
195 Weekly Indicator Data 2026
197 Monthly Indicator Data 2026
198 Portfolio at End of 2026
199 If You Don’t Profit from Your Investment Mistakes, Someone Else Will/Performance Record of Recommendations
200 Individual Retirement Accounts: Most Awesome Investment Incentive Ever Devised
201 G.M. Loeb’s “Battle Plan” for Investment Survival
202 G.M. Loeb’s Investment Survival Checklist
Praise for Stock Trader's Almanac
"Traders and investors alike look forward to getting their copy of the Stock Trader's Almanac each year. It's the perfect way to set our expectations for what's to come and to harvest the lessons of all that's come before."
—Downtown Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management and star of CNBC's The Halftime Report
"Investors need to respect the seasonals and other historical factors that can influence stocks. The Stock Trader's Almanac is one of the best references for these factors and cycles."
—Thomas J. Lee, CFA, Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors
"I do not use seasonality in my work yet I find myself reaching for the Stock Trader's Almanac often. It's more than seasonality: it's data, it's sentiment, it's a must-have if you're involved in markets."
—Helene Meisler, Columnist for TheStreet and Real Money, 40-year market technician and equity trader
"The Stock Trader's Almanac gives you a daily guide to 2025 ... a year in advance. I've been reading it since the first 1968 edition was published."
—Larry Williams, Legendary stock, futures and commodities trader and author
"Churchill told us, 'The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.' Fortunately, Jeff does this for us year in and year out. The Stock Trader's Almanac is an invaluable resource."
—Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, Carson Group
"The essential guide that deservedly sits on every professional trade desk on Wall Street. Active traders who have overlooked the Almanac are just asking for trouble."
—Barry Ritholtz, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Ritholtz Wealth Management, and host of Bloomberg Radio's Masters in Business podcast