The three major U.S. benchmarks are up. The S & P stock returns are up by 18 percent. S&P 500: up about 17.9%, driven by broad gains across large-cap stocks. Dow Jones Industrial Average: up roughly 14.9%, buoyed by blue-chip strength. Nasdaq Composite: up approximately 21.4%, led by technology and growth sectors.
KTRH’s Money Mann, Pat Shinn, says 2025 finished strong. “Last year we had earnings up between 8 and 9 percent, we also had priced earnings ratio going up, we had the federal reserve cutting interest rates- all 3 of those things working to propel the markets higher.” Shinn said.
The financial planner says tech companies that came out on top with the most gains, included: Nvidia, Alphabet, Microsoft.
The winners rotate. Last year’s winners won’t necessarily be this year’s top performers. When we look at stock markets, that means it might be time for underperformers- like small company stocks and international stocks to finally have their day in the sun." Shinn said.
Global equities excluding the U.S. are up roughly 30% to 34% since Jan. 20, 2025, according to widely followed international benchmarks, as investors poured into overseas markets despite trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty.
With U.S. stocks up about 18% on average and global markets up more than 30%, investors are watching earnings, interest rate expectations, and trade policy closely as markets head deeper into 2026.