The S&P 500 Is On Track To Do Something For Only The 4th Time In 100 Years. What Does This Mean For Investors?

The S&P 500 is up 27% in 2024, as of Dec. 9. Barring a catastrophic market crash in the final three weeks of the year, this will be a celebrated above-average year for the stock market.

It wouldn’t only represent a great year for the stock market, but it would also represent a spectacular two-year run for the S&P 500. Consider that it went up by 24% in 2023. And if it finishes up by more than 24% again for the year — as it is right now — then this two-year run will be in rarefied company.

As it turns out, the S&P 500 has only increased in value by 24% or more during three other two-year periods: 1935-1936, 1954-1955, and 1997-1998. As things stand now, 2023-2024 would be the fourth time it’s happened.

In short, the S&P 500 is on pace to achieve something truly historical. And investors all want to know what it means for returns in 2025.

This post originally appeared at The Motley Fool.