Does it Matter to the Market Who Wins the White House?
Does it Matter to the Market Who Wins the White House?
During election years, the focus is on the political horse race. However, after the final poll closes, how have the market and the economy performed under both Democrat and Republican presidents?
In this graphic, Visual Capitalist partnered with New York Life Investments to explore stock market performance, consumer outcomes, and corporate sentiment across each presidential party.
Democrats vs. Republicans: Stock Market Performance
History shows that the S&P 500 does not favor a clear “winner” when it comes to the political party of sitting presidents.
The mean compounded average annual growth rate (CAGR) with Democratic presidents is slightly higher than with Republican presidents. Median performance, however, is higher under Republican presidents.
| Party | Mean S&P 500 CAGR | Median S&P 500 CAGR |
|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 9.6% | 8.3% |
| Republican | 6.2% | 10.2% |
To date, former President Clinton (D) (+15.2% CAGR) and former President Trump (R) (+14.1% CAGR) have seen the largest stock market gains among past presidents on record.
Democrats vs. Republicans: Consumer Outcomes
Like the S&P 500’s performance, presidential leadership has not been a key factor in determining the inflation rate and unemployment rate in the U.S. since the late-1940s.
The sum of the nation’s inflation rate and unemployment rate together provide a measure of consumer “pain” in the economy.
| Party | Inflation Rate + Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| Democrat | 9.5% |
| Republican | 9.0% |
The average sum with a Democratic president over the last 70+ years is +9.0% versus +9.5% for Republicans.
Democrats vs. Republicans: Corporate Sentiment
As with their consumer-related counterparts, corporate sentiment has also remained consistent regardless of the presidential party, on average.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) provides a measure of business sentiment in the economy. A score of below 50 represents deteriorating sentiment and a score of above 50 means sentiment is improving.
| Party | Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) |
|---|---|
| Democrat | 54.9 |
| Republican | 54.3 |
The average PMI under Republican presidents since 2000 is 54.3 versus 54.9 for Democrats—nearly identical and both in expansion terrain.
Informed Investing
Looking at past presidents, both Democrat and Republican, there have been roughly consistent market and economic track records. This highlights the importance of looking beyond the political noise and maintaining a diversified portfolio.
Explore more insights from New York Life Investments.
-
Politics1 week agoRanked: Top 10 Donors of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
In four of the last five U.S. elections, the candidate who raised the most money won.
-
Politics2 weeks agoMapped: The Deadliest Terrorist Attacks in 2024
Terrorism remains a pressing issue globally, with the number of countries recording a terrorist incident increasing from 58 to 66 last year.
-
War3 weeks agoMapped: Countries With the Most Nuclear Weapons
Even without the U.S., France and the UK provide NATO with the third-largest nuclear arsenal.
-
Public Opinion3 weeks agoSurvey Reveals Which Groups Are Losing Pride in America
While key American allies are turning sour on the country, are Americans themselves losing pride in their nation?
-
Politics3 weeks agoWorld Leaders Indicted by the International Criminal Court
The ICC investigates and tries individuals charged with crimes including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
-
Crime1 month agoMapped: Fentanyl Seized at U.S. Borders Over Time
More than 90% of all fentanyl seizures occur along the U.S.-Mexico border.
