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The Best Months for Stock Market Gains

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The Best Months for Stock Market Gains

Many investors believe that equity markets perform better during certain times of the year.

Is there any truth to these claims, or is it superstitious nonsense? This infographic uses data gathered by Schroders, a British asset management firm, to investigate.

What the Data Says

This analysis is based on 31 years of performance across four major stock indexes:

  • FTSE 100: An index of the top 100 companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE)
  • MSCI World: An index of over 1,000 large and mid-cap companies within developed markets
  • S&P 500: An index of the 500 largest companies that trade on U.S. stock exchanges
  • Eurostoxx 50: An index of the top 50 blue-chip stocks within the Eurozone region

The percentages in the following table represent the historical frequency of these indexes rising in a given month, between the years 1987 and 2018. Months are ordered from best to worst, in descending order.

RankMonth of YearFrequency of Growth (%)Difference from Mean (p.p.)
#1December79.0%+19.9
#2April74.3%+15.2
#3October68.6%+9.5
#4July61.7%+2.6
#5May58.6%-0.5
#6November58.4%-0.7
#7January57.8%-1.3
#8February57.0%-2.1
#9March56.3%-2.8
#10September51.6%-7.5
#11August49.3%-9.8
#12June36.7%-22.4
Average59.1%n/a

There are some outliers in this dataset that we’ll focus on below.

The Strong Months

In terms of frequency of growth, December has historically been the best month to own stocks. This lines up with a phenomenon known as the “Santa Claus Rally”, which suggests that equity markets rally over Christmas.

One theory is that the holiday season has a psychological effect on investors, driving them to buy rather than sell. We can also hypothesize that many institutional investors are on vacation during this time. This could give bullish retail investors more sway over the direction of the market.

The second best month was April, which is commonly regarded as a strong month for the stock market. One theory is that many investors receive their tax refunds in April, which they then use to buy stocks. The resulting influx of cash pushes prices higher.

Speaking of higher prices, we can also look at this trend from the perspective of returns. Focusing on the S&P 500, and looking back to 1928, April has generated an average return of 0.88%. This is well above the all-month average of 0.47%.

The Weak Months

The three worst months to own stocks, according to this analysis, are June, August, and September. Is it a coincidence that they’re all in the summer?

One theory for the season’s relative weakness is that institutional traders are on vacation, similar to December. Without the holiday cheer, however, the market is less frothy and the reduced liquidity leads to increased risk.

Whether you believe this or not, the data does show a convincing pattern. It’s for this reason that the phrase “sell in May and go away” has become popularized.

Key Takeaways

Investors should remember that this data is based on historical results, and should not be used to make forward-looking decisions in the stock market.

Anomalies like the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 can have a profound impact on the world, and the market as a whole. Stock market performance during these times may deviate greatly from their historical averages seen above.

Regardless, this analysis can still be useful to investors who are trying to understand market movements. For example, if stocks rise in December without any clear catalyst, it could be the famed Santa Claus Rally at work.

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Investor Education

Which Climate Metrics Suit Your Investment Goals Best?

When selecting climate metrics, it is important to consider your purpose, the applicability and acceptability of the climate strategy, and the availability of historical data.

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Which Climate Metrics Suit You Best? MSCI

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The following content is sponsored by MSCI

Which Climate Metrics Suit Your Investment Goals Best?

According to PwC, 44% of investors believe that companies should prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their own operations and supply chain.

In this graphic from our sponsor, MSCI, we break down climate metrics and provide valuable insights to help build sustainability-aligned portfolios without the fear of falling for greenwashing.

Essential Climate Metrics for Investors

Here are some widely-used climate metrics, as categorized by MSCI:

Climate MetricDescription
#1Carbon Emissions EVIC IntensityMeasures greenhouse gas emissions per $1 million of financing.
#2Potential Carbon EmissionsEstimates emissions from fossil fuel reserves owned by a company.
#3Implied Temperature Rise (ITR)Assesses alignment with global warming scenarios.
#4Carbon Emissions Revenue IntensityQuantifies emissions per $1 million of revenue.
#5Fossil Fuel RevenueDetermines revenue percentage from fossil fuel-related activities.
#6Cleantech RevenueDetermines revenue percentage from environmental and climate opportunities.
#7Low Carbon Transition (LCT) ScoreEvaluates a company’s exposure to climate transition opportunities.
#8Transition Climate VaRAssesses costs from carbon pricing and low-carbon opportunities.
#9Physical Climate VaREvaluates costs from increased exposure to physical hazards.

Choosing the Right Metrics

Climate investing requires selecting the right measurement tools. For that, it is important to consider your purpose, the applicability, and acceptability of the climate strategy, and the availability of historical data for analysis, among other factors. The infographic above contains a flowchart designed to guide you through several key questions.

For example, do you want to:

  1. Measure your portfolio’s impact on the climate or the climate’s impact on your portfolio?
  2. Analyze present or forward-looking data?
  3. Assess direct impact or indirect impact via supply chains?
  4. Evaluate potential future emissions or projected temperature rise?
  5. Focus on climate risks or opportunities?

MSCI’s climate metrics toolkit can help investors confidently measure, manage, and report their climate risks and opportunities.

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Download MSCI’s climate metrics toolkit now.

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