Stocks Were Strong In August. Here's What Could Derail The S&P 500's Rally

Mike Zaccardi, CFA, CMT 9.66K Followers Follow Summary August saw broad equity gains, with the S&P 500 up 2% and the Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) outperforming on mega-cap strength. Energy led sector performance, driven by smaller refiners like MPC, PSX, and VLO, while Utilities lagged amid rising Treasury yields. Macro risks persist—labor market shakiness, stubborn core inflation, and near-even odds of a September Fed rate hike—yet S&P 500 earnings momentum remains robust. Sellside strategists have lifted S&P 500 year-end targets above 8000, citing strong EPS growth and a resilient consumer backdrop. mizoula/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Stocks gained ground in August . The S&P 500 ( SP500 ) added more than 2%, notching an all-time high on the 13 th and a record monthly settle. The Nasdaq 100 ETF ( QQQ This article was written by Mike Zaccardi, CFA, CMT 9.66K Followers Follow Freelance Financial Writer | Investments | Markets | Personal Finance | RetirementI create written content used in various formats including articles, blogs, emails, and social media for financial advisors and investment firms in a cost-efficient way. My passion is putting a narrative to financial data. Working with teams that include senior editors, investment strategists, marketing managers, data analysts, and executives, I contribute ideas to help make content relevant, accessible, and measurable. Having expertise in thematic investing, market events, client education, and compelling investment outlooks, I relate to everyday investors in a pithy way. I enjoy analyzing stock market sectors, ETFs, economic data, and broad market conditions, then producing snackable content for various audiences. Macro drivers of asset classes such as stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, and crypto excite me. My thing is communicating finance with an educational and creative style. I also believe in producing evidence-based narratives using empirical data to drive home points. Charts are one of the many tools I leverage to tell a story in a simple but engaging way. I focus on SEO and specific style guides when appropriate. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AGG, IBIT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.