The S&P 500 Is Following The Midterm Playbook

Summary The S&P 500 is poised to surpass all-time highs, driven by falling oil prices and renewed AI optimism, with a potential target above 8000. Tech, particularly semiconductor stocks, is leading the rally, while broader market participation remains narrow. AI-related earnings growth is accelerating, with consensus 2026 S&P 500 earnings growth now at 29% and semiconductors trading at a relative discount to the S&P 500. I maintain 16% cash for tactical deployment, expecting either a straight rally or a 3% pullback before further upside, per the midterm year playbook. Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of The REIT Forum get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More » WANAN YOSSINGKUM/iStock via Getty Images Introduction The S&P 500 ( SPY ) is just 0.4% away from reclaiming its all-time highs, while the Nasdaq 100 ( QQQ ) is back in record territory as of the market close on 09/22. This is despite both the Federal Reserve and the This article was written by Amrita Roy 8.14K Followers Follow Amrita runs a boutique family office fund in beautiful Vancouver, where she leads the investment strategy for the family fund. The fund's objective is to invest capital in sustainable, growth-driven companies that maximize shareholder equity by meeting their growth-oriented goals. In addition, she also started her own award-winning newsletter, The Pragmatic Optimist which focuses on portfolio strategy, valuation, and macroeconomics in concert with her husband Uttam Dey who is also a contributor on Seeking Alpha. Prior to cofounding her fund, Amrita worked for 5 years in high-growth supply-chain start-ups in downtown San Francisco, where she led strategy. During her time in the Bay Area, she also worked with venture capital firms and start-ups, where her efforts led her to grow the user acquisition business. During this time, she was introduced to investment portfolios and was able to maximize returns for clients during the pandemic. The cornerstone of Amritas work rests on democratizing financial literacy for everyone and breaking down financial jargon and complex macroeconomic concepts into formats that are easily digestible but more empowering than the typical investment thesis. Her newsletter has been featured as the Top Newsletter in Finance on popular newsletter platforms and she aims to bring her ideas to Seeking Alpha as well. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMD, CRDO, MRVL, LITE 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.