PORTFOLIO COMPASS
Navigating Market Volatility During the Iran Crisis
In our 2026 Outlook: The Policy Engine, we listed several risks to stocks that could prevent the S&P 500 from achieving our forecast for high-single-digit returns in 2026 (to a fair value target range of 7,300–7,400).
2026 Outlook: The Policy Engine
In 2026, we observed a market environment where fiscal and monetary policy decisions, rather than traditional business fundamentals, were the primary drivers of market direction…
Midyear Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism, Measured Expectations
We started 2025 on a high note, although we acknowledged that “no market environment is ever permanent, and that change is always potentially around the corner.” Well change did come, and with it, volatility, perhaps in part because we assumed President Trump’s policies would simply mirror those of his prior term. The impact of policy…
Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism
Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism By LPL Financial Research Looking back, 2024 clearly echoed many of the themes from 2023. By and large, the economy continued to defy expectations and surprised once again. Stocks continued their strong performance, driven by powerful…
Why Oil Prices Matter Less — But Still Move Headline Inflation
LPL Research explains how America’s declining reliance on oil and rising geopolitical risks shape inflation, growth expectations, and volatility in 2026.