As of this writing, the S&P 500 has closed at an all-time high 27 times so far in 2026.
The benchmark index has risen by about 13% year-to-date
Because of this, many investors are wondering if the market is ripe for a pullback. It’s certainly understandable to think that a decline is inevitable. But it might surprise you to learn that history suggests that the exact opposite is likely to be the case.
In simple terms, record highs in the stock market are a lot more common (and less dangerous) than you might think. With that in mind, here’s what tends to happen after the stock market reaches record highs, backed by decades of real data. What happens after a record close?