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The Impact of Midterm Elections on the Market

Wesley Whamond

Oct 31 2022

4 min read

While markets are complex and forward-looking, transactions are processed in real time. When emotions are high, it can overwhelm the market. The market doesn’t like uncertainty, and the midterm elections create much uncertainty in this area.

Years with midterm elections often bring volatility into the market, where we see more extreme spikes in returns – both highs and lows. This year, we’ve seen more downward spikes, but with the midterm elections occurring next week, what can we expect?

Capital Group analyzed and compared each month’s returns with midterm and non-midterm years all the way back to 1970. It found that midterm years had 10 to 12 months with higher volatility ramping up in the months before the election.

illustrative chart for S&P 500 Index Monthly Volatility Since 1970 — Sources: Capital Group, RIMES, Standard & Poor’s. As of 12/31/21. Volatility is calculated using the standard deviation of daily returns for each individual month. Standard deviation is a measure of how returns over time have varied from the average. A lower number signifies lower volatility. The chart shows median volatility for the S&P 500 Index for each month since 1970, displayed on an annualized basis.

Studying trends since 1950, midterm election years have seen lower overall returns during the first three quarters of the year with an increase in returns during the fourth quarter. A research team at First Trust compiled the below chart of returns. The orange line is a historical average of midterm election year returns.

Source: Bloomberg. Data from 1950-2021. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. The illustration excludes the effects of taxes and brokerage commissions or other expenses incurred when investing. These returns are total returns and were the result of certain market factors and events which may not be repeated in the future. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 companies used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance.

This chart shows that year-to-date has been a challenge in the market with reaching bear market levels during the third quarter. Bear market demonstrates a 20% drop from the highest points (which, in this case, occurred in January). The S&P500 recorded a drawdown of 27% at its low point in 2022. The research team at First Trust compiled the following list of midterm election year pullbacks in the S&P500. Each midterm year had some level of pullback during the year. Notably, each year after showed positive returns.

Source: Bloomberg. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. The illustration excludes the effects of taxes and brokerage commissions or other expenses incurred when investing. These returns are total returns and were the result of certain market factors and events which may not be repeated in the future. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 companies used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance. The index cannot be purchased directly by investors.

With the recent volatility and lows in the market, it may be tempting to sell everything and go to cash. However, that might be an emotional reaction. It’s difficult to time the market, but waiting to reinvest could potentially show higher prices than they are currently. When reviewing midterm election years past, we see that returns are historically lower the first three quarters of the year compared to returns in non-election years. We also see evidence that markets do come back over time, beginning in the fourth quarter. We can’t determine if that will play out this year, but historical trends can provide some optimism. It’s important to keep in mind, too, that midterm elections are one component of the many elements that can influence markets.

If you’d like to discuss your investment or financial portfolio with a specialist, please contact our wealth management team.

This material is based upon publicly available information and is provided for general information and educational purposes only. The information contained herein has been compiled from data considered to be reliable. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

The S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks. The market index is unmanaged and, therefore, has no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

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About the Author

Wesley Whamond

With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Wesley Whamond, MBA, CFP®, is a financial advisor focused on providing a comprehensive goals-based approach tailored to the specific needs of his clients. Wes has in-depth expertise in portfolio reviews, financial planning and financial education. He works with clients from all backgrounds, assisting them with their financial planning needs.