Article

Understanding the History of the January Effect

Wall Street January Effect

Can the monthly performance for January predict the rest of 2021?

The January Effect is not just a Wall Street myth as several prominent studies have confirmed its existence. This article explains what the theory is about.

February 9, 2021
Wall Street January Effect
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

The January Effect is a pattern exhibited by stocks in the last few trading days of December and the first few weeks of January. During this period, particularly starting in January, the theory is that stocks tend to rise.

In simple terms, the January Effect is a consequence of:

  • Tax-loss selling, in which investors sell stocks that lost money at the end of December in order to take losses as tax deductions and
  • Mutual funds’ window-dressing, which is exactly as it sounds.

Because so many of these stocks were sold in late December, they will be – in theory – available at a discount in early January. Another purported cause of the January Effect is the payment of year-end employee bonuses (less likely in 2020), which employees invest in the stock market. As a result, investors with more money end up buying cheaper stocks, making the market more active and driving up prices.

Myth, Legend or Both?

The January Effect is notjust a Wall Street myth as several prominent studies have confirmed its existence. One study of historical data from 1904 through 1974 discovered that the average return during January was five times larger than the average return for other months.

Another study by the investment firm Salomon Smith Barney (no longer in existence by the way) showed that small cap stocks (as represented by companies in the Russell 2000) outperformed large cap stocks (as represented by companies in the Russell 1000) by 0.8% in January, but lagged large caps for the rest of the year.

Further, consider this:

  • From 1928 through 2020, the S&P 500 rose 62% of the time in January (58 times out of 93).
  • From 2000 to 2020, however, the results were mixed: In 11 of those 20 years, there were January gains, and in the other nine years, the market lost ground.

Effect Becomes Less Effective

In recent years, the January Effect has become less pronounced. As a result, it is a less effective way for investors to take advantage of the market. Once investors, economists and traders spot, analyze, and confirm the existence of a trend, it tends to become less pronounced.

Investors “price in” the trend, adjusting their investment strategies to take trends (like the January Effect) into account. Another reason that the January Effect is less important is that many people now use tax-sheltered retirement plans, like IRAs and 401(k) plans. When investments are tax-sheltered, there is no special reason to sell a stock for the purpose of deducting stock losses.

Using January to Predict 2021

Many investors and analysts have tried to use the January Effect for predictive value. However, there are different questions about predictions.

Surprisingly, according to Stock Trader’s Almanac, going back to 1950, that metric ofJanuary’s monthly performance predicting the year has worked about 87% of the time.

But if you take out the years from 1950-1962, the January metric worked about as well as a monkey making a coin toss. From 1962 to 2020, a below-par January accurately predicts a bad year 55% of the time.

So, What Should You Do?

As these numbers show, the January Effect is simply not a very good predictor of annual stock market performance. Of course, the S&P 500 has risen about 8.19% on average (including dividends) from 2000 through 2020.

As a result, omens in January are unlikely to predict the entire year.

Other content you may like

  • Tips for Leaving Inheritance to Family

    Tips for Leaving Inheritance to Family

    October 17, 2023
    What happens when you leave what’s probably one of your biggest investments – your individual retirement plan? You worked hard to save for your golden years. When you leave behind what money might remain to a family member, make sure you think about potential disruptions and have a plan before that time.
    Read this Article
  • Gentleman sitting in a coffee shop

    New Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2020

    December 6, 2019
    The IRS has managed to pack a significant amount of complexity into a relatively simple change. Strong Valley clients should contact us directly to discuss how the new limits apply in your specific situation, and in the context of your retirement strategy.
    Read this Article
  • Podcast Highlight - The Pain of Home Prices

    March 14, 2024
    The Strong Valley Team follows up their previous highlight on Fed Funds Cuts and inflation with how home prices have been affected, along with the inverted yield curve that is showing up.
    Read this Article
  • Planning for Your Financial Future

    Planning for Your Financial Future

    April 5, 2023
    Money plays an important role at every turn your life takes. There are ways to develop good financial habits now so you can be prepared for the different strategies that certain events require in the future. And the good part is, you can start from wherever you are currently, to make decisions that will go a long way towards achieving your financial goals.
    Read this Article
  • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    phone-handset