• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Finance

Should you ‘sell in May’? Not this year, say experts

Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 3, 2021, 8:30 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

As trading kicks off a new month and investors go deeper into spring, there’s one question that’s on the lips of Wall Street pros pretty much every year: Should you “sell in May and go away”?

The old adage refers to the fact that, historically, the months of May through October are the weakest of the year for the stock market. (Take a look at LPL Financial’s chart going back to 1950.)

“There are a lot of different ways you can look at this,” says Randy Frederick, Charles Schwab’s vice president of trading and derivatives. Indeed, as LPL notes, the past 10 years have actually not been so bad for stocks during the allegedly bumpy period: The S&P 500 posted positive returns eight out of the past 10 years from May through October. Post-election years (of which this is one, of course) also often bode well for stocks in May. And Frederick notes that, measuring the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day, stocks have been up for the past five consecutive years.

Despite some of those more optimistic historical patterns, there’s a widespread idea that share prices might be due for a breather after an incredible recent run. Following a 24% rise in the S&P 500 in the last six months (and a hefty 87% rise in that benchmark index since March’s lows last year), some pullbacks in the coming months would be “perfectly normal and perfectly logical,” LPL’s Ryan Detrick recently told Fortune.

The upshot of all this: Markets over the next few months might make you want to sell—but many experts believe staying the course, and even buying on any dips, is the way to go.

Market ‘euphoria’?

There’s ample concern that markets in general are far overvalued: The S&P 500’s next-12-month price-to-earnings ratio sits at 22, far above the historical average, per FactSet. And worries fester that the economy, spurred on by big stimulus spending, may be starting to overheat, increasing the possibility of higher inflation.

Yet the predominant sentiment on Wall Street of late has been bullish—very bullish. That’s causing those like Detrick to worry that there’s just too much positive sentiment, and that a correction (or at least a short-term selloff) is in the cards. “Everybody knows everything’s great” he says. “So, how much good news is priced in after an 80-plus-percent rally?”

Strategists at Bank of America note that “euphoric sentiment is a key reason for our cautious outlook” as the bank’s “Sell Side Indicator” is hitting 13-year highs, strategists led by Savita Subramanian wrote in a Monday note.

But despite the headiness, some market experts are readying their shopping lists on the belief that, by year’s end, stocks will go higher still.

Buying the dip

Those like Detrick believe that longer-term, strong corporate earnings, a consistently accommodative Federal Reserve, and a reopening economy should provide a supportive backdrop for stocks. Any near-term selloff is “probably going to be an opportunity, honestly, to buy at some lower prices,” says Detrick, who wrote in a note on Friday that “we’d use any weakness as an opportunity to add to positions.”

Indeed, most of the experts who spoke with Fortune see stocks ending the year at least moderately higher than they are now, boosted by a strong 4th quarter.

For Lindsey Bell, chief investment strategist at Ally Invest, “I think it’s a great time for investors to think about rebalancing,” she tells Fortune. Bell believes things will get a bit choppier in the summer months, “which is why you want to rotate into some of the defensive sectors” like healthcare and consumer staples. Charles Schwab’s Frederick also anticipates a near-term selloff (in the 5% to 8% range over the coming weeks or months, he estimates), and suggests taking it slow: “If there’s something that someone has their eye on” in the next few months, buying on the dips “in small amounts” could be a good plan, he suggests to Fortune.

Overall, with so many retail investors still “bulled up” on the markets, “I’m getting the vibe that people don’t really care this year” about the seasonal axiom, says Ally’s Bell. And based on May’s first day of trading, it looks like Bell is right: The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both closed higher on Monday, up 0.3% and 0.7% respectively.

“Nonetheless,” she adds, “it is a historic phenomenon that I expect to remain intact this year—whether people pay attention to it or not.” And with the longer-term prognosis looking pretty good, most investors can probably afford to ignore it.

Our mission to make business better is fueled by readers like you. To enjoy unlimited access to our journalism, subscribe today.

About the Author
Anne Sraders
By Anne Sraders
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Current price of Bitcoin for July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
1 hour ago
Current price of Ethereum for July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
1 hour ago
Top CD rates from major banks July 1, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on July 1, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
2 hours ago
DHL plane being refuelled at airport by man in high-vis jacket
EnergyAviation
The Iran conflict saw jet fuel prices soar—when you use 1.88 million tonnes a year, how you respond really matters (just ask DHL)
By Sam ForsdickJuly 1, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Wednesday, July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
4 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
Commentary
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
By Marc AndersenJune 30, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 30 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 30 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 30, 2026
1 day ago
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
Big Tech
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 1, 2026
7 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.