The stock market usually booms in the November-to-April stretch. This indicator suggests otherwise.
Jim Paulsen thinks lagged indicators suggest the usual ‘best buying season’ for stocks may not be applicable this time and backtesting his model to 1970 shows meagre returns.
SOURCE: MarketWatch ↗
What This Means
MarketWatch reports that a specific indicator is signaling a departure from the historical pattern of strong stock market performance during the November-to-April period. If this indicator proves predictive, it could affect equity positioning and portfolio allocation decisions during what is normally considered a favorable season for stocks. The mechanism would operate through changed expectations about seasonal demand and momentum in equities.
Sources — 1 tier
Every claim below links directly to the original reporting it was drawn from. Penblock synthesizes and cross-references these sources — it doesn't originate the reporting.
How This Could Play Out — recorded when first flagged, not updated
Resolve
UNLIKELYIf Paulsen's indicator proves prescient and market participants systematically de-risk seasonal equity exposure, equity indices could face sustained selling pressure during what is historically a strong window, potentially creating a self-reinforcing drawdown as tactical allocators rotate defensively.
Left Unattended
LIKELYShould the indicator fail to gain traction among institutional allocators and seasonal patterns reassert themselves despite the warning, equity markets would likely continue to track historical November-April strength, leaving this analysis as a footnote rather than a market-moving catalyst.
Escalate
POSSIBLEIf broader macro deterioration (recession signals, credit stress, or geopolitical shocks) validates the indicator's caution and amplifies seasonal weakness into a structural downturn, the breakdown of a reliable seasonal anchor could trigger a loss-of-confidence cascade in equity positioning and force reassessment of traditional rotation strategies.
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Confidence History
- MEDIUM CONFIDENCESep 28, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Single-tier claim only (mainstream) -- no independent corroboration yet