Is the S&P 500 heading for a bear market?

Extremely, the S&P 500 has delivered whole returns of 25%+ in 4 out of the final six years. Nonetheless, 2025 hasn’t been as fruitful, with the benchmark index falling nearly 5% since a mid-February peak.

This implies it’s already midway in direction of a correction (a decline of 10%, or extra). Might a bear market — a chronic interval of share value declines higher than 20% — be on the playing cards? Listed below are my ideas.

The case for

Wanting round, I feel there are two foremost points that would push the index right into a bear market. For starters, the 25% US tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a brand new 10% levy on items from China, began right this moment (4 March).

China and Canada have already retaliated, and Mexico could properly comply with go well with. This has sparked fears of a worldwide commerce warfare.

Based on Goldman Sachs, President Trump’s tariffs may result in a 1-2% decline in US company earnings in 2026. In a worst-case situation, the US may slip right into a recession (the so-called ‘Trumpcession’).

Second, the S&P 500 stays extremely valued. Based on the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, the index’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio’s 27. That’s a excessive a number of, traditionally talking, which could begin spooking buyers.

The case in opposition to

Alternatively, buyers may abdomen tariffs and concentrate on different components. For instance, tax cuts, deregulation, the continued synthetic intelligence (AI) revolution, and a probably a extra environment friendly US authorities.

In the meantime, the ‘Magnificent Seven’ — Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla — now account for a 3rd of the S&P 500’s worth. Whereas that presents focus threat, it’s additionally true that these tech corporations (barring Tesla) proceed to develop earnings strongly.

Final 12 months, their collective earnings elevated by 36%, which was far greater than the remainder of the S&P 500 (simply 4% progress). That determine is about to be decrease this 12 months, however brisk progress’s nonetheless anticipated.  

Returning to Goldman Sachs, its chief fairness strategist sees the S&P 500 rising to six,500 by the tip of this 12 months. That may be a stable 11% enhance from right this moment’s stage, if achieved.

Personally, I don’t see a bear market occurring. However corrections, bear markets, and even crashes are a traditional a part of the investing cycle. In different phrases, nothing to worry.

Googol!

Both manner, I feel Alphabet inventory seems to be nice worth right this moment. Shares of the Google and YouTube guardian firm are buying and selling at a P/E a number of of 21 (and subsequently a reduction to the S&P 500).

Now, one cause for this may be that Google faces anti-trust challenges. So there’s an out of doors threat right here that Alphabet will get damaged up.

Nonetheless, it’s additionally attainable that Alphabet may very well be value extra in items. Google Search/Android, YouTube, and Google Cloud would every possible command enormous market valuations. In the meantime, its robotaxi division, Waymo, did over 4m absolutely autonomous rides final 12 months. And it’s simply getting began!

Extremely, Alphabet now has seven totally different merchandise with greater than 2bn month-to-month lively customers. 

• Google Search
• Android
• Chrome 
• Gmail
• Google Maps
• Google Play Retailer 
• YouTube 

The sheer quantity of knowledge this ecosystem generates is mind-boggling. Fittingly, Google’s title comes from ‘Googol’, which is a 1 adopted by 100 zeros. These large datasets present the corporate with enormous benefits in AI and quantum computing analysis.

I feel Alphabet inventory’s value contemplating.