S&P 500 Stages a Massive Rebound! Is 3-Month Rally Really in Play?

On January 21, 2026, $S&P 500(.SPX)$ logged one of its largest single-day gains since last November.

Trump quickly reversed the market’s early-year slump after announcing at the Davos forum a delay of the tariffs on Europe originally scheduled for February 1, and claiming that a “framework agreement” had been reached on Greenland.

Markets interpreted this pivot as a classic “TACO” (Trump Always Chickens Out) moment—where extreme pressure triggers sharp volatility, followed by a White House retreat or compromise.

Historically,“TACO trades” have often been followed by strong upside.

Looking back to the April 2025 “Liberation Day” tariff, the S&P 500 suffered only a brief pullback before policy delays sparked a nearly 40% rally spanning into the following year.

The current foundation remains solid: across 36 major geopolitical events since 1940, U.S. equities rose in the subsequent three months 60% of the time.

More importantly, the recent turbulence has proven to be an excellent buy-the-dip opportunity, as it was driven not by recession risk, but by policy flexibility creating a temporary sentiment premium.

Earnings Season in Full Swing: Can It Further Support Valuations?

Q4 corporate results have provided a firm floor for the broader market.

Analysts of Factset expect double-digit profit growth across all quarters of 2026.

Over the past ten years, actual earnings reported by S&P 500 companies have exceeded estimated earnings by 7.0% on average. During this same period, 76% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported actual EPS above the mean EPS estimate on average.

The latest data from Bank of America (BofA) and JPMorgan suggest that this robust earnings cycle is offsetting tariff-related valuation concerns.

Technical signals further reinforce the sustainability of the uptrend. Last week, roughly 70% of S&P 500 constituents were trading above their 200-day moving averages, while both the Russell 2000 and the equal-weight S&P 500 hit new all-time highs, indicating broad market breadth.

Discussion

  • Does the TACO pattern remain the most reliable signal for adding exposure in U.S. equities?

  • Now that the S&P 500 has erased its 2026 losses, do you think we could see double-digit percentage gains over the next three months?

  • With earnings growth staying strong, would you stick with the S&P 500, or rotate into the higher-beta Russell 2000 small caps?

Share your trading plan in the comments and earn Tiger Coins! 🐯

# TACO Moment: Will Market Double As Trump Says?

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Report

Comment14

  • Top
  • Latest
  • Shyon
    ·00:33
    TOP
    From my perspective, the “TACO” pattern still works as a tactical signal when it’s backed by real policy reversals and strong market breadth. This episode reinforced the idea that policy risk is negotiable, not structural, making sentiment-driven pullbacks attractive buy-the-dip opportunities.

    With the S&P 500 $S&P 500(.SPX)$ now erasing its early-2026 losses, I think double-digit gains over the next three months are achievable, even if volatility persists. Earnings remain the backbone of this move, and improving breadth suggests the rally is healthy rather than narrowly driven.

    Positioning-wise, I’m keeping the S&P 500 as my core exposure while selectively adding higher-beta names. New highs in small caps are encouraging, but I prefer scaling into the Russell 2000  on pullbacks instead of chasing momentum.

    @Tiger_comments @TigerStars @TigerClub

    Reply
    Report
    Fold Replies
  • The TACO pattern is one tool among many, not a standalone signal. S&P 500's recovery on strong earnings is positive, but short-term double-digit gains are uncertain. Choosing between S&P 500 (stability) and Russell 2000 (high-beta growth) depends on your economic outlook and risk appetite; a diversified core-satellite approach is often wise.
    Reply
    Report
  • Alubin
    ·10:48
    Originally I thought there was the possibility to see a rally aka double digit gain in the next 3 months, but with all the stunts from Trump administration, I am super uncertain now.
    Reply
    Report
  • highhand
    ·06:26
    yes I am certainly betting on it.  the TACO effect has flushed down a lot of stocks, especially software. this could be the last flush down to take out stop losses and shake all the weak hands. after this, market climbs and brings everyone up. thats my guess.
    Reply
    Report
  • koolgal
    ·06:04
    🌟🌟🌟Surprisingly the TACO pattern has been remarkably reliable but not infallible and its usefulness depends on whether Trump driven tariff volatility continues to behave in the same way.

    What the data has shown is that the TACO pattern (Trump Always Chickens Out) has produced repeatable, profitable dip buying opportunities whenever tariff threats triggered sharp sell offs, followed by policy reversals that sparked relief rallies.

    The latest episode like the Greenland tariff scare is a great example of a TACO pattern.

    However some analysts have cautioned that the TACO Trade may not always work especially if the markets become desensitised or if a deeper sell off is needed to influence policy.

    In other words, the TACO pattern has been reliable as long as the political behaviour behind it stays predictable.

    @Tiger_comments @Tiger_SG @TigerStars @TigerClub @CaptainTiger

    Reply
    Report
  • Chrishust
    ·02:49
    1. The taco pattern is a reliable strategy for buying us stocks at cheap prices
    2. The outlook for the us economy is highly negative at this time which reduces the likelihood of double digit returns
    3. Sp500 $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ tends to outperform the broader Russell 2000 index
    Reply
    Report
  • icycrystal
    ·02:31
    the TACO pattern has just revalidated itself as one of the most reliable signals for U.S. equities.

    Now that the S&P 500 has erased its initial 2026 losses and is hovering near record highs (around 7,000), a double-digit gain over the next three months is considered unlikely but not impossible.

    Stick with the S&P 500 for core stability and reliable earnings, but use the Russell 2000 for tactical alpha, as it currently has the longest streak of outperformance relative to large caps since 1990.

    Reply
    Report
  • AgathaHume
    ·00:17
    TACO still reliable lah. SPX could hit double digits, I'm holding tight. Small caps tempting though! [看涨]
    Reply
    Report
  • LuHH
    ·06:36
    左媒只会贴taco,到底谁是taco?那八国和欧猪盟吧,尤其马的总统克红🤮
    Reply
    Report
  • AliceSam
    ·06:59
    儿戏一样,特朗普在达沃斯论坛上宣布推迟原定于2月1日对欧洲加征关税
    Reply
    Report
  • AN88
    ·03:59
    yes double digits gain. stick to s and p
    Reply
    Report
  • Myo Htun
    ·08:24

    很棒的文章,你愿意分享吗?

    Reply
    Report