Stock Market Forecasts

This page provides a running tally of stock market forecast accuracy. If other, larger studies are any indication, it will eventually settle on a 50% accuracy rate, same as a coin toss.

It’s important to understand that stock market forecasters cannot add value to your investing performance. Acting on their hunches will reduce your profit. It’s best to call them something that reminds you to ignore them: Z-vals.

The term z-val (“zee val”) is a shorthand introduced in The 3% Signal for “zero-validity forecasters” and “zero-validity environment.” The latter phrase was coined by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, where he wrote that “stock pickers and political scientists who make long-term forecasts operate in a zero-validity environment. Their failures reflect the basic unpredictability of the events that they try to forecast.”

This page is the Z-val Zone of Stock Market Forecasts.

The table below lists forecasts as they’re added. Accuracy is displayed once a z-val has at least one forecast tracked. Recent forecasts are shown below the table. For a complete history, see the Z-val Zone Judgment Schedule.

The purpose of this page is not to harm anybody’s reputation, but to show investors that guessing games don’t work. Click on some of the names below. Read their convincing forecasts. Notice:

1. The list of worries is a repeating one.
2. Bearish forecasts are usually wrong.
3. The way to win is to stick with an effective plan.

I recommend my Signal system of rational reaction as the best effective plan for Point 3 above. It takes into account the repeating factors of the stock market and its historical tendencies, and reacts rationally to what unfolds, no forecasting required.

Once you understand that forecasting is unhelpful, join me in looking only at past prices instead of guessing future ones. It will boost your performance and lower your stress.

To beat the market using a proven forecast-free system, please sign up for The Kelly Letter.

31

Total Forecasters

50

Total Forecasts

50

Judged Forecasts

10

Right

40

Wrong

20

Group Accuracy

All Forecasts

RIGHTTBDWRONG

Bianco: 5-9% Drop in Near Term

“Strong job growth and falling unemployment, despite still-slow GDP, suggest that Fed hikes are on the horizon and likely strengthen the dollar further. We see risk of a near-term 5 to 9 percent dip.” — Excerpt contributed by Jason Kelly _____________________________________ Z-val: David Bianco Via: Bloomberg Date: 3/10/15 Disposition: Immediate-Term Bearish S&P 500 on 3/10/15: […]

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Colas: Valuations Reasonable; More Volatility on Path Higher

“Valuations are reasonable now. They’re not low anymore. We’re at a level where we’ll still make new highs, but there will be a lot more volatility on the path higher.” – Excerpt contributed by Chad Berger Z-val: Nicholas Colas Via: Reuters Date: 3/10/15 Disposition: Short-Term Bullish S&P 500 on 3/10/15: 2044 S&P 500 on 6/10/15: […]

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Siegel: Low Rates Are Long-Term Bullish

“The reason I’m not bearish is that interest rates are so low and even with the Fed maybe tightening in June, maybe September, they are going to remain well below their average for many, many years, and that’s a very, very important consideration — valuation of the market. … “I would not just look at […]

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Siegel: 5-10% Drop Within Three Months

“We’re within 10 percent of what I consider ‘fair market value’ … Could there be a correction? We haven’t had a correction in so many years. Most certainly. … I certainly would not be surprised to see a correction in the next three months that brings the market down maybe 5 percent to 10 percent.” […]

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Kass: Market View Remains Negative

“My market view remains negative and I am positioned defensively. Thus far, the market is indifferent to what I have seen as a deterioration in the macroeconomic trends and to rising geopolitical threats. … “Adding to the fundamental issues (estimated 2015 S&P profit forecasts have consistently dropped from $137/share to $119/share) is that sentiment is […]

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