We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Spring Forward: 5 Indicators Illustrate a Bullish Shift
Key Takeaways
Stocks have bottomed on March 12th on average over the past 20 years.
VIX spikes above $28 provide attractive buy points for equity investors.
Leading AI stocks are defending support, signaling bulls remain in control.
Despite Market Volatility, Bulls Have the Edge: Here’s Why
Lately, Wall Street investors have had to contend with a choppy market and heightened volatility driven by geopolitical turmoil, inflation concerns, and AI-related spending concerns. However, if there’s one lesson veteran investors understand, it’s to block out the headlines and noise and instead take a non-emotional, hard look at key market indicators. Below are 5 indications that the bulls have a large edge into spring.
Spring Seasonality Favors the Bulls
Seasonal patterns are often studied by investors because they provide a roadmap of the recurring,often predictable price trends that occur at certain times of year on Wall Street. In 2026 in particular, seasonality has proved its mettle. Historical seasonality trends predicted modest gains in January before a correction that occurs in the back half of February and into the beginning of March – and that is exactly what has occurred. However, this same seasonal road map now suggests a robust rally into year-end. In fact, stocks have bottomed on average on March 12th over the past two decades.
Image Source: Carson Investment Research
Volatility Spikes Lead to Buying Opportunities
Historically, volatility spikes provide some of the best buying opportunities on Wall Street. Often, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) spikes represent emotionally driven panic among investors that is detached from the underlying fundamentals of the economy. Over the past few years, spikes above $28 in the VIX have served as strong buy zones for bulls. Earlier this month, VIX spiked above $28 amid fears about geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East.
Image Source: TradingView
Inflationary Concerns are Overblown
The Jones Act, or Section 27 of the Marchan Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and mandates that all goods that are transported by water must be carried on ships that are U.S.-built, flagged, owned, and crewed. However, amid the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump has suspended the Jones Act. The suspension of the Jones Act should increase supply flexibility and provide some relief for rising oil and gas prices.
Meanwhile, although high energy prices are putting pressure on prices at the pump, the overall inflation rate remains tame. According to Truflation, which aggregates 35 million real-time data points, U.S. CPI is still just 1.21% - well below the lagging government-provided numbers would suggest.
Image Source: Truflation
Leaders Defend Long-Term Support
Despite recent market volatility, several leading AI-related stocks have recently found support at their rising 10-week moving averages, including SanDisk ((SNDK - Free Report) ),Micron ((MU - Free Report) ),Bloom Energy ((BE - Free Report) ),Vertiv ((VRT - Free Report) ), and Lumentum ((LITE - Free Report) ).
Image Source: TradingView
Investors are Extremely Fearful
According to the CNN Fear & Greed Index, investors are “extremely fearful.” As Warren Buffett teaches,“Be greedy when others are fearful.”
Image Source: CNN
Bottom Line
Navigating a market defined by geopolitical friction can be challenging. By recognizing that volatility spikes often create better buys than sells, especially when real-time inflation remains manageable, and leading stocks hold their long-term support, investors can position themselves for seasonal strength ahead.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Spring Forward: 5 Indicators Illustrate a Bullish Shift
Key Takeaways
Despite Market Volatility, Bulls Have the Edge: Here’s Why
Lately, Wall Street investors have had to contend with a choppy market and heightened volatility driven by geopolitical turmoil, inflation concerns, and AI-related spending concerns. However, if there’s one lesson veteran investors understand, it’s to block out the headlines and noise and instead take a non-emotional, hard look at key market indicators. Below are 5 indications that the bulls have a large edge into spring.
Spring Seasonality Favors the Bulls
Seasonal patterns are often studied by investors because they provide a roadmap of the recurring,often predictable price trends that occur at certain times of year on Wall Street. In 2026 in particular, seasonality has proved its mettle. Historical seasonality trends predicted modest gains in January before a correction that occurs in the back half of February and into the beginning of March – and that is exactly what has occurred. However, this same seasonal road map now suggests a robust rally into year-end. In fact, stocks have bottomed on average on March 12th over the past two decades.
Image Source: Carson Investment Research
Volatility Spikes Lead to Buying Opportunities
Historically, volatility spikes provide some of the best buying opportunities on Wall Street. Often, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) spikes represent emotionally driven panic among investors that is detached from the underlying fundamentals of the economy. Over the past few years, spikes above $28 in the VIX have served as strong buy zones for bulls. Earlier this month, VIX spiked above $28 amid fears about geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East.
Image Source: TradingView
Inflationary Concerns are Overblown
The Jones Act, or Section 27 of the Marchan Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and mandates that all goods that are transported by water must be carried on ships that are U.S.-built, flagged, owned, and crewed. However, amid the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump has suspended the Jones Act. The suspension of the Jones Act should increase supply flexibility and provide some relief for rising oil and gas prices.
Meanwhile, although high energy prices are putting pressure on prices at the pump, the overall inflation rate remains tame. According to Truflation, which aggregates 35 million real-time data points, U.S. CPI is still just 1.21% - well below the lagging government-provided numbers would suggest.
Image Source: Truflation
Leaders Defend Long-Term Support
Despite recent market volatility, several leading AI-related stocks have recently found support at their rising 10-week moving averages, including SanDisk ((SNDK - Free Report) ), Micron ((MU - Free Report) ), Bloom Energy ((BE - Free Report) ), Vertiv ((VRT - Free Report) ), and Lumentum ((LITE - Free Report) ).
Image Source: TradingView
Investors are Extremely Fearful
According to the CNN Fear & Greed Index, investors are “extremely fearful.” As Warren Buffett teaches,“Be greedy when others are fearful.”
Image Source: CNN
Bottom Line
Navigating a market defined by geopolitical friction can be challenging. By recognizing that volatility spikes often create better buys than sells, especially when real-time inflation remains manageable, and leading stocks hold their long-term support, investors can position themselves for seasonal strength ahead.