Analyzing the January Effect begins with identifying the stocks that have the potential to dip around the holiday season. At the end of the calendar year, dips are often caused by tax-loss selling – when retail investors sell losing stocks in December to offset capital gains liability – but also by the usual fundamental drivers that affect stocks all year round.
Such depressed stocks can potentially be capitalized on by savvy investors; although picking stocks of course carries a significant degree of riskIt is not only January that can see different stock market returns. According to data from the S&P 500 since 1928, January shows an average 1% return, but this is outperformed by the likes of March , April and November . September is traditionally a down month , so it may be wise to also consider these seasonal patterns.