2024 Market Recap: Record Highs, AI Hype, and What Wall Street Got Wrong

In this market recap, we analyze 2024's standout performance for U.S. stocks, highlighting how Wall Street's leading firms missed their bearish forecasts. We examine our successful strategy of avoiding international exposure and dive into the AI sector, distinguishing between companies delivering real value and those caught in hype cycles.

We explore critical factors that shaped markets, including mounting government debt concerns and their impact on bonds. Despite these challenges, we highlight positive signals from GDP growth, robust holiday consumer spending, and encouraging corporate earnings projections for 2025. This review provides essential context for both the year behind us and opportunities ahead.