Seasonality Indicates an Important Peak in March for the NASDAQ 100
Key Points
- Mid-term election year seasonality shows the NASDAQ 100 typically bottoms in early February, rallies to a March 18 peak, then declines through October. The index bottomed February 6, 2026, aligning with this pattern.
- The target of $26,608 represents 161.8% of the 2020-2021 rally measured from the 2020 low. When third waves miss targets, B-waves of fourth waves often reach them, as seen in July 2011, November 2015, October 2018, and February 2020.
- The analyst expects a multi-month correction following the March peak, potentially dropping to 5,800 (+/- 300) before the next rally phase can begin toward 8,100+.
AI Summary
Market Summary: NASDAQ 100 Seasonality Analysis
Key Thesis:
Technical analysis indicates the NASDAQ 100 may reach an important peak around March 18, 2026, at approximately $26,600, followed by a multi-month correction through October.
Critical Data Points:
- The index has traded sideways since October 2025, currently at early October levels
- Target: $26,608 (161.8% extension of 2020-2021 rally from 2022 low)
- Secondary near-term target: $24,200 +/- 200
- Expected correction post-March peak: decline to 5,800 +/- 300 before next rally to 8,100+
Technical Analysis Framework:
The forecast combines Elliott Wave (EW) analysis with mid-term election year seasonality patterns. Historical midterm election years show the index typically:
- Bottoms early February (occurred Feb 6, 2026)
- Peaks around February 15
- Dips briefly around February 21
- Rallies to final March 18 high
- Declines substantially through October
Historical Context:
Wave-3 peaked October 29, 2025, but fell 500 points short of targets. The analyst notes similar patterns in July 2011, November 2015, October 2018, and February 2020, where B-waves reached new highs before significant C-wave declines.
Warning Levels for Bears: 24,854; 25,112; 25,418; 25,840; 26,182
Market Implications:
Investors should anticipate potential short-term upside through mid-March, followed by a substantial multi-month correction. The analysis suggests focusing on weekly/monthly timeframes rather than volatile daily movements for strategic positioning.
Model Analysis Breakdown
| Model | Sentiment | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-5-mini | Bullish | 88% |
| Claude 4.5 Haiku | Bullish | 78% |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | Bullish | 75% |
| Consensus | Bullish | 80% |