# S&P 500 at record high: history favours buying, says analysis 2026-08-12T02:25:40+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The S&P 500 hit a record 7,758 on August 7, gaining 13% in 2026. Investors worry if it is safe to buy at these levels. Warren Buffett's advice is to focus on individual business earnings and rational prices, not market highs. History from J.P. Morgan (1988-2024) shows that buying at record highs has delivered average one-year returns of 13%, compared with 12% on any random day, Hindustan Times reports citing The Motley Fool. The average five-year return after record highs is 81% versus 75% on any random day. But risks remain. The S&P 500 trades at 28 times earnings, above its five-year average of 24. FactSet Research expects 22% annual earnings growth through 2027. Potential interest rate hikes, the 2026 midterm elections, and disappointing corporate earnings could all hit stocks, The Motley Fool warns. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: earnings growth, S&P 500, stock market, US economy, valuation, Warren Buffett Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sp-500-at-record-high-history-favours-buying-says-analysis/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sp-500-at-record-high-history-favours-buying-says-analysis/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.