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The presidential cycle shows that the fourth year, which aligns with election year, generally experiences the second largest gain in the stock market. This is often attributed to several factors. Firstly, the sitting president may implement policies aimed at stimulating the economy to influence the election outcome positively. Additionally, election years tend to come with heightened political attention and optimism, which can boost investor sentiment. Historical trends suggest that markets often rally in anticipation of a change in leadership or the continuity of the current administration's policies being re-evaluated.

The other years in the presidential cycle do have varied performances, but none typically exhibit the same level of market gains as the fourth year. The first year often sees volatility due to the transition of power and uncertainty about new policies. The second year can reflect the results of those policies, with mixed performance. The third year tends to be characterized by greater gains as the administration's policies begin to show their effects on the economy before election dynamics kick in again in the fourth year.