The S&P 500, or Standard & Poor’s 500, is a stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. It is widely regarded as one of the most representative indicators of the U.S. stock market, encompassing approximately 80% of the total market capitalization of U.S. public companies.
As of March 12, 2025, the S&P 500 has experienced a decline of about 9.3% from its peak on February 19. This downturn is primarily attributed to concerns over new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, which have heightened policy uncertainty and raised fears about potential economic repercussions.
In response to these developments, Goldman Sachs has revised its year-end target for the S&P 500 from 6,500 to 6,200, citing increased policy uncertainty and economic growth concerns. Despite this adjustment, the new target still represents a potential increase of approximately 10.6% from the index’s last close of 5,572.07.
For investors seeking exposure to the S&P 500, one option is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which aims to replicate the performance of the index. As of March 12, 2025, SPY is trading at $559.36 USD, reflecting a slight increase of 0.62% from the previous close.