Investors hoping for better returns in 2025 have an opportunity to make last-minute changes to their portfolios before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. However, those looking to ring in New Year’s Day by making a fresh stock purchase might want to think twice.

Every year, investors look forward to the “Santa Claus rally,” a period that encompasses the final five trading days of December and the first two trading days of the new year. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has gained, on average, 1.3% during this stretch, while finishing higher nearly 80% of the time, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

U.S. stocks are drifting higher as Wall Street’s superstar, Nvidia, steams toward another record. The S&P 500 was 0.4% higher in early trading Tuesday. The index is on track for