Aging bull: Why this 4-year-old stock-market rally still packs a punch

The current bull market has now passed its fourth anniversary, a milestone that invites the obvious question: how much longer can it run? According to research from Truist Advisory Services, history offers a reassuring pattern. Bull markets that survive past their fourth year have rarely ended soon after — the rally has typically continued rather than reversed.

That doesn't mean smooth sailing. The observation is a historical tendency, not a guarantee, and mature bull markets often face slower gains, periodic pullbacks, and shifting leadership as economic conditions evolve. What matters for investors is context: age alone has not been a reliable sell signal.

Going forward, watch the drivers that have sustained the advance — corporate earnings, interest-rate expectations, and broad economic momentum. If those fundamentals hold, the rally's age may matter less than its foundation. If they deteriorate, history's pattern offers little protection.