The Russell 2000, which tracks smid-cap stocks, hit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-22/small-caps-headed-for-longest-win-streak-over-s-p-500-since-1996">another record high</a> on Thursday, January 22, for the eighth time since the start of 2026. It also outperformed the U.S. broad-market benchmark, the S&amp;P 500, for the 14th consecutive session. That marks the Russell 2000’s longest winning streak versus large caps since May 1996, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-01-22-2026/card/russell-2000-winning-streak-is-its-longest-in-nearly-30-years-RnuZ0lfDDkkDHzTUUXXs?mod=lctimeline_finance">notes</a>. This is just the beginning, according to investment bank <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-22/small-caps-headed-for-longest-win-streak-over-s-p-500-since-1996">BTIG</a>.

Russell 2000 sets eighth record high in 2026. How long will the rally go?

The Russell 2000, which tracks shares of small- and mid-cap companies, outperformed the broader U.S. market benchmark, the S&amp;P 500, for a ninth consecutive session on Wednesday, January 14. That marks the index’s longest winning streak against large caps in 25 years, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-13/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates?srnd=homepage-europe&amp;sref=Y0jVLcFo">reports</a>. The move reflects growing investor skepticism over the durability of artificial intelligence-driven gains, resulting in capital rotation.

Russell 2000 beats S&P 500 for ninth straight time, now the longest streak since 1990

The Russell 2000 index, which tracks small-cap stocks, set a new all-time high on Monday, January 12, and outperformed the S&amp;P 500 for a seventh straight session, marking its longest winning streak since 2019, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-12/small-cap-stocks-post-longest-win-streak-over-s-p-500-since-2019?embedded-checkout=true">wrote</a>. Barron’s <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/small-company-stocks-rally-1f64499a?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdEPhgBONFBOXARir0fRH7GxP3k5tzb2sppbPhcClif-MQfCC6EJSWD&amp;gaa_ts=69660c2c&amp;gaa_sig=qz3nYRW4R1IaY0veJi0n4pshyZJahGzpPHKuXIm65XNvjhv5EtwaMl16XEXnzRDcq6vCgglLur4XZSc3jS9PpA%3D%3D">attributed</a>&nbsp;the move in part to the so-called January effect, while analysts and money managers say the rally could have further to run.

Russell 2000 extends longest winning streak vs S&P 500 since 2019

The Russell 2000, which tracks the performance of small and mid-cap stocks, reached a new all-time high on Thursday, January 8. Analysts view the move as an important signal for economic growth and see favorable prospects for smaller companies.

Russell 2000 hits another all-time high in 'broadening out of the market'

Broadcom Inc.

Oracle Corporation

NVIDIA Corporation

U.S. stocks fell sharply on Friday, December 12, amid the ongoing sell-off of securities related to artificial intelligence. The main catalysts of the sector's decline were Oracle, which became a kind of indicator of the boom in the AI-industry, and rival Nvidia chipmaker Broadcom, whose order volume turned out to be worse than some investors expected. Doubts about the prospects of the two companies have brought concerns about the valuation of the tech giants back to the market.

"The AI bubble is deflating but not bursting": major US indices collapsed on Friday

Visa Inc.

The company's weak report pulled the entire AI sector down, but Wedbush analysts see it as a buying opportunity on the downturn 

S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones indexes jumped to records. What does this have to do with Oracle's collapse?

Major U.S. stock indexes rose and the index of small-capitalization companies reached a record at the end of trading on December 10, after the U.S. Federal Reserve <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/frs-snizila-stavku-tretij-raz-podrad-cto-budet-dal-se">cut </a>interest rates for the third time in a row. The regulator's committee members expect another round of easing next year, but traders are betting there will be two. Some analysts suggest the S&amp;P 500 could now cross the 7,000-point mark "in the coming weeks."

US indices rose sharply after the Fed rate cut. Will there be a Santa Claus rally?

The Russell 2000 pushed to a fresh intraday high on Tuesday, December 9, as investors continued piling into small caps, but the small- and mid-cap index faded into the close and stopped just short of another all-time high, which would have been its eighth just since September. The small-cap segment may get a further boost today if the Fed announces another rate cut. Still, Noble Capital Markets cautions that the rally remains exposed to macro and Fed-policy risks.

Russell 2000 almost hits another all-time high, but how much upside remains?

Netflix, Inc.

The main U.S. stock index rose for the fourth day in a row at the end of trading on December 5: it approached the all-time record, which was set in October, but has not yet broken it. Investors decided not to make big bets in anticipation of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision next week, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-04/stock-market-today-dow-s-p-live-updates">explained</a>.

S&amp;P 500 is one step away from a new record: investors await Fed rate decision

Amprius Technologies, Inc.

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.

While tech giants remain at the center of market attention, another trend – the rapid rise of small-capitalization industrial stocks – has largely gone unnoticed. Take the Equal Weight Industrial Small Caps Index, compiled for Oninvest by analyst Aldiyar Anuarbekov: it has gained 19.6% year to date.

While tech steals the spotlight, small cap industrials outperforming in 2025

Amazon.com, Inc.

Alphabet Inc.

U.S. stocks ended October in the plus. Stock market indices at the end of the month showed the longest growth in the last four years, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b78abb32-223a-45b2-a999-133e4273aa52">notes the</a> Financial Times. Investor sentiment was influenced by the excitement around artificial intelligence, the Fed interest rate cut and Donald Trump's decision to ease trade pressure on China.

'Pure bullish optimism': US stocks extended their longest rally in four years

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Citigroup Inc.

Wells Fargo & Company

The long-awaited inflation report showed that consumer prices rose at a lower rate than expected in September