The VIX (S&P 500 fear index) has jumped 50%+ in a single day only 10 times since 1990.
Everyone panics when it happens. Here’s what the S&P actually did after:
1 week later: +1.9% avg
1 month later: higher 9 out of 10 times
6 months later: +9.5% avg, about double a normal 6-month return
The April 2025 tariff crash? Up 32.8% six months later.
The fear spike has usually been the opportunity, not the top.