U.S. stock market futures indicated a positive start to 2026, with Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq E-minis showing gains in pre-market trading. This follows a strong 2025 where all three major indexes posted double-digit gains for the third consecutive year, driven by interest in artificial intelligence stocks. Despite a late-year slowdown and declines in the final trading sessions of 2025, analysts anticipate a potential recovery, noting historical patterns of positive annual returns even after a weak start.