Benner Cycles: When to Buy & Sell Stocks – 1875 Prediction - Will Benner Cycle be Accurate Again in 2026? 2026 is in the set of “Years of Good Times. High Prices and the time to sell Stocks and values of all kinds.” Samuel Benner, a bankrupt industrialist-turned-farmer in Ohio, articulated his cycle theory in a book titled “Business Prophecies of the Future Ups and Downs in Prices” in 1975. The 'B' phase (Good Times) corresponds to high prices and the period for unloading (see the original chart below). “Years of Good Times” are separated in an 8-9-10-year repetitive pattern. Panic years follow a 16-18-20-year repetitive pattern. Apparently, the diagram was initially compiled by Tritch (1872), but it was not attributed to him. How Did Benner’s Cycles Work in the Last 50 Years? Benner’s Peaks (time to sell): 1972 1980 1989 1999 2007 2016 2026 Actual: 1972 1980 1990 2000 2007 2015 ??? Benner’s Panic Years: 1981 1999 2019 2035 Actual: 1981 2000 2020 ??? Rigid application is not perfect, but allowing ±1 year for a margin of error often aligns closely with major turning points. Remarkable for such a long (150 years) look-ahead time.
Published Mar 22, 2026Updated Mar 22, 20263 min read
Benner Cycles: When to Buy & Sell Stocks – 1875 Prediction - Will Benner Cycle be Accurate Again in 2026? 2026 is in the set of “Years of Good Times. High Prices and the time to sell Stocks and values of all kinds.” Samuel Benner, a bankrupt industrialist-turned-farmer in Ohio, articulated his cycle theory in a book titled “Business Prophecies of the Future Ups and Downs in Prices” in 1975. The 'B' phase (Good Times) corresponds to high prices and the period for unloading (see the original chart below). “Years of Good Times” are separated in an 8-9-10-year repetitive pattern. Panic years follow a 16-18-20-year repetitive pattern. Apparently, the diagram was initially compiled by Tritch (1872), but it was not attributed to him. How Did Benner’s Cycles Work in the Last 50 Years? Benner’s Peaks (time to sell): 1972 1980 1989 1999 2007 2016 2026 Actual: 1972 1980 1990 2000 2007 2015 ??? Benner’s Panic Years: 1981 1999 2019 2035 Actual: 1981 2000 2020 ??? Rigid application is not perfect, but allowing ±1 year for a margin of error often aligns closely with major turning points. Remarkable for such a long (150 years) look-ahead time.
