401(k) investors could profit from traditional post-Thanksgiving stock rally

401(k) investors, already thankful for the sizable stock market gains in 2017, may also benefit from a post-Turkey Day rally on Wall Street.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that usually shines a lasting glow on investors saving for retirement and other goals.

The stock market has a habit of going up after Thanksgiving and finishing the year strongly. Since 1945, the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index has risen nearly 2% from Thanksgiving to the end of the year. That return has increased to 2.14% since the 2009 bull market began.