"Undoubtedly, widespread skepticism may keep the bull in check, as investors become just a bit more cautious with the basket of AI winners that have led the market so far this year. While the skeptics, bears, and doomers may be right to tilt more conservatively (think defensive dividend stocks) as we progress through September, I think most investors should not attempt to time the market."
"While the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 have been full of positive surprises this year, especially given the last two years have been an incredible historical year for returns, many market strategists think there's little reason to think the bullish ascent will end with a painful correction or worse. In fact, the consensus seems to point towards more gains in 2026, with several banks setting their sights on the 7,000s."
The S&P 500 has passed 6,500 with analysts and banks targeting 7,000 next year and broader upside into 2026. Continued strength is tied to AI-driven earnings, potential Fed rate cuts, resilient economic data, and a ‘‘bad news is good news’’ dynamic if jobs soften and policy becomes more dovish. Widespread skepticism could prompt defensive positioning and caution around the leading AI winners, and a modest near-term pullback of about 4–5% is possible. Incremental buying aligned with long-term plans is recommended over attempting to time the market, while some strategists outline base and bull-case targets well above current levels.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]