A Stock Market Skeptic Holds a Cautiously Optimistic Outlook for 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 11 2025
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Market Outlook: A pessimistic strategist predicts the S&P 500 could rise nearly 10% next year.
- Potential Risks: Despite the optimistic projection, there is also a possibility that the index could end up in negative territory.
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Analyst Views on SF
Wall Street analysts forecast SF stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SF is 143.67 USD with a low forecast of 133.00 USD and a high forecast of 155.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 128.040
Low
133.00
Averages
143.67
High
155.00
Current: 128.040
Low
133.00
Averages
143.67
High
155.00
About SF
Stifel Financial Corp. is a financial holding company. The Company's principal subsidiary is Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, a full-service retail and institutional wealth management and investment banking company. The Company’s segments include Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other. Its Global Wealth Management segment provides securities transaction, brokerage, and investment services to its clients through the consolidated Stifel branch system. The Institutional Group segment includes research, equity and fixed income institutional sales and trading, investment banking, public finance, and syndicate. The Other segment includes interest income from stock borrowing activities, unallocated interest expense, interest income and gains and losses from investments held, amortization of stock-based awards for certain administrative associates; and all unallocated overhead costs associated with the execution of orders; custody of client securities, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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