S&P 500, Nasdaq futures edge up with focus on earnings, economic data By Reuters
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 16 2025
0mins
Source: Investing.com
Market Performance: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures rose following strong quarterly results from Bank of America, while investors awaited key economic data, including retail sales and jobless claims.
Corporate Earnings and Economic Outlook: A significant majority of S&P 500 companies have exceeded earnings estimates, with market expectations shifting towards a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in July amid easing inflation concerns.
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Analyst Views on BAC
Wall Street analysts forecast BAC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BAC is 61.17 USD with a low forecast of 55.00 USD and a high forecast of 71.00 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.
18 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 56.530
Low
55.00
Averages
61.17
High
71.00
Current: 56.530
Low
55.00
Averages
61.17
High
71.00
About BAC
Bank of America Corporation is a bank holding company and a financial holding company. Its segments include Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking and Global Markets. Consumer Banking segment offers a range of credit, banking and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The GWIM includes two businesses: Merrill Wealth Management, which provides tailored solutions to meet clients' needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking and retirement products and Bank of America Private Bank, which provides comprehensive wealth management solutions. Global Banking segment provides a range of lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions, and underwriting and advisory services. Global Markets segment offers sales and trading services and research services to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses.
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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- Earnings Beat: In Q4 2025, BofA reported an EPS of $0.98, exceeding the expected $0.96, with quarterly revenue of $28.4 billion surpassing forecasts of $27.55 billion, reflecting growth driven by lower provisions and a slight increase in net interest income.
- Cautious Outlook: Despite strong earnings, analysts noted a decline in BofA's stock post-results due to management's guidance for FY 2026 operating leverage at the low end of expectations, around 200 basis points, below the medium-term target range of 200 to 300 basis points.
- Market Competition Analysis: While BofA is viewed as a solid long-term investment, analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk, highlighting a diverse focus on various investment opportunities in the market.
See More
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- Market Performance Analysis: In 2026, the S&P Consumer Staples sector ranks third among 11 sectors with a 13% increase, benefiting Coca-Cola as a component stock from the overall positive market trend.
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See More
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- Kroger's New CEO: Kroger's stock advanced nearly 7% in premarket trading after reports indicated that former Walmart executive Greg Foran will be appointed as the new CEO, having previously led Walmart's U.S. division for six years, suggesting a strategic shift for Kroger.
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- Portfolio Composition: VCIT invests primarily in high-quality investment-grade corporate debt, including holdings in Meta and U.S. Treasuries, while VGIT focuses exclusively on U.S. government bonds, offering lower credit risk suitable for conservative investors.
- Market Volatility Response: During market volatility, VGIT typically attracts investors due to the safety of Treasuries, while VCIT may experience greater price fluctuations due to corporate credit risk, necessitating investors to choose based on their risk tolerance.
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- Expanding Customer Base: The number of customers with ARR over $100,000 grew by 12% to 2,506, while those exceeding $1 million increased by 10% to 333, reflecting UiPath's appeal and market penetration among high-value clients.
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See More
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See More
