Not a good buy right now: price is sitting just above key support (~69.97) while momentum indicators (MACD) are still deteriorating.
Options positioning is call-skewed (bullish OI), but very high IV percentile into earnings implies the market is pricing a meaningful event move rather than a clean directional edge.
Best buy trigger from the current setup would be either (1) a post-earnings reclaim of the pivot ~72.99, or (2) a clear bounce off ~69.97 with momentum improvement; neither is confirmed yet.
Net: hold off on a fresh entry today; if already owned, hold through this level rather than adding.
Technical Analysis
Trend/momentum: MACD histogram at -0.504 and negatively expanding = bearish momentum still building.
RSI: RSI(6) ~35.14 (weak/near-oversold territory), suggesting selling pressure is elevated but not yet a confirmed reversal signal.
Moving averages: converging MAs = consolidation/indecision; no clear uptrend re-established.
Key levels: Support S1 ~69.97 (price ~70.1 is right on it); if that breaks, next support S2 ~68.09. Resistance/pivot ~72.99; upside resistance at ~76.02 then ~77.90.
Pattern-based outlook: Similar-candlestick model suggests mild upside bias beyond the near-term (next month +4.58%), but near-term edge is weak (next day slightly negative expected).
Options Data
Bullish
Open Interest Put-Call Ratio
Bullish
Option Volume Put-Call Ratio
Sentiment via positioning: Put/Call OI ratio 0.11 (calls heavily outweigh puts) = bullish longer positioning.
Liquidity/flow today: extremely light volume (total volume 4; put volume 4, call volume 0) so today’s tape is not very informative.
Volatility pricing: 30D IV ~45.37 vs historical vol ~30.75, with IV percentile ~84.86 = options pricing elevated event risk (consistent with imminent earnings).
Takeaway: bullish OI skew, but the high IV suggests the “easy money” directional buy is not obvious right now without a technical reversal confirmation.
Technical Summary
Sell
3
Buy
18
Positive Catalysts
Earnings catalyst: QDEC 2025 earnings scheduled 2026-02-05 after hours (can reset trend if results/guide surprise to the upside).
Analyst tone improving: recent initiation/upgrade cycle points to an expected 2026 rebound (utilization improvement, margin expansion narrative).
Longer-horizon setup: pattern-based projection shows positive 1-month tendency (+4.58%), supporting the idea of a rebound if support holds.
UBS (2025-12-15): Kept Neutral, raised PT to $81 from $76; notes improving demand and a stronger 2026 trajectory.
William Blair (2025-11-17): Upgraded to Outperform, expecting return to high-single-digit revenue growth in 2026 and AI as a medium-term benefit.
Wall Street pros: rebound/utilization and 2026 growth acceleration narrative.
Wall Street cons: lingering investor concerns and the stock still needing evidence of re-acceleration translating into price strength (currently below key pivot).
Wall Street analysts forecast EXPO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EXPO is 85.5 USD with a low forecast of 81 USD and a high forecast of 90 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.
3 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast EXPO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EXPO is 85.5 USD with a low forecast of 81 USD and a high forecast of 90 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.
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 70.830
Low
81
Averages
85.5
High
90
Current: 70.830
Low
81
Averages
85.5
High
90
JPMorgan
Tomohiko Sano
Overweight
initiated
$100
AI Analysis
2026-01-26
Reason
JPMorgan
Tomohiko Sano
Price Target
$100
AI Analysis
2026-01-26
initiated
Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan analyst Tomohiko Sano initiated coverage of Exponent with an Overweight rating and $100 price target, representing 35% upside potential. Exponent is a leader in science and engineering consulting, serving over 2,000 clients across 17 primary practices, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says the company is positioned for a "strong rebound," with its revenue growth projected to accelerate to 9.5% in 2026 and margin expansion as headwinds ease and utilization improves. The stock offers potential upside as Exponent's fundamentals recover and valuation normalizes, contends JPMorgan.
UBS
Neutral
maintain
$76 -> $81
2025-12-15
Reason
UBS
Price Target
$76 -> $81
2025-12-15
maintain
Neutral
Reason
UBS raised the firm's price target on Exponent to $81 from $76 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. Recent investor meetings left a positive impression, with management signaling a return to FTE growth that should support a stronger revenue trajectory in 2026, the analyst says in a research note. Improving demand, particularly in Consumer Electronics, and Exponent's premium, highly technical positioning suggest accelerating financial momentum into 2026 despite lingering investor concerns, UBS says.
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