Wells Fargo has upgraded its outlook for the S&P 500 stock index, citing several factors driving bullish sentiment in the market. They have raised their year-end target for the index to 5,535 points, up from 4,625, indicating a potential additional increase of over 6% from current levels.
Analysts at Wells Fargo Securities point to the ongoing momentum of the bull market, growing optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), and the possibility of Federal Reserve rate cuts as key drivers for further gains in U.S. equities throughout 2024.
This forecast marks one of the most optimistic targets for the S&P 500 among major banks and research firms tracked by MarketWatch. Other firms such as Oppenheimer Asset Management and Société Générale have also revised their year-end targets upward.
According to Christopher Harvey and Gary Liebowitz, equity analysts at Wells Fargo, factors such as the bull market, the compelling narrative of AI’s long-term growth potential, and the concentration of certain stocks in the index have shifted investors’ focus away from traditional valuation metrics towards longer-term growth prospects.
The analysts have also revised their earnings estimate for the S&P 500 in 2025 to $270 per share, up from $250, with a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 20.5 times. They attribute this optimism to improving U.S. economic growth and the potential for margin expansion in higher-margin sectors such as information technology and communication services.
The strong performance of mega-cap technology firms has propelled U.S. stocks to record highs in the first quarter of 2024, with the S&P 500 up 9.3% year-to-date. Despite concerns about rising interest rates, some traders still anticipate multiple rate cuts from the Fed in 2024, which could further support equity markets.
Looking ahead, Harvey and Liebowitz anticipate increased market volatility in the first half of 2024, followed by a potential “melt-up” in the second half, driven by political developments and a potential easing cycle by the Fed.
Given this outlook, Wells Fargo analysts suggest a strategy of “barbelling” the communications sector with defensive stocks in healthcare and utilities. This approach aims to capture potential upside while providing downside protection amid market fluctuations.
