WALL STREET CONSENSUS
S&P 500 Targets 2026 — Major Banks Comparison
8 major Wall Street banks have published S&P 500 year-end targets for 2026, with an average of 7,288 and a median of 7,700. The range spans 6,200 to 8,000, a 25% dispersion band. With the S&P 500 currently at 7,101, the average target implies 2.6% upside.
Forecasts compiled as of: Apr 17, 2026
Average Target
7,288
Median
7,700
Range Low
6,200
Range High
8,000
Bank-by-Bank Forecast Comparison
| Institution | Target | Sentiment | Timeframe | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | 7,600 | bullish | End 2026 | 2026-01-15 |
| JPMorgan | 6,300 | cautious | End 2026 | 2026-01-20 |
| Morgan Stanley | 7,800 | bullish | End 2026 | 2026-01-18 |
| Bank of America | 6,200 | cautious | End 2026 | 2026-02-05 |
| Citigroup | 7,700 | bullish | End 2026 | 2026-01-22 |
| Deutsche Bank | 8,000 | bullish | End 2026 | 2026-02-10 |
| Barclays | 7,000 | moderate | End 2026 | 2026-01-25 |
| UBS | 7,700 | bullish | End 2026 | 2026-02-01 |
Targets sourced from public media reports of institutional research. Reference only — not used in AhaSignals index scoring.
Divergence Analysis
The Wall Street S&P 500 consensus for 2026 shows a 1,800-point range between the most bullish (Deutsche Bank at 8,000) and most cautious (Bank of America at 6,200) targets. The key disagreement centers on whether AI-driven productivity gains will sustain elevated earnings multiples or whether concentration risk and rate sensitivity will trigger a correction. With forward P/E at 23.1x, the market is pricing in significant earnings growth that must materialize to justify current levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the average S&P 500 target for 2026?
- The average Wall Street year-end target for the S&P 500 in 2026 is 7,288, based on 8 major bank forecasts. This implies 2.6% upside from the current level of 7,101.
- Which bank has the highest S&P 500 target?
- Deutsche Bank has the highest S&P 500 target at 8,000, driven by expectations of mid-teens earnings growth and EPS toward $320.
- Which bank has the lowest S&P 500 target?
- Bank of America has the most cautious target at 6,200, flagging 10–15% technical pullback risk and K-shaped consumer divergence.
- Are Wall Street S&P 500 targets reliable?
- Wall Street year-end targets have historically shown a bullish bias. The consensus has overestimated returns in bear markets and underestimated in strong bull markets. The dispersion across targets is often more informative than the average.
Data Sources
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Reference only — not used in index scoring. Not investment advice. Forecasts sourced from public media reports of institutional research. See methodology.