Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBarclays and Deutsche Bank have raised their S&P 500 forecasts, citing strong earnings and AI optimism. Deutsche Bank targets 7,000, Barclays 6,450, amid expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts.
By Rashika Singh and Akriti Shah
(Reuters) - Barclays and Deutsche Bank raised their year-end targets for the S&P 500 on Wednesday, citing stronger corporate earnings, resilient U.S. economic growth and optimism around artificial intelligence.
Deutsche Bank increased its target to 7,000 from 6,550, while Barclays raised its forecast to 6,450 from 6,050.
The index touched a record high of 6,555.97 earlier on Wednesday and has risen 11.2% so far this year.
Barclays and Deutsche Bank join a spate of banks that recently upgraded their view on the U.S. stock market despite lingering concerns about President Donald Trump's tariffs on the economy and corporate earnings.
"We expect equity valuations to remain elevated by historical standards, driven by higher payout ratios, perceptions of higher trend earnings growth...and earnings resilience with fewer significant drawdowns," says Binky Chadha, analyst at Deutsche Bank.
The S&P 500 has rallied more than 30% from its April lows, buoyed by resilient earnings and investor enthusiasm around the AI boom.
"Corporate earnings are solid and global GDP growth is stabilizing, but US labor market risks are worsening," say Barclays strategists, whose target suggests the S&P could end the year just below current levels.
Data on Friday showed U.S. job growth weakened sharply in August and the unemployment rate rose to a near four-year high of 4.3%.
Signs of a cooling labor market and tame inflation have increased expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts this year and next, further supporting equities.
Barclays expects three rate cuts before year-end, which it says will help offset labor market weakness.
In addition, it lifted its 2026 target for the S&P 500 to 7,000 from 6,700.
Investors will be closely watching the Fed's policy meeting next week for clues on the rate cut path and broader market direction.
(Reporting by Rashika Singh and Akriti Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Krishna Chandra Eluri)
Deutsche Bank raised its target to 7,000 from 6,550, while Barclays increased its forecast to 6,450 from 6,050.
The forecasts are driven by stronger corporate earnings, resilient U.S. economic growth, and optimism around the AI boom.
Data showed that U.S. job growth weakened sharply in August, with the unemployment rate rising to a near four-year high of 4.3%.
Barclays expects three rate cuts before year-end, which they believe will help offset labor market weakness.
Investors will be closely watching the Fed's policy meeting next week for clues on the rate cut path and broader market direction.
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