With the end of the year approaching, where are analysts most optimistic and pessimistic in terms of their ratings on stocks in the S&P 500? How have their views changed over the past few months?
Overall, there are 10,362 ratings on stocks in the S&P 500. Of these 10,362 ratings, 50.4% are Buy ratings, 42.5% are Hold ratings, and 7.0% are Sell ratings.
At the sector level, analysts are most optimistic on the Energy (66%), Health Care (59%), and Communication Services (59%) sectors, as these three sectors have highest percentages of Buy ratings.
On the other hand, analysts are most pessimistic about the Consumer Staples (39%), Utilities (42%), Financials (42%), and Real Estate (43%) sectors, as these sectors have the lowest percentages of Buy ratings. The Real Estate sector also has the highest percentage of Hold ratings (51%), while the Consumer Staples (12%) and Utilities (11%) sectors also have the highest percentages of Sell ratings.
At the company level, the 10 stocks in the S&P 500 with the highest percentages of Buy ratings and the highest percentages of Sell ratings are shown in the tables below.
|
Company |
Buy |
Hold |
Sell |
|
Assurant, Inc. |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Diamondback Energy, Inc. |
97% |
3% |
0% |
|
Amazon.com, Inc. |
96% |
4% |
0% |
|
L3Harris Technologies Inc |
95% |
5% |
0% |
|
salesforce.com, inc. |
93% |
7% |
0% |
|
Quanta Services, Inc. |
93% |
7% |
0% |
|
Boston Scientific Corporation |
92% |
4% |
4% |
|
Visa Inc. Class A |
91% |
6% |
3% |
|
Mastercard Incorporated Class A |
91% |
6% |
3% |
|
ConocoPhillips |
91% |
9% |
0% |
|
Company |
Buy |
Hold |
Sell |
|
Franklin Resources, Inc. |
0% |
47% |
53% |
|
Globe Life Inc. |
33% |
22% |
44% |
|
Macy's Inc |
13% |
44% |
44% |
|
W. R. Berkley Corporation |
17% |
42% |
42% |
|
Consolidated Edison, Inc. |
12% |
47% |
41% |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation |
8% |
54% |
38% |
|
Clorox Company |
13% |
50% |
38% |
|
Campbell Soup Company |
13% |
50% |
38% |
|
Robert Half International Inc. |
21% |
43% |
36% |
|
Waters Corporation |
0% |
67% |
33% |
Since September 30, the total number of ratings on S&P 500 companies has increased by 1.0% (to 10,362 from 10,258). The number of Buy ratings has decreased by 1.8% (to 5,227 from 5,324). Three sectors have witnessed an increase in Buy ratings, led by the Information Technology (+4%) sector. Eight sectors have seen a decrease in Buy ratings, led by the Financials (-9%) sector. The number of Hold ratings has increased by 3.2% (to 4,408 from 4,272). Eight sectors have recorded an increase in Hold ratings, led by the Consumer Discretionary (+10%) and Industrials (+9%) sectors. Three sectors have witnessed a decrease in Hold ratings, led by the Energy (-4%) sector. The number of Sell ratings has increased by 9.8% (to 727 from 662). Eight sectors have a recorded an increase in Sell ratings, led by the Communication Services (+42%) and Materials (+33%) sectors. Three sectors have seen a decrease in Sell ratings, led by the Energy (-4%) sector.