Where Are Analysts Most Optimistic on Ratings for S&P 500 Companies Heading Into 2024?

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?

Overall, there are 11,319 ratings on stocks in the S&P 500. Of these ratings, 54.9% are Buy ratings, 39.7% are Hold ratings, and 5.3% are Sell ratings. The percentage of Buy ratings is above the 5-year (month-end) average of 54.4%. The percentage of Hold rating is also above the 5-year (month-end) average of 39.5%. On the other hand, the percentage of Sell ratings is below the 5-year (month-end) average of 6.1%.

At the sector level, analysts are most optimistic on the Energy (64%) and Communication Services (62%) sectors, as these two sectors have the highest percentages of Buy ratings. On the other hand, analysts are most pessimistic on the Consumer Staples (47%) and Industrials (49%) sectors, as these two sectors have the lowest percentages of Buy ratings. The Consumer Staples sector also has the highest percentage of Hold ratings at 46%, while the Consumer Staples and Industrials sectors are tied for the highest percentage of Sell ratings at 7%.

The ten S&P 500 companies with the highest percentages of Buy ratings and Sell ratings can be found below.

Since hitting a bottom of 53.2% during the month of February, the overall percentage of Buy ratings for S&P 500 companies has increased to 54.9% today.

The FactSet Earnings Insight report will not be published on December 22 and December 29. The next edition of the report will be published on January 5.

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