Where Are Analysts Most Optimistic on Ratings for S&P 500 Companies Heading Into Q4?

With the start of the fourth quarter approaching, where are analysts most optimistic and pessimistic in terms of their ratings on stocks in the S&P 500?

Overall, there are 11,062 ratings on stocks in the S&P 500. Of these ratings, 54.4% are Buy ratings, 40.0% are Hold ratings, and 5.6% are Sell ratings. The percentages of Buy and Hold ratings are above their 5-year (month-end) averages of 54.3% and 39.6%, while the percentage of Sell ratings is below its 5-year (month-end) average of 6.1%.

At the sector level, analysts are most optimistic on the Energy sector, as this sector has the highest percentage of Buy ratings (64%). On the other hand, analysts are most pessimistic on the Consumer Staples sector, as this sector has the lowest percentage of Buy ratings (45%). The Consumer Staples sector also has the highest percentage of Hold ratings (47%) and is tied with the Industrials sector for the highest percentage of Sell ratings (8%).

The 10 S&P 500 companies with the highest percentages of Buy ratings and Sell ratings can be found below.

After a decline during the month of July (to 54.0% from 54.8%), the overall percentage of Buy ratings has increased from the end of August through today (to 54.4% from 54.0%). At the sector level, five of the 11 sectors have seen an increase in their percentage of Buy ratings since August 31, led by the Consumer Discretionary sector (to 57.0% from 55.5%).

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