Wall Street strategist reveals odds of S&P 500 hitting 9,000 by 2026

Group 1: S&P 500 Outlook - A Wall Street analyst suggests a 25% chance for the S&P 500 to reach 9,000 by 2026, with the index currently at 6,664, up nearly 15% year-to-date [1][2] - Evercore ISI strategist Julian Emanuel believes AI adoption is still in early stages, with only 25% uptake, indicating potential for further market gains [2][3] - Goldman Sachs raised its 12-month target for the S&P 500 to 7,200, citing stronger-than-expected corporate earnings in 2025 [4] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Strategies - The current market environment is compared to the mid-1990s, where internet adoption led to significant gains despite overvaluation concerns [3] - Goldman Sachs recommends positioning in companies with floating-rate debt and small- to mid-cap stocks, which are sensitive to an accelerating economy [5] - Morgan Stanley's Michael Wilson projects the S&P 500 could reach 7,200 by mid-2026, advising investors to view short-term pullbacks as buying opportunities [7] Group 3: Diverging Views Among Strategists - JPMorgan's Mislav Matejka warns of potential downside for equities as the Fed continues easing, with valuations likely to be reassessed amid weak economic data [7] - Oppenheimer's John Stoltzfus expects a brief dip post-rate decision but maintains confidence in the economy's underlying strength [8]