Oppenheimer’s Stoltzfus Is Biggest US Stock Bull for Third Year

Core Viewpoint - Oppenheimer Asset Management's John Stoltzfus predicts an 18% rally for the S&P 500 in the next year, aiming for a target of around 8,100 points by the end of 2026, driven by strong economic growth and monetary policy easing [1][2]. Group 1: Market Outlook - The S&P 500 is currently about 3% away from Stoltzfus's end-2025 target, indicating a positive market trend [1]. - US stocks are experiencing a third consecutive year of double-digit gains, supported by investor confidence in continued interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve despite resilient economic growth [3]. Group 2: Investment Sentiment - Stoltzfus emphasizes a positive outlook on stocks, considering them the preferred asset class due to accommodative monetary and fiscal policies and strong corporate earnings [2]. - Other financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank AG, Morgan Stanley, and RBC Capital Markets, share a similar optimistic view, forecasting rallies of over 10% [4]. Group 3: Sector Preferences - Oppenheimer's Stoltzfus favors economy-linked cyclical sectors over defensive stocks, with top picks including information technology, communications services, industrials, financials, and consumer discretionary [5].