The Economic Times·2025-12-14 05:03Core Viewpoint - Wall Street strategists are shifting focus from Big Tech to less popular sectors such as health care, industrials, and energy for investment opportunities in 2026, amid skepticism about the sustainability of Big Tech's high valuations and growth rates [1][12][14] Investment Trends - There is a noticeable rotation of investments away from the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks towards undervalued cyclicals and small-cap stocks, as investors anticipate economic growth in the upcoming year [1][6][9] - The small-cap Russell 2000 Index has increased by 11% since November 20, while the Magnificent Seven companies have only gained half of that [6][12] Sector Performance - The S&P 500 Equal Weight Index is outperforming its cap-weighted counterpart, indicating a broader market participation beyond just large-cap tech [6][11] - Sectors such as utilities, financials, health care, industrials, energy, and consumer discretionary have shown solid gains this year, suggesting a shift in market dynamics [12][14] Earnings Outlook - Earnings growth for the S&P 493 is projected to rise to 9% in 2026 from 7% this year, with the contribution from the largest companies in the S&P 500 expected to decrease from 50% to 46% [11][14] - Investors are looking for evidence that the S&P 493 companies are meeting or exceeding earnings expectations to become more bullish [12][14] Economic Context - The current economic backdrop is described as "early-cycle," which typically benefits cyclical sectors and lower-quality stocks [9][14] - The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the third consecutive time, which may support a bullish trend in the broader market [12][14]