JPMorgan strategists raised their S&P 500 forecast for the second time in two months, claiming the index will rise to 8,000 buoyed by strong corporate earnings and continued AI spending.
Bloomberg detailed that the bank's new target is slightly above average of the 20 strategists polled by the outlet. It noted that capital expenditure from AI hyperscalers including Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft, is being monetized through customer demand.
"As elevated backlogs convert into recognized revenue, cloud growth should remain well supported, helping validate rising AI capex," said the bank's team, led by Dubravko Lakos-Bujas. "Across hyperscalers, demand indicators remain high and rising."
Technology shares, particularly semiconductor companies, have been at the center of the latest advance. Strong quarterly earnings from major chipmakers helped reassure investors that demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure remains robust, easing fears that the sector's explosive gains were beginning to fade.
The improving earnings picture has extended beyond technology. Solid corporate results across multiple industries in both the U.S. and Europe have reinforced confidence that businesses can continue delivering profits despite elevated interest rates and lingering geopolitical uncertainty.
However, not all share the same perspective. Bank of America strategists have urged clients to scale back exposure to riskier assets even though stock markets continue climbing to record highs.
Bank of America's closely watched bull-and-bear indicator climbed to 9.7 from 9.4, its strongest reading since 2021, according to a note led by chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett seen by Bloomberg.
Hartnett argued that the latest reading suggests markets have entered a period where caution is warranted rather than a time to add risk. "We remain in summer Retreat/Rotate not Reload camp," Hartnett wrote in a passage of the report. He recommended that investors reduce exposure to risk assets or shift allocations toward more defensive investments, longer-duration assets and the U.S. dollar.
Bank of America said several market indicators illustrate just how optimistic investors have become. Broader participation across equity markets, heavy inflows into high-yield, or "junk," bonds and tightening corporate credit spreads all point to investors becoming increasingly comfortable taking on additional risk.
While those trends typically reflect confidence in economic growth, Hartnett's team believes they also leave markets more vulnerable to unexpected setbacks. Rather than chasing the rally, the strategists said investors should prepare portfolios for potential disappointments related to the economy, Federal Reserve policy or developments surrounding artificial intelligence, which has been the primary driver of equity gains over the past two years.
