Strategist Ed Yardeni projects double-digit upside for the S&P 500, citing $400 per-share earnings and 12.8% profit growth.
Veteran strategist Ed Yardeni set an S&P 500 target of 8,250 for year-end 2026, implying double-digit gains from current levels. The forecast relies on $400 per-share earnings at a 20x multiple, supported by accelerating U.S. corporate profits.
U.S. corporate profits rose 12.8% year over year to $4,426.5 billion in Q1 2026, up from 9.6% growth in Q4 2025. Information technology profits surged to $352.5 billion from $271.0 billion a year earlier, reinforcing AI-driven productivity gains.
Yardeni dismissed bubble concerns, attributing the rally to earnings momentum rather than valuation hype. The S&P 500 closed last week at 744.78 on the SPY proxy, leaving room for further upside if projections hold.