Goldman Sachs believes that the upcoming earnings season presents short-term opportunities for investors to capitalize on. As JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are set to release their first-quarter results, market analysts are expecting a 3.2% growth in the S&P 500, marking the third consecutive quarter of earnings growth. With S&P 500 stocks showing less correlation over the past 6 months than in the last 5 years, there is a favorable environment for investors focusing on individual stock opportunities, according to analyst John Marshall.
Among the stocks highlighted by Goldman Sachs for their optimistic earnings potential relative to Street consensus are Royal Caribbean Cruises, Nasdaq, and Broadcom. Royal Caribbean Cruises, with its projected 24% upside, is expected to benefit from increasing travel demand, strong pricing power, and potential for higher capital returns. Nasdaq, a player in the fintech sector, is forecasted to experience a 16% increase in stock price following its earnings report, driven by growth in its index business and improved risk management offerings. Similarly, Broadcom, a semiconductor and software company, could see a 17% surge in its stock value post-earnings as a result of its strategic positioning in durable markets and leadership in custom artificial intelligence acceleration.
In anticipation of the earnings reports from these companies, the options market indicates potential price movements of 7.7% for Royal Caribbean Cruises, 4.1% for Nasdaq, and 4.5% for Broadcom. Goldman Sachs is optimistic about the growth prospects of these companies and believes that investors can benefit from the opportunities presented by the upcoming earnings season.