NEW YORK (Reuters) – BMO Capital on Wednesday cut its year-end 2025 S&P 500 target by 9% to 6,100 from the prior 6,700, citing the speed and severity of the recent selloff.
In a note to clients, chief investment strategist Brian Belski said the drawdown has “certainly surprised us” and it was necessary to adjust the target towards more reasonable expectations given where the index currently trades.
Belski also lowered his 2025 earnings per share target for the S&P 500 to $250 from $275, and said he will be closely monitoring results from the upcoming reporting period for clues on the impact U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs will have on corporate profits, “because to be frank, we believe it is anyone’s guess at this point.”
Despite the target cut, Belski said he remains optimistic and the current selloff will pass, but expecting an almost 35% gain from current levels through the end of the year is unreasonable.
(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Chris Reese)