Analyst Upgrades Generac, Predicts Stock Surge
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 22 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Rating Upgrade: Jefferies analyst Tanner James upgraded Generac's rating from hold to buy and raised the price target from $239 to $302, implying nearly a 22% upside from Thursday's close, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future performance.
- Data Center Demand: Given the ongoing robust development of data centers and potential collaborations with hyperscalers, the analyst sees an asymmetric positive risk/reward setup for Generac, which is likely to further drive its stock price upward.
- Market Acceptance: Baudouin engines are increasingly being adopted in hyperscaler configurations, indicating a growing market acceptance for a product that only Generac can effectively scale, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Strong Stock Performance: Following the upgrade, Generac's shares rose over 3%, and the stock has surged nearly 82% year-to-date, demonstrating widespread market optimism, with 13 out of 21 analysts rating it as buy or strong buy.
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Analyst Views on GNRC
Wall Street analysts forecast GNRC stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 279.450
Low
184.00
Averages
207.67
High
240.00
Current: 279.450
Low
184.00
Averages
207.67
High
240.00
About GNRC
Generac Holdings Inc. is a global designer, manufacturer, and provider of a range of energy technology solutions. It offers power generation equipment, energy storage systems, energy management devices and solutions, and other power products and services serving residential, commercial, data center, telecom, and industrial markets. Its segments include Domestic and International. Domestic segment includes its business and all historical acquisitions based in the United States and Canada. International segment includes all historical acquisitions not based in the United States and Canada. It has developed a line of energy storage systems for use in residential solar-plus-storage applications, as well as microinverters for residential solar energy production. It has a selection of energy monitoring and management devices and controls that serve as the central hub for its residential and C&I energy ecosystems. It designs and manufactures other power products, including light towers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
The Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors
- Market Capitalization Comparison: Moderna Inc (MRNA) has a market cap of $18.88 billion compared to Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC) at $16.45 billion, allowing investors to accurately assess the relative value of both companies and avoid misleading judgments based on stock prices alone.
- Impact on Investor Decisions: Market capitalization not only affects a company's ranking among peers but also directly influences which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock; for instance, funds focused on large-cap stocks may only be interested in companies valued at over $10 billion, impacting capital inflows.
- Significance of MidCap Index: The S&P MidCap index focuses on smaller “up-and-coming” companies by excluding the largest 100 firms, enabling investors to discover potential high-growth opportunities, highlighting the importance of market capitalization in investment strategies.
- Stock Price Fluctuation Observation: At Friday's close, MRNA was down about 0.8% while GNRC fell about 0.4%, reflecting ongoing market attention to the relative values of both companies, prompting investors to closely monitor market dynamics for informed decision-making.
See More
Generac Stock Rallies 82% Driven by AI Demand for Backup Power
- Stock Performance: Generac's stock has surged 82% year-to-date, showcasing strong investor confidence in its growth potential, despite not being a traditional AI stock, indicating a significant market interest.
- Sales Growth: The company's commercial and industrial segment reported a 28% sales increase in Q1, primarily driven by data center demand, with 2026 guidance raised and a backlog exceeding $700 million, reflecting robust market demand.
- Risk Considerations: While current performance is positive, the market has high expectations for Generac's future; failure to meet these could lead to stock price corrections, especially as concerns grow over the AI trade's potential overextension.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Generac has achieved a compound annual growth rate of approximately 14% from 2000 to 2025, with data center backup power being deemed
See More
Generac's 2026 Performance Sparks Interest Amid AI Buzz
- Significant Growth: Generac's anticipated performance in 2026 is expected to surge due to skyrocketing demand from data centers, with a 28% year-over-year sales increase in Q1 indicating robust performance in its commercial and industrial segments, potentially driving stock price upward.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Although Generac's stock has nearly doubled over the past 12 months and is trading near 52-week highs, market observers argue that future returns may be limited, prompting investors to focus on upcoming performance to mitigate risks.
- Data Center Demand Driver: The demand for backup power in data centers is deemed
See More
Generac Shares Surge 7.6% Following Upgrade by Jefferies
- Upgrade Impact: Jefferies upgraded Generac's rating from 'Hold' to 'Buy' and raised its price target from $239 to $302, reflecting confidence in the company's potential to secure contracts in the data center sector, which is expected to drive future performance growth.
- Growing Market Demand: With the rising demand for AI infrastructure, the adoption of Generac's Baudouin engines in large data centers is increasing, and analysts believe the company is nearing a pivotal moment in winning significant business from large-scale data center operators, potentially leading to substantial business growth.
- Strong Financial Performance: Generac's recent Q1 2026 earnings report revealed revenue of $1.06 billion, a 12.4% year-over-year increase, with adjusted earnings per share of $1.80, exceeding analyst expectations by over 35%, indicating a significant improvement in the company's profitability metrics.
- Stock Volatility Analysis: Despite a year-to-date gain of 89.2%, Generac's stock has experienced significant volatility, with 17 moves greater than 5% in the past year, indicating that the market considers the current news impactful but not fundamentally altering its perception of the business.
See More
U.S. Stocks Close Higher, S&P 500 Approaches 7,500
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 is nearing 7,500, on track for its eighth consecutive week of gains, reflecting strong market performance driven by sectors like healthcare and information technology, indicating investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Stock Dynamics: Merck leads the healthcare sector with encouraging trial results, while Dell's stock surges over 16%, showcasing a robust rebound in tech stocks that may attract more investor interest in these sectors' growth potential.
- Arm Holdings Surge: Arm Holdings rallies nearly 50% this week, and despite trimming shares on Monday, it still locked in a 20% gain, highlighting its significance and growth potential within the portfolio, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Starbucks AI Project Adjustment: Starbucks has ended an AI program for automating inventory accounting, which may impact its $2 billion cost savings target; however, CEO Brian Niccol is set to discuss this goal at next week's conference, indicating the company's ongoing focus on cost control during its turnaround efforts.
See More
Generac Upgraded to Buy by Jefferies Amid AI Infrastructure Boom
- Stock Price Surge: Generac (GNRC) rose 7.5% in Friday's trading after Jefferies upgraded its rating from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $239 to $302, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Data Center Contract Outlook: Jefferies analysts highlighted that Generac is nearing a critical moment in securing contracts with major hyperscaler data centers, particularly against the backdrop of rapid AI infrastructure development, indicating robust market demand.
- Potential Contract Opportunities: Generac is close to finalizing an agreement with its first hyperscaler client, having disclosed a non-binding $600 million notice to proceed, and despite fierce market competition, analysts are increasingly confident in the management's execution capabilities.
- Increased Market Acceptance: As Baudouin engines find their way into hyperscaler configurations, Generac's products are gaining acceptance in the market, and analysts believe that after a 12% correction, the stock still has significant upside potential.
See More
The Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors
- Market Capitalization Comparison: Moderna Inc (MRNA) has a market cap of $18.88 billion compared to Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC) at $16.45 billion, allowing investors to accurately assess the relative value of both companies and avoid misleading judgments based on stock prices alone.
- Impact on Investor Decisions: Market capitalization not only affects a company's ranking among peers but also directly influences which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock; for instance, funds focused on large-cap stocks may only be interested in companies valued at over $10 billion, impacting capital inflows.
- Significance of MidCap Index: The S&P MidCap index focuses on smaller “up-and-coming” companies by excluding the largest 100 firms, enabling investors to discover potential high-growth opportunities, highlighting the importance of market capitalization in investment strategies.
- Stock Price Fluctuation Observation: At Friday's close, MRNA was down about 0.8% while GNRC fell about 0.4%, reflecting ongoing market attention to the relative values of both companies, prompting investors to closely monitor market dynamics for informed decision-making.
See More
Generac Stock Rallies 82% Driven by AI Demand for Backup Power
- Stock Performance: Generac's stock has surged 82% year-to-date, showcasing strong investor confidence in its growth potential, despite not being a traditional AI stock, indicating a significant market interest.
- Sales Growth: The company's commercial and industrial segment reported a 28% sales increase in Q1, primarily driven by data center demand, with 2026 guidance raised and a backlog exceeding $700 million, reflecting robust market demand.
- Risk Considerations: While current performance is positive, the market has high expectations for Generac's future; failure to meet these could lead to stock price corrections, especially as concerns grow over the AI trade's potential overextension.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Generac has achieved a compound annual growth rate of approximately 14% from 2000 to 2025, with data center backup power being deemed
See More
Generac's 2026 Performance Sparks Interest Amid AI Buzz
- Significant Growth: Generac's anticipated performance in 2026 is expected to surge due to skyrocketing demand from data centers, with a 28% year-over-year sales increase in Q1 indicating robust performance in its commercial and industrial segments, potentially driving stock price upward.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Although Generac's stock has nearly doubled over the past 12 months and is trading near 52-week highs, market observers argue that future returns may be limited, prompting investors to focus on upcoming performance to mitigate risks.
- Data Center Demand Driver: The demand for backup power in data centers is deemed
See More
Generac Shares Surge 7.6% Following Upgrade by Jefferies
- Upgrade Impact: Jefferies upgraded Generac's rating from 'Hold' to 'Buy' and raised its price target from $239 to $302, reflecting confidence in the company's potential to secure contracts in the data center sector, which is expected to drive future performance growth.
- Growing Market Demand: With the rising demand for AI infrastructure, the adoption of Generac's Baudouin engines in large data centers is increasing, and analysts believe the company is nearing a pivotal moment in winning significant business from large-scale data center operators, potentially leading to substantial business growth.
- Strong Financial Performance: Generac's recent Q1 2026 earnings report revealed revenue of $1.06 billion, a 12.4% year-over-year increase, with adjusted earnings per share of $1.80, exceeding analyst expectations by over 35%, indicating a significant improvement in the company's profitability metrics.
- Stock Volatility Analysis: Despite a year-to-date gain of 89.2%, Generac's stock has experienced significant volatility, with 17 moves greater than 5% in the past year, indicating that the market considers the current news impactful but not fundamentally altering its perception of the business.
See More
U.S. Stocks Close Higher, S&P 500 Approaches 7,500
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 is nearing 7,500, on track for its eighth consecutive week of gains, reflecting strong market performance driven by sectors like healthcare and information technology, indicating investor confidence in economic recovery.
- Stock Dynamics: Merck leads the healthcare sector with encouraging trial results, while Dell's stock surges over 16%, showcasing a robust rebound in tech stocks that may attract more investor interest in these sectors' growth potential.
- Arm Holdings Surge: Arm Holdings rallies nearly 50% this week, and despite trimming shares on Monday, it still locked in a 20% gain, highlighting its significance and growth potential within the portfolio, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Starbucks AI Project Adjustment: Starbucks has ended an AI program for automating inventory accounting, which may impact its $2 billion cost savings target; however, CEO Brian Niccol is set to discuss this goal at next week's conference, indicating the company's ongoing focus on cost control during its turnaround efforts.
See More
Generac Upgraded to Buy by Jefferies Amid AI Infrastructure Boom
- Stock Price Surge: Generac (GNRC) rose 7.5% in Friday's trading after Jefferies upgraded its rating from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $239 to $302, reflecting strong market confidence in its growth prospects.
- Data Center Contract Outlook: Jefferies analysts highlighted that Generac is nearing a critical moment in securing contracts with major hyperscaler data centers, particularly against the backdrop of rapid AI infrastructure development, indicating robust market demand.
- Potential Contract Opportunities: Generac is close to finalizing an agreement with its first hyperscaler client, having disclosed a non-binding $600 million notice to proceed, and despite fierce market competition, analysts are increasingly confident in the management's execution capabilities.
- Increased Market Acceptance: As Baudouin engines find their way into hyperscaler configurations, Generac's products are gaining acceptance in the market, and analysts believe that after a 12% correction, the stock still has significant upside potential.
See More
