Here's the Average Stock Market Return in the Last 10 Years and Wall Street's Surprising Forecast for 2025
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 01 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
S&P 500 Performance: The S&P 500 index has returned 261% over the last decade, averaging 13.6% annually, but analysts expect it to trade sideways with a median year-end target of 6,400 for 2025, indicating minimal change from its current level.
Market Outlook and Investment Advice: Despite recent highs, Wall Street cautions that changes in trade policy could impact the market, suggesting investors consider alternative stocks recommended by analysts, which have historically outperformed the S&P 500.
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Analyst Views on BCS
About BCS
Barclays PLC is a diversified bank with five divisions comprising Barclays UK, Barclays UK Corporate Bank, Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management, Barclays Investment Bank and Barclays US Consumer Bank. The Barclays UK division represents businesses that sit within the United Kingdom ring-fenced bank, Barclays Bank UK PLC and its subsidiaries, and comprises Personal Banking, UK Business Banking and Barclaycard Consumer UK. The Barclays UK Corporate Bank division offers lending, trade and working capital, liquidity, payments, and FX solutions for corporate clients. Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management division comprises the Private Bank, Wealth Management, and Investments businesses. Barclays Investment Bank division incorporates the Global Markets, Investment Banking, and International Corporate Banking businesses. Barclays US Consumer Bank division represents the United States credit card business, focused on the partnership market, as well as an online deposit franchise.
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.
- New Business Launch: Ford announced its energy storage business in May, leading to a 47% stock price increase, with projections suggesting it could generate $500 million in operating profit by 2030, indicating strong market enthusiasm for its strategic pivot.
- EV Challenges: The company has incurred $16 billion in losses from its EV division, with management forecasting continued losses for the next three years, prompting Ford to seek recovery through its energy storage initiative, demonstrating adaptability to market pressures.
- Investment and Capacity Goals: Ford aims to produce up to 20 gigawatts of battery storage capacity over the next five years, committing $2 billion to kickstart this business, which underscores its focus on new market opportunities and long-term strategic planning.
- Market Reaction and Risks: Although Ford's energy business has yet to generate profit or revenue, the stock surge reflects investor optimism towards AI-related ventures; however, analysts caution that shareholders should prioritize cost management and vehicle sales improvements to ensure long-term financial stability.
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- Launch of Energy Storage: Ford announced in May the launch of Ford Energy, aiming to produce up to 20 gigawatts of battery storage capacity over the next five years, with deliveries starting in 2028, as a strategy to recover from $16 billion in losses from its EV division.
- Optimistic Profit Forecast: Analysts predict that Ford Energy could generate $500 million in operating profit by 2030, which, while modest compared to Ford's nearly $6.8 billion EBIT last year, indicates the company's proactive approach to exploring new revenue streams.
- Investment and Market Reaction: Ford plans to invest $2 billion in this new venture, and despite having no current profits or revenues, its stock surged 47% last month due to investor enthusiasm for its energy storage business, reflecting a broader excitement for AI-related initiatives.
- Future Challenges and Risks: While Ford's move into energy storage is noteworthy, analysts caution that investors should not rush to buy the stock solely based on this transition, especially given the company's ongoing challenges, including a staggering $8.2 billion net loss related to its EV restructuring.
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- Securities Claims Investigation: The Rosen Law Firm is investigating potential securities claims against Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) due to allegations of issuing materially misleading business information, highlighting serious concerns regarding the company's transparency.
- Compensation Opportunity: Investors who purchased Barclays securities may be entitled to compensation through a contingency fee arrangement without any upfront costs, providing crucial legal support and financial protection for affected shareholders.
- Market Reaction: On February 27, 2026, Barclays American Depositary Shares (ADS) fell 3.99% following news of a £600 million ($809.70 million) exposure to Market Financial Solutions Ltd (MFS), indicating market apprehension about the bank's financial health.
- Law Firm's Strength: The Rosen Law Firm specializes in securities class actions and has recovered over $438 million for investors in 2019 alone, demonstrating its strong capabilities and successful track record in the securities litigation space.
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- Securities Fraud Investigation: The Rosen Law Firm is investigating potential securities claims against Barclays for allegedly issuing materially misleading business information, with a reported exposure of £600 million (approximately $809.7 million), which could lead to significant investor losses.
- Class Action Preparation: The firm is preparing a class action lawsuit against Barclays, allowing affected investors to seek compensation without upfront fees through a contingency fee arrangement, demonstrating a commitment to protecting investor rights.
- Stock Price Impact: On February 27, 2026, Barclays' American Depositary Shares fell by 3.99% due to market concerns over its £600 million (approximately $809.7 million) exposure, followed by a further decline of 2.3% on March 2, indicating investor anxiety regarding its financial stability.
- Law Firm Reputation: The Rosen Law Firm is recognized for its successful track record in securities class actions, having recovered over $438 million for investors in 2019 alone, highlighting its expertise and influence in handling similar cases.
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- Securities Claims Investigation: Rosen Law Firm is investigating potential securities claims against Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) due to allegations of issuing materially misleading business information, highlighting serious concerns regarding the company's transparency.
- Market Reaction: On February 27, 2026, Barclays' American Depositary Shares (ADS) fell by 3.99% after it was revealed that the bank had a £600 million ($809.70 million) exposure to the little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd (MFS), reflecting market fears about its financial health.
- Class Action Preparation: The firm is preparing a class action to seek recovery of investor losses, allowing investors to participate without upfront fees through a contingency fee arrangement, demonstrating a commitment to protecting investor rights.
- Firm's Track Record: Rosen Law Firm is recognized for its successful history in securities class actions, having recovered over $438 million for investors in 2019 alone, underscoring its leadership and expertise in the field.
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- Peace Agreement Signed: The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in Geneva, with the Strait of Hormuz expected to reopen on Friday; however, analysts warn that restoring normal trade flows may take weeks, indicating that market expectations for oil prices could be overly optimistic.
- Price Forecast Maintained: Barclays maintains its 2026 Brent crude price forecast at $100 per barrel, despite the global benchmark falling below $80 for the first time, suggesting that the risks to future oil prices are skewed to the upside.
- Liquidity Recovery Expectations: Citi anticipates that trade flows through the Strait will normalize by mid-to-late July, lowering its Brent price forecasts for the upcoming quarters, reflecting a more optimistic sentiment in the market regarding short-term oil prices.
- Supply Tightness Signals: Both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have reduced their fourth-quarter oil price expectations to $80 per barrel, predicting that 80% of lost production will be restored by December, yet the market still faces potential risks of supply-demand imbalances.
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