The Market Is Plummeting: A Surprising Moment for Defensive Stocks.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 18 2025
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Market Turmoil: Recent market instability has been driven by a selloff in artificial intelligence stocks.
- Opportunity for Less Risky Investments: This situation presents a chance for more stable, lower-risk sectors to perform well, although not all are succeeding.
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Analyst Views on PIPR
Wall Street analysts forecast PIPR stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 80.970
Low
386.00
Averages
386.00
High
386.00
Current: 80.970
Low
386.00
Averages
386.00
High
386.00
About PIPR
Piper Sandler Companies is an investment bank and institutional securities firm, serving corporations, private equity groups, public entities, non-profit entities, and institutional investors in the United States and internationally. The Company provides products and services, including financial advisory services; equity and debt capital markets products; public finance services; institutional brokerage services; fundamental equity and macro research services; fixed income services; and alternative asset management strategies. It offers equity and fixed income advisory and trade execution services for institutional investors, corporations, and government and non-profit entities. Its segment provides investment banking services, institutional sales and trading services for various equity and fixed income products, and research services. It operates alternative asset management funds in merchant banking and healthcare to invest firm capital and manage capital from outside investors.
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.
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- Surging Trading Volume: Novig claims to have surpassed $5 billion in cumulative trading volume and over $8 billion in annualized volume, indicating the potential of sports trading as an asset class and drawing increasing investor interest.
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- Uncertain Negotiation Outlook: Analysts suggest that the upcoming 60-day negotiation period may require extensions, and if Iran fails to make concessions on nuclear energy, talks could collapse entirely, highlighting the fragility of the agreement.
- Long-Term Implications in Question: While the agreement may provide short-term market stability, analysts generally believe it will not lead to a durable resolution, with Trump potentially feeling pressured to advance this
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- Board Strengthening: Following the financing, the company has strengthened its Board of Directors by adding Kevin Conroy as Lead Independent Director, Christopher Geyen as Chair of the Audit Committee, and Tom Schnettler representing new Series C investors, enhancing governance to support future growth.
- Market Potential: The eShunt System aims to provide a minimally invasive treatment option, with CEO Dan Levangie stating that this financing marks a critical step towards commercialization, reflecting a strong commitment to addressing patient needs and improving quality of life.
See More
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- Game Release Impact: Analyst James Callahan noted that Grand Theft Auto VI could be one of the greatest entertainment launches of all time, and despite facing multiple delays, historical performance suggests it will have a positive market response upon release.
- Mobile Business Growth: Piper Sandler also highlighted the improving mobile franchise of Take-Two, coupled with public market scarcity value, which further enhances investor confidence in the company and indicates future growth potential.
- Analyst Consensus: According to LSEG data, 29 out of 31 analysts covering Take-Two have a buy or strong buy rating, indicating strong market confidence in its future performance, despite an 11% decline in stock price in 2026.
See More
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- Market Performance Analysis: Piper Sandler noted that insurance carriers are outperforming brokers, as underwriting performance exceeded expectations, indicating resilience in the insurance industry that may attract more investor interest.
- Wells Fargo Price Target Adjustment: Wells Fargo increased its price target for Chubb from $321 to $333, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, although management's comments on softening conditions in the property insurance market impacted the stock price, showing market caution about future prospects.
- Investment Potential Assessment: While Chubb is viewed as a potentially strong investment, analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk, reflecting a shift in market focus towards different investment sectors.
See More
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- Consumer Sentiment Index: The University of Michigan's latest consumer sentiment index has fallen to an all-time low, indicating a pessimistic outlook among consumers that is even worse than during the 2007-2009 financial crisis, highlighting potential economic vulnerabilities.
- Inflation Pressures: Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran have caused oil and gas prices to soar, leading consumers to feel significant economic strain at the pump, which exacerbates concerns about future inflation and could impact spending decisions.
- Social Security COLA Forecast: According to the latest estimates from The Senior Citizens League, the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) could reach 3.9%, marking the highest increase since 2022 and reflecting the direct impact of inflation on seniors' lives.
- Healthcare Cost Concerns: Despite the potential rise in COLA, many retirees may find that the actual increase in their income does not keep pace with rising healthcare costs, as the CPI-W metric used by the Social Security Administration fails to adequately capture the financial pressures faced by seniors.
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