Gartner Shares Decline Following Analyst Downgrade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy IT?
Source: Fool
- Analyst Downgrade: Wells Fargo's analyst Jason Haas lowered Gartner's price target from $150 to $140 while maintaining an underweight rating, prompting investors to reconsider their holdings, resulting in a nearly 1% drop in share price on Friday.
- Macroeconomic Impact: Haas indicated that macroeconomic volatility stemming from the Iran war may lead corporate clients to cut back on what they consider non-essential spending, such as Gartner's research services, negatively impacting the company's performance.
- Declining Contract Value Growth: Gartner experienced a significant decline in contract value growth, dropping from over 7% in Q3 2024 to just 3% in the same period of 2025, indicating weak market demand that could affect future revenues.
- AI Competitive Pressure: As corporate decision-makers increasingly trust artificial intelligence as an advisory tool, Gartner faces the challenge of convincing clients that its human expertise is superior to machine analysis, which could impact its market share and profitability.
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Analyst Views on IT
Wall Street analysts forecast IT stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 155.420
Low
150.00
Averages
190.70
High
240.00
Current: 155.420
Low
150.00
Averages
190.70
High
240.00
About IT
Gartner, Inc. delivers actionable, objective insight to executives and their teams. It operates through three segments: Research, Conferences and Consulting. The Research segment delivers independent, objective insight to leaders across an enterprise through subscription services that include on-demand access to published research content, data and benchmarks, and direct access to a network of research experts located around the globe. The Gartner Conferences segment is designed for information technology (IT) and business executives as well as decision-makers looking to adapt and evolve their organizations through disruption and uncertainty, navigate risks and prioritize investments. The Consulting segment serves chief information officers and other senior executives to optimize technology investments and drive business impact. The Company also provides solutions for a range of IT-related priorities, including IT cost optimization, digital transformation, and IT sourcing optimization.
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.
- Market Shock from War: Since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices have surged by 48.67% to $99.64 per barrel, raising inflation concerns and exposing investors to a potential 20% market decline risk.
- Rising Treasury Yields: The 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields are climbing due to war-driven inflation expectations, impacting borrowing costs and exacerbating investor panic, particularly for long-term investors facing a challenging environment.
- Tech Sector Turmoil: Amid market volatility, tech stocks, especially the 'Magnificent Seven', have faced significant declines, with Intuit, Applovin, and Gartner dropping 37%, 43.4%, and 38% respectively, highlighting the sector's vulnerability to changing market sentiments and AI competition.
- Shift in Investor Sentiment: As uncertainty looms over the market's future, investors feel increasingly helpless, with many opting to exit, particularly in light of the potential for rising oil prices, leading to a substantial loss of confidence in equities.
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- Lawsuit Background: Gartner, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with plaintiffs accusing top executives of making false statements in financial reports, resulting in significant investor losses.
- Performance Decline: In Q2 2025, Gartner reported a decline in contract value (CV) growth from 7% to 5% quarter-over-quarter, while non-federal CV growth dropped from 8% to 6%, causing the stock price to plummet over 27% on this news.
- Further Deterioration: On February 3, 2026, Gartner announced a further 2% decline in CV growth and disclosed a significant shortfall in its Consulting segment's performance against internal projections, leading to another nearly 21% drop in stock price.
- Investor Rights: Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, any investor who purchased Gartner stock during the class period can seek to become the lead plaintiff, representing the interests of other investors in the lawsuit to ensure their rights are protected.
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- Legal Investigation: Faruq & Faruqi, LLP is investigating potential claims against Gartner, particularly for investors who purchased or acquired securities between February 4, 2025, and February 2, 2026, highlighting a commitment to investor rights and protection.
- Investor Contact Information: Investors who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact Faruq & Faruqi's Securities Litigation Partner, Josh Wilson, directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310), ensuring timely access to legal support.
- Class Action Deadline: The firm reminds investors that May 18, 2026, is the deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action against Gartner, emphasizing the urgency of the legal process.
- Company Background: Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT) is a well-known market research and consulting firm currently facing legal challenges that may impact shareholder interests, necessitating investor attention to protect their rights.
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- Class Action Notification: Rosen Law Firm reminds investors who purchased Gartner (NYSE: IT) common stock between February 4, 2025, and February 2, 2026, to apply as lead plaintiffs by May 18, 2026, to participate in the class action without any out-of-pocket fees.
- Lawsuit Background: The lawsuit alleges that Gartner failed to disclose the true state of its growth rates, particularly its inability to meet consulting revenue targets and maintain contract value growth rates, resulting in investor losses when the truth emerged.
- Law Firm Credentials: Rosen Law Firm specializes in securities class actions and has achieved the largest securities class action settlement against a Chinese company, recovering over $438 million for investors in 2019, showcasing its successful track record in this field.
- Investor Guidance: Investors are advised to carefully select law firms with proven success rather than those acting merely as intermediaries, ensuring effective legal representation and support in the litigation process.
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- Lawsuit Deadline: Investors must file lead plaintiff applications for the Gartner securities class action by May 18, 2026, concerning stock purchases made between February 4, 2025, and February 2, 2026, as failure to apply may result in loss of recovery rights.
- Stock Price Volatility: Following Gartner's Q2 2025 results announcement on August 5, which revealed a decline in contract value growth from 7% to 5%, the stock plummeted approximately 27.55% in one day, from $336.71 to $243.93, indicating market disappointment in the company's performance.
- Ongoing Performance Decline: On February 3, 2026, Gartner disclosed a further 2% decline in contract value growth and a significant shortfall in its Consulting segment's performance, leading to a nearly 20.87% drop in stock price from $202.40 to $160.16, exacerbating investor concerns.
- Legal Liability Issues: Gartner and certain executives are accused of failing to disclose material information during the class period, violating federal securities laws, which may expose them to legal liabilities, prompting investors to monitor the case's progress to safeguard their interests.
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- Analyst Downgrade: Wells Fargo's analyst Jason Haas lowered Gartner's price target from $150 to $140 while maintaining an underweight rating, prompting investors to reconsider their holdings, resulting in a nearly 1% drop in share price on Friday.
- Macroeconomic Impact: Haas indicated that macroeconomic volatility stemming from the Iran war may lead corporate clients to cut back on what they consider non-essential spending, such as Gartner's research services, negatively impacting the company's performance.
- Declining Contract Value Growth: Gartner experienced a significant decline in contract value growth, dropping from over 7% in Q3 2024 to just 3% in the same period of 2025, indicating weak market demand that could affect future revenues.
- AI Competitive Pressure: As corporate decision-makers increasingly trust artificial intelligence as an advisory tool, Gartner faces the challenge of convincing clients that its human expertise is superior to machine analysis, which could impact its market share and profitability.
See More











