Hedge Funds Are Building A Towering Wall Of Bets Against Stocks

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

AS+1.73%

KRE-0.21%

FSLR-1.66%

Source: Newsfilter

0mins

Source: Newsfilter

Hedge Fund Activity: Hedge funds are increasing their bearish bets against stocks following a significant 23% rebound in the S&P 500 since April.
Investor Sentiment: There is growing skepticism among investors regarding the sustainability of the recent tariff-relief rally.

$36.49+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on AS

Wall Street analysts forecast AS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AS is 46.98 USD with a low forecast of 39.80 USD and a high forecast of 58.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

13 Analyst Rating

12 Buy

1 Hold

0 Sell

Strong Buy

Current: 35.870

Low

39.80

Averages

46.98

High

58.00

Current: 35.870

Low

39.80

Averages

46.98

High

58.00

Deutsche Bank

resume

$49

2026-01-08

Reason

Deutsche Bank

Price Target

$49

AI Analysis

2026-01-08

resume

Reason

Deutsche Bank resumed coverage of Amer Sports with a Buy rating and $49 price target. The firm resumed coverage of global brands, off-price, and specialty beauty retail. Following a "surprisingly strong" year for retail, Deutsche is entering 2026 with optimism as it anticipates a "volatile but broadly risk-on" macro environment, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm sees solid top-line trends, particularly in the first half of the year, due to easier weather comparisons and a boost in tax refunds.

UBS

Buy

maintain

$54 -> $58

2026-01-08

Reason

UBS

Price Target

$54 -> $58

2026-01-08

maintain

Buy

Reason

UBS raised the firm's price target on Amer Sports to $58 from $54 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. CY26 EPS upside for Softline stocks is expected to be driven by a stronger-than-expected U.S. consumer and an underappreciated "Health & Wellness 2.0" trend, with estimates at least 4% above consensus for 16 names, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Earnings momentum is projected to extend into CY27, with EPS forecasts averaging about 5% above consensus, the firm adds.

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Wells Fargo

Ike Boruchow

Overweight

maintain

$40 -> $45

2025-12-16

Reason

Wells Fargo

Ike Boruchow

Price Target

$40 -> $45

2025-12-16

maintain

Overweight

Reason

Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow raised the firm's price target on Amer Sports to $45 from $40 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. Wells notes that while it continues to see a winners/losers setup, bigger picture, the firm leans more positive on the space entering 2026 due to better-than-feared early holiday reads, benefits from tax reform, and optionality on tariff repeal/refund.

Barclays

Overweight

initiated

$49

2025-12-09

Reason

Barclays

Price Target

$49

2025-12-09

initiated

Overweight

Reason

Barclays initiated coverage of Amer Sports with an Overweight rating and $49 price target. The firm views Amer as a "top-and-bottom line compounder" over a multi-year time horizon. It sees a "continued runway for growth" at both the company's Arc'teryx and Salomon brands with upside opportunity to take market share in both the apparel and footwear industries as brand awareness grows.

About AS

Amer Sports Inc is a Finland-based global group of sports and outdoor brands such as Arcteryx, Salomon, Wilson, Peak Performance, Atomic, Armada, ATEC, DeMarini, EvoShield and ENVE. The Company develops, manufactures, and markets sports and fitness equipment. Its products include sports equipment for tennis, badminton, soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, American football, alpine skiing, fitness training, cycling, running, hiking, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and diving. It also offers fitness equipment through factory outlets, and e-commerce companies through trade customers in sporting goods chains, mass merchants, specialty retailers, fitness clubs, and distributors. The Company operates worldwide.

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.