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.
- 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, which could significantly impact investor rights.
- Potential Compensation Opportunity: Investors who purchased Barclays securities may be entitled to compensation through a contingency fee arrangement, providing crucial legal support without upfront costs.
- 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 concerns regarding its financial stability.
- Law Firm's Advantage: Rosen Law Firm is renowned for its successful track record in securities class actions, having recovered over $438 million for investors in 2019 alone, showcasing its expertise and resource advantages in handling such cases.
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- Rising Debt Burden: The ongoing increase in U.S. public debt is expected to swell further, raising concerns about long-term borrowing costs and impacting government financing capabilities and economic growth.
- Interest Rate Hike Expectations: Anticipation of potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve has weakened demand for long-term bonds, resulting in rising yields that reflect investor caution regarding future economic conditions.
- AI Investment Impact: While the AI investment boom may enhance productivity in the long run, it exacerbates inflationary pressures in the short term, leading bond markets to demand higher returns on long-term debt, thereby affecting capital allocation.
- Global Economic Shifts: The balance between global saving and investment is reversing, resulting in rising interest rates and a more pessimistic outlook on future borrowing costs, which could influence fiscal policies and economic recovery across nations.
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- Market Positive Shift: The STOXX Europe 600 Index's 3.00% gain indicates a significant increase in investor focus on growth opportunities within the region, particularly as geopolitical tensions ease, reflecting a restoration of market confidence.
- High Insider Ownership Companies: Companies with high insider ownership and strong earnings potential, such as XTPL and Envipco Holding, boasting 23.3% and 19.5% insider ownership respectively, are projected to have earnings growth rates of 83% and 91.1%, making them attractive targets for investors in the current economic landscape.
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- Holcim's Sustainable Strategy: Holcim AG anticipates a 25.7% annual earnings growth despite slower revenue growth forecasts, and its strategic alliance with SaltX Technology aims to transition towards fossil-free cement production, demonstrating foresight in the building materials industry.
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- Massive Market Potential: According to a Barclays report, the humanoid robot market is projected to reach $200 billion by 2035, indicating that advancements in AI, robotics, and battery technology will accelerate adoption across various industries, driving rapid market growth.
- Diverse Application Scenarios: Humanoid robots can operate in a wide range of environments, including factories, hospitals, hotels, retail stores, and homes, utilizing existing tools and infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for significant infrastructure changes and enhancing their market adaptability and practicality.
- Significant Cost Reduction: Over the past decade, production costs for humanoid robots have plummeted from approximately $3 million to around $100,000 today, with some Chinese manufacturers achieving even lower costs through vertically integrated supply chains and large-scale production, further enhancing market accessibility.
- Accelerated Industry Deployment: It is estimated that around 2,000 humanoid robots will be installed in 2024, increasing to 15,000 in 2025 and approximately 60,000 in 2026, with China currently accounting for 85% of global deployments, indicating that strong manufacturing capabilities and government support will drive rapid industry growth.
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- Stock Surge: Astera Labs' stock has surged 34.3% this week, climbing from last Friday's close of $215.58 to today's price of $304.38, indicating strong investor confidence in its AI infrastructure and reflecting optimistic market expectations for future growth.
- Price Target Increase: Evercore ISI raised its price target for Astera Labs from $215 to $297, an increase of over 38%, signaling analysts' confidence in the growing demand for the company's connectivity solutions, which further fueled the stock's rise.
- Strong Market Performance: Astera Labs reported record quarterly revenue of $308.4 million for Q1 2026, a 93% year-over-year increase, which not only enhances the company's competitiveness in the AI sector but also attracts more investor interest in its growth potential.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Although Astera Labs trades at a high forward P/E ratio of 91, indicating that its stock is not cheap, the company's ongoing prosperity in AI infrastructure and robust market demand make it a compelling option for investors to consider.
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- Price Target Increase: Evercore ISI raised Astera Labs' price target from $215 to $297, a more than 38% increase, reflecting optimistic expectations for growing demand for its connectivity solutions, which is likely to further drive the stock price upward.
- Strong Stock Performance: As of 11:01 AM today, Astera Labs' stock has risen 34.3% since last Friday's close, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the company's position within the artificial intelligence infrastructure sector, contributing to its market capitalization growth.
- Impressive Quarterly Results: Astera Labs recently reported Q1 2026 revenue of $308.4 million, a 93% year-over-year increase, which not only exceeded market expectations but also solidified its market position in the AI industry.
- Increased Industry Attention: With multiple firms raising their price targets, including Barclays and Needham, Astera Labs is attracting more investor interest, and despite its current P/E ratio of 91, confidence in its future growth potential remains robust.
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