HP Inc. gains as Einhorn's Greenlight takes stake in Q1 on AI potential (update)

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

HPQ-2.02%

FHN-2.88%

BHF-0.37%

Updated: Apr 24 2024

0mins

HP Inc. gains: HP Inc. experiences an increase in its stock value.
Einhorn's Greenlight takes stake: Einhorn's Greenlight Capital invests in HP Inc. during the first quarter.
AI potential: The investment is based on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in HP Inc.'s business.
Update: The news article has been updated with this information.

HPQ

$19.43+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on HPQ

Wall Street analysts forecast HPQ stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HPQ is 25.30 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 30.00 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.

14 Analyst Rating

1 Buy

10 Hold

3 Sell

Hold

Current: 19.830

Low

20.00

Averages

25.30

High

30.00

Current: 19.830

Low

20.00

Averages

25.30

High

30.00

Morgan Stanley

Underweight -> NULL

downgrade

$20 -> $18

2026-01-20

New

Reason

Morgan Stanley

Price Target

$20 -> $18

AI Analysis

2026-01-20

New

downgrade

Underweight -> NULL

Reason

Morgan Stanley lowered the firm's price target on HP Inc. to $18 from $20 and keeps an Underweight rating on the shares. The firm's chief investment officer survey indicated the the slowest hardware budget growth in 15 years. Resellers are expecting an "elastic demand response" to input cost inflation, which warrants a more defensive IT hardware position despite secular AI tailwinds, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Morgan Stanley has turned "more defensive," saying its recent survey work "signals the perfect storm of cautionary factors emerging." The firm downgraded its sector view to Cautious from In-Line.

Citi

Neutral -> Neutral

downgrade

$25 -> $22

2026-01-20

New

Reason

Citi

Price Target

$25 -> $22

2026-01-20

New

downgrade

Neutral -> Neutral

Reason

Citi lowered the firm's price target on HP Inc. to $22 from $25 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the technology hardware group as part of its 2026 outlook. Citi believes hyperscaler data center spending "remains robust," which is driving demand for power, storage, connectors, and fiber.

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Barclays

Equal Weight -> Underweight

downgrade

$24 -> $18

2026-01-16

Reason

Barclays

Price Target

$24 -> $18

2026-01-16

downgrade

Equal Weight -> Underweight

Reason

Barclays downgraded HP Inc. to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $18, down from $24. While the shares are "inexpensive," secular challenges across both computers and printing, combined with a lack of catalysts, will keep HP pressured in 2026, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Additionally, Barclays expects the current memory cycle to pressure the company's PC business with further downside potential in the year.

Goldman Sachs

Neutral

downgrade

$28 -> $24

2025-11-26

Reason

Goldman Sachs

Price Target

$28 -> $24

2025-11-26

downgrade

Neutral

Reason

Goldman Sachs lowered the firm's price target on HP Inc. to $24 from $28 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. HP posted in-line EPS with a modest revenue beat, and its FY26 outlook calls for revenue growth ahead of the market driven by AI PCs, Workforce Solutions, and subscription/industrial print categories, the analyst tells investors in a research note. However, FY26 EPS guidance came in below consensus due to sharply higher memory costs pressuring Personal Systems margins, which are expected to recover gradually starting mid-2027, aided by a new multi-year cost-savings program, Goldman says.

About HPQ

HP Inc. is a global provider of sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing (PC), printing, three-dimensional (3D) printing, hybrid work, gaming and other related technologies. The Company’s segments include Personal Systems, Printing and Corporate Investments. Its Personal Systems segment offers desktops, notebooks, and workstations, thin clients, retail point-of-sale (POS) systems, displays, hybrid systems, software, solutions including endpoint security and services. Its Printing segment provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, services and solutions. Printing is also focused on graphics and 3D printing and personalization in the commercial and industrial markets. Its Corporate Investments segment includes certain business incubation and investment projects. Its security solutions provide layered resiliency using features such as containment and isolation technology as well as artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning.

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.