Goldman Sachs Analysis: Goldman Sachs predicts a favorable shift for consumer staples in 2026, focusing on beer, nicotine, and energy drinks as key investment areas due to a stabilizing economy and upcoming global events.
Middle-Class Consumer Trends: The analysis highlights that a healthier middle-class consumer, benefiting from normalized inflation, will drive demand for affordable luxuries like energy drinks and nicotine products, which show strong brand loyalty and habitual consumption.
2026: A Landmark Year for Beer: The year 2026 is expected to be significant for the beer industry, with major events like the FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics, and the US 250th Anniversary likely to boost consumption and create growth opportunities.
Stocks to Watch: Key stocks in the energy drink and nicotine sectors include Monster Beverage, Celsius Holdings, Philip Morris, and Altria, while notable beer stocks include Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors, and Boston Beer Company.
Wall Street analysts forecast SAM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SAM is 239.01 USD with a low forecast of 192.00 USD and a high forecast of 326.00 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.
9 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast SAM stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SAM is 239.01 USD with a low forecast of 192.00 USD and a high forecast of 326.00 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.
1 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 221.390
Low
192.00
Averages
239.01
High
326.00
Current: 221.390
Low
192.00
Averages
239.01
High
326.00
Citi
Neutral
downgrade
$250 -> $220
2025-12-17
Reason
Citi
Price Target
$250 -> $220
AI Analysis
2025-12-17
downgrade
Neutral
Reason
Citi lowered the firm's price target on Boston Beer to $220 from $250 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the beverages, household and personal care sector as part of its 2026 outlook. Citi is shifting from a bullish stance on the non-alcoholic beverage space throughout 2025 toward favoring the household and personal care names. It sees improving fundamentals for the group due to the cycling of inventory destocking and easier consumption compares.
TD Cowen
Derrick Wood
Buy
maintain
$49 -> $55
2025-12-05
Reason
TD Cowen
Derrick Wood
Price Target
$49 -> $55
2025-12-05
maintain
Buy
Reason
TD Cowen analyst Derrick Wood raised the firm's price target on Samsara to $55 from $49 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm said they reported a strong quarter which showed impressive momentum with lots of new growth being unlocked and taking hold. Cowen continues to see strong beat & raise motions ahead amidst steady execution and said the company remains a top software executor.
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Piper Sandler
Neutral
downgrade
$230 -> $220
2025-11-21
Reason
Piper Sandler
Price Target
$230 -> $220
2025-11-21
downgrade
Neutral
Reason
Piper Sandler lowered the firm's price target on Boston Beer (SAM) to $220 from $230 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm says it is updating its models and price targets for recently announced GLP-1 news, higher ABV headwinds, as well as tariff relief and other company specific updates. President Trump recently announced deals with Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) to cut GLP-1 drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in 2026 and offer the treatments directly to consumers at a discount on TrumpRX. Faster user uptake growth in the US appears directionally clear, and Piper now estimates about 20% of the U.S. population could be users by 2028.
UBS
Neutral
maintain
$230 -> $246
2025-10-24
Reason
UBS
Price Target
$230 -> $246
2025-10-24
maintain
Neutral
Reason
UBS raised the firm's price target on Boston Beer to $246 from $230 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares.
About SAM
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. is engaged in the business of selling alcohol beverages throughout the United States and in selected international markets, under various trademarks. The trademarks include The Boston Beer Company, Twisted Tea Brewing Company, Hard Seltzer Beverage Company, Angry Orchard Cider Company, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Dogfish Head Distilling Co., Angel City Brewing Company, Coney Island Brewing Company, Green Rebel Brewing Co., and Sun Cruiser Beverage Co. It produces alcohol beverages, including hard seltzer, flavored malt beverages, and hard cider at Company-owned breweries and its cidery and under contract arrangements at other production facilities. The four primary Company-owned breweries are focused on production and research and development. It also owns three smaller local breweries that are mainly focused on brewing and packaging beers for retail sales on site at tap rooms and gift shops, and other. The Company sells its beverages in various packages.
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.
