U.S. Stock Futures Rise as TSMC Reports Record Quarter
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: Benzinga
- Stock Futures Rise: U.S. stock futures increased following a positive close on Thursday, indicating improved market sentiment, particularly with standout performances in tech stocks, which may boost investor confidence.
- TSMC's Strong Performance: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) reported record quarterly earnings, driving strong performance in chip stocks and indicating a robust recovery in the semiconductor sector, potentially attracting more investment.
- Financial Stocks Rally: Goldman Sachs (GS) saw a strong fourth-quarter profit increase of over 4%, while Morgan Stanley (MS) jumped nearly 6%, reflecting a healthy financial sector that may stimulate more capital inflow into the markets.
- Optimistic Economic Outlook: Analyst Jennifer Timmerman maintains a bullish outlook for 2026, predicting continued U.S. economic growth despite geopolitical challenges, with strength in services and consumer spending likely driving broader market participation.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy GS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on GS
Wall Street analysts forecast GS stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GS is 848.09 USD with a low forecast of 604.00 USD and a high forecast of 1048 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
6 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 940.120
Low
604.00
Averages
848.09
High
1048
Current: 940.120
Low
604.00
Averages
848.09
High
1048
About GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a global financial institution that delivers a range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Its segments include Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers a range of services, including financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for its institutional and corporate clients. It facilitates client transactions and makes markets in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products. The Asset & Wealth Management segment manages assets and offers investment products across all asset classes to a diverse set of clients. It also provides investing and wealth advisory solutions. The Platform Solutions segment includes consumer platforms, such as partnerships offering credit cards and point-of-sale financing, and transaction banking and other platform businesses.
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 Dynamics and Company Performances in U.S. Stocks
- Fed Chair Nomination: President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chair, likely easing market concerns about Fed independence, although the December producer price index exceeded expectations, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures.
- Apple's Strong Performance: Apple reported robust iPhone demand and service growth in its latest earnings, particularly in China, while memory shortages may pose challenges; however, the stock is on track to break an eight-week losing streak, reflecting solid investor confidence.
- Sandisk Stock Surge: Following a strong earnings report, Sandisk's stock soared 22%, marking a 175% increase year-to-date, with Goldman Sachs raising its price target from $320 to $700, indicating strong future growth potential.
- Broadcom Upgrade: Wolfe Research upgraded Broadcom from hold to buy with a price target of $400, citing expectations that AI revenue could double by 2027, highlighting the company's growth potential in tensor processing units.
Continue Reading
SPDR Gold ETF Surges 25% Year-to-Date, Outperforming Major Stocks
- Gold ETF Performance: The SPDR Gold ETF has surged 25% year-to-date, outperforming Palantir Technologies (down 12%) and Nvidia (up 3%), and has exceeded these AI stocks by at least 50 percentage points over the last six months, highlighting gold's strong appeal as a safe-haven asset.
- Hedge Fund Accumulation: Billionaire hedge fund managers Israel Englander and Ken Griffin increased their holdings in the SPDR Gold ETF by 104,900 shares and 255,100 shares respectively in Q3 2025, with Griffin also purchasing call options, indicating their confidence in the gold market and strategic portfolio adjustments.
- Gold Price Dynamics: Gold's low correlation with stocks and bonds makes it an ideal choice for investors during periods of global tension and economic uncertainty, as historical data shows that gold can provide effective hedging during significant market drawdowns.
- Future Price Expectations: Several financial institutions project gold prices to reach between $5,300 and $6,000 per ounce by 2026, and despite mixed opinions on the geopolitical and economic turmoil caused by Trump's policies, the overall trend remains bullish, suggesting investors should consider increasing their exposure to gold ETFs to mitigate potential risks.
Continue Reading