The S&P 500 currently exhibits a mean implied upside of 15.6% across our tracked cohort of 275 large-cap equities. As of the data refresh at 00:10:35 UTC on July 10, 2026, the delta between the top-performing sector and the bottom-ranked cohort sits at a significant 19.6 percentage points. This disparity highlights a clear divergence in how analysts are currently positioning their outlooks relative to market pricing.
Sector rankings
Communication Services holds the top position in our tracking, boasting an average implied upside of 27.7%. Within this segment, Charter Communications (CHTR) stands out with a substantial 70.9% upside potential according to current consensus estimates. The sector leads by a wide margin, distancing itself from the rest of the board.
Materials follows in second place with an average upside of 21.7%, propelled by significant optimism surrounding Albermarle (ALB) at 59.2%. Energy rounds out the top three at 20.9%, where Devon Energy (DVN) contributes a 43.6% individual upside figure.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Utilities sector sits at the bottom of our list with an average upside of just 8.1%. Industrials are only slightly ahead, reflecting a more tempered view from the street with a 9.5% average. The gap between Communication Services and Utilities underscores the uneven distribution of bullish sentiment currently baked into analyst price targets. For a deeper look at the performance of the top-ranked group, visit the Communication Services sector page.
What stands out
The concentration of high-upside outliers in specific sectors is the most striking feature of today’s data. While the overall mean remains anchored at 15.6%, specific names are pulling their respective sectors upward with aggressive targets. For example, the IT sector, which maintains a respectable 19.1% average, is heavily influenced by Intuit (INTU) and its 78% upside call. Such figures suggest that analysts are distinguishing sharply between companies they view as undervalued and those they see as accurately priced.
A further look at the data shows that the middle-of-the-pack sectors, such as Consumer Discretionary at 15.9% and Healthcare at 16.8%, are hovering very close to the aggregate index average. This clustering suggests that for the majority of the S&P 500, current analyst sentiment is largely aligned with the broader market consensus. By contrast, the extremes—like the 70.9% target for CHTR versus the more modest expectations found in the Utilities cohort—indicate that where analysts do see value, they are acting with conviction.
These figures are based strictly on aggregated analyst price targets and represent a snapshot as of early July 10, 2026. It is important to remember that these targets are subjective opinions that can shift rapidly in response to earnings reports or macroeconomic catalysts. The daily refresh cycle ensures we capture these movements, but they remain a point-in-time reflection of Wall Street’s collective outlook rather than a prediction of near-term performance.