Goldman Sachs' Kostin Sees S&P 500 Hitting 6,000 Next Year

What You Need to Know

The forecast implies a roughly 5% gain from Monday’s record close of about 5,719 for the index, which is up around 20% this year.
The average target among strategists tracked by Bloomberg currently stands near 5,523 after a rush of upgrades by various firms this year.
Strong corporate earnings will be the primary driver of equities in the coming months, in Kostin’s view.

The runway is clear for the stock market to keep powering higher once the U.S. presidential election is decided, says Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s David Kostin.

The firm’s chief U.S. equity strategist expects the S&P 500 Index to trade around the 6,000 level a year from now, he said Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

The forecast implies a roughly 5% gain from Monday’s record close of about 5,719 for the index, which is up around 20% this year.

But first, he said, investors will probably have to navigate some market turbulence in the weeks ahead as the election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump looks set to come down to the wire.

Historically speaking, it’s a period when volatility tends to rise and equities prices decline, he said.

“There is uncertainty, by definition, around the election, so that would be from a near-term perspective some concern,” Kostin said. “That is usually resolved with the election. As a result, equities over time have tended to rally post elections.”

Latest Views

After lifting his S&P 500 forecast three times since publishing his original call for 2024 late last year, the strategist reiterated his most recent year-end target of 5,600, citing the near-term gyrations he expects from the race for the White House.

The average target among strategists tracked by Bloomberg currently stands near 5,523 after a rush of upgrades by various firms this year.

Meanwhile, on Goldman Sachs’ trading desk, Scott Rubner sees the S&P 500 reaching 6,000 as soon as later this year.