Wall Street Sees Bull Market Extension Through H2 2026 on S&P 500 Gains of 14.87%

Wall Street analysts remained optimistic about the second half of 2026 for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gaining 14.87% and 21.41% respectively in the first half—their strongest six-month performances in six years. Strategists expect the bull market to extend into 2027, driven by earnings growth, abundant liquidity, and the artificial intelligence wave.

For the remainder of 2026, key priorities include tracking whether AI investments translate into actual revenue, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Asset managers recommend rotating from large-cap overweighting toward diversification across industrials, healthcare, and materials sectors that are beginning to leverage AI infrastructure, along with increased exposure to mid-cap stocks and international markets.