Rising profits will lift European stocks to new records by mid-2025, according to Citigroup strategists, who expect the STOXX 600 to rally 11% to 580 points after an already solid run this year.
The pan-European index is up 9% year-to-date after breaking into unchartered high levels in May, with the tech, banking and healthcare sectors leading the gains.
Strategists led by Beata Manthey say they remain encouraged by a positive earnings momentum and favorable macroeconomic conditions in the region with a first interest-rate cut from the European Central Bank last week.
Citi’s base case is for valuation multiples to remain steady at about 14 times forward profits but this might prove too conservative in a monetary easing cycle, they cautioned.
In terms of sectors, Citi continues to favor tech, industrials and health care and raises its recommendation for travel and leisure. Its analysts remain cautious cautious on autos, telecoms and utilities, while it cut its rating for construction materials.
Also, Orion has added BlackRock, Fidelity, and Vanguard to its custom portfolios suite, and RedBlack has set up a new headquarters after crossing a trillion-dollar milestone.
Also, New York-based Legacy Edge Advisors names its first-ever CEO, while Novare Capital Management hires a Vanguard veteran with a multigenerational planning focus.
Asset managers are racing to bring private market products to retirement plans, but cost and liquidity concerns linger.
Treasury's latest tax-exemption crackdown on private schools lands in the wake of a separate push to restrict refundable credits for some immigrant filers.
Workforce trust measures predicted which companies came out ahead during COVID-19. The same dynamic may now be playing out across the AI transition — and the data suggests the spread could be just as wide.
Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains
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