Wall Street Experts Predict Gains for Select Stocks Amid Market Volatility
Following a turbulent first half of 2025, analysts on Wall Street are pinpointing specific stocks anticipated to thrive in the second half of the year. Factors such as political developments and economic uncertainty have influenced investor sentiment, but some companies stand out as potential winners.
Promising Stocks for the Second Half
Analysts are particularly optimistic about several stocks. Companies were selected based on specific criteria: part of the S&P 1500, a market cap of at least $1 billion, a “buy” rating from at least 65% of analysts, a consensus price target with a 30% or greater upside, and coverage by at least 15 analysts.
First Solar is one of the companies on the list. Shares have declined by 18% in 2025. Jeff Osborne, an analyst at TD Cowen, highlighted First Solar’s leadership in solar panel production. He also noted the company’s advantage in high-temperature, high-humidity environments.
“First Solar continues to lead the pack in thin film efficiencies and in recent years the company has increased its efficiency at a rate 4x faster than multi-crystalline solar panels out of China,”
—Jeff Osborne, Analyst, TD Cowen
TD Cowen rates First Solar as a buy, and Osborne’s price target suggests a 38% increase from the recent close. Roughly 80% of analysts polled by FactSet give First Solar a buy rating, which supports Osborne’s assessment. Currently, the solar industry is showing strong growth, with global solar installations projected to reach 350 gigawatts in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Salesforce and Other Potential Gainers
The customer relations management software maker, Salesforce, also appears on the list. The company, led by CEO Marc Benioff, has seen its stock price fall by 22% this year. Matthew VanVliet from Cantor named Salesforce as a beneficiary in application software, due to advances in AI utilization.
VanVliet’s price target projects a 25% rally from the recent closing price. Roughly 81% of analysts surveyed by FactSet rate Salesforce a buy. Their consensus 12-month price target would amount to 35% upside in the next year. Other companies that analysts favor for the second half of the year include BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Light & Wonder, Fiserv, and Burlington Stores.
Looking ahead, these picks could provide investors with opportunities as the market navigates the rest of the year. The analysts’ collective optimism suggests these companies could outperform.