JPMorgan sees US benchmark rising to 8,000 points, up 3%

JPMorgan just bumped its year-end S&P 500 target to 8,000, up from 7,800, projecting roughly a 3.1% climb from the index’s recent close at 7,757.64. The revision reflects what the bank’s strategists see as a market still riding tailwinds from corporate earnings beats and a growing river of AI-related revenue flowing into Big Tech’s bottom line. The move puts JPMorgan in increasingly crowded company. At least seven other brokerages now share the same 8,000 target for the benchmark index by the end of 2026. The AI revenue engine The core of JPMorgan’s bullish case rests on two pillars: corporate earnings coming in stronger than expected, and hyperscaler spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure translating into actual revenue growth. Not just capex line items on balance sheets, but dollars showing up in the top line. The bank’s target trajectory tells a story of gradually increasing confidence. Starting with a baseline forecast of 7,500 in late 2025, the team ratcheted up to 7,800 in June 2026 before landing at the current 8,000 figure. Rate cuts as a potential accelerator Beyond the earnings story, JPMorgan’s outlook also factors in the possibility of additional Federal...