U.S. markets closed out the week on a quiet note Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite dipping around 0.1% in thin trading following the Christmas holiday. But zoom out slightly and the picture looks considerably brighter. The S&P 500 jumped 1.4% for the week, notching its fourth weekly gain in five weeks. Both the Dow and Nasdaq climbed more than 1% as well.
Now, Wall Street analysts churn out stock recommendations constantly. The problem? Not every analyst has a track record worth following. Even on the same stock, ratings and price targets can swing wildly between different firms, leaving investors wondering whose opinion actually deserves their attention.
That's where analyst accuracy data becomes useful. By tracking which analysts have consistently made correct calls, investors can separate the signal from the noise. Here's a look at recent stock picks from five of Wall Street's most accurate analysts, based on their historical performance.
Michael Ciarmoli, Truist Securities
Ratings Accuracy: 86%
Latest Call: Maintained a Buy rating on Heico Corp (HEI) and lifted the price target from $366 to $391 on Dec. 23. That implies roughly 17% upside from current levels.
Recent News: On Dec. 18, Heico Corp reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings.
Patrick Moley, Morgan Stanley
Ratings Accuracy: 85%
Latest Call: Maintained an Overweight rating on CME Group Inc (CME) and raised the price target from $314 to $320 on Dec. 22. This suggests approximately 15% upside potential.
Recent News: CME Group announced it will report fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.
David Smith, Truist Securities
Ratings Accuracy: 82%
Latest Call: Maintained a Buy rating on Ally Financial Inc (ALLY) and increased the price target from $47 to $51 on Dec. 22. Smith anticipates around 12% upside in the stock.
Recent News: On Dec. 10, Ally Financial announced authorization for up to $2 billion in share repurchases.
Christopher Dendrinos, RBC Capital
Ratings Accuracy: 82%
Latest Call: Maintained an Outperform rating on GE Vernova Inc (GEV) with a $761 price target on Dec. 22. That implies roughly 16% potential gain.
Recent News: On Dec. 22, GE Vernova disclosed that its Electrification Systems business secured a major contract from Adani Energy Solutions Ltd. to supply high-voltage direct current technology for the 2.5-gigawatt Khavda–South Olpad renewable power transmission corridor in India.
Timothy Arcuri, UBS
Ratings Accuracy: 82%
Latest Call: Maintained a Buy rating on Lam Research Corp (LRCX) and boosted the price target from $175 to $200 on Dec. 23. Arcuri sees approximately 13% upside ahead.
Recent News: On Nov. 6, Lam Research announced a quarterly dividend of 26 cents per share.
These analysts have earned their high accuracy ratings through consistent performance over time. While past success doesn't guarantee future results, their track records suggest their opinions carry more weight than the average Wall Street voice. With upside potential ranging from 12% to 17% across these five picks, investors hunting for ideas might want to pay attention to what these analysts are saying.
