Goldman Sachs Predicts Economic Acceleration in 2026 to Benefit Cyclical Sectors

According to PANews, Goldman Sachs has released a report highlighting that while investors are currently focused on artificial intelligence and large-cap tech giants, the anticipated economic acceleration in 2026 may present greater opportunities for cyclical sectors such as industrials, materials, and consumer discretionary. Analysts expect significant growth in earnings per share (EPS) for these sectors, with industrials potentially increasing from 4% to 15%, real estate companies from 5% to 15%, and consumer discretionary companies from 3% to 7%. In contrast, the EPS growth for information technology companies may slow from 26% in 2025 to 24% in 2026. Goldman Sachs notes that despite the recent strong performance of cyclical stocks, which have outperformed defensive stocks for 14 consecutive trading days, the market has not fully reflected the potential of the 2026 economic acceleration. Goldman Sachs forecasts that the overall U.S. economic growth will accelerate in 2026, driving a 12% increase in the S&P 500 index's EPS. Analysts emphasize that although the AI boom continues, the market may have already absorbed much of the potential gains from AI.