While Wall Street analysts are typically known for being overly optimistic, based on at least one measure, they have never been less bullish. According to Bloomberg statistics that track analyst buy, sell, and hold ratings, only 36% of all ratings are currently buys. As the chart below shows, this is the lowest level since at least 1997, and significantly lower than the 75% level we saw in 1997 and 2000. However, since the Spitzer crackdown on Wall Street research and the bursting of the tech bubble, analysts have grown increasingly shy about putting a buy rating on a stock they cover.
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Very, very interesting data. It seems to offer some better sense of the big picture here. At any rate, it fits my outlook ... both bullish and bearish. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Tom Chechatka | November 25, 2008 at 02:47 PM