Why Wall Street’s ‘Expert’ Stock Picks Are Often Dead Wrong
Every day, Wall Street analysts make bold predictions about stocks.
Buy this… Sell that… Hold these…
And the financial media amplifies these calls:
“Upgrade sends stock soaring”
“Downgrade triggers selloff”
“Analyst sees 50% upside”
But here’s what most investors don’t realize:
Some of these “experts” are wrong more often than they’re right.
In fact, following the wrong analyst could be costing you serious money.
Just this week, a Wall Street "expert" with a 35% success rate made a major call on HA Sustainable (HASI)…
Based on his track record, we can safely assume that following his advice without doing your due diligence could cost you money!
Click here to see which top analysts to trust instead →
It's simple…
Would you:
→ Trust a weather forecaster who’s wrong 70% of the time?
→ Follow a sports bettor who loses 7 out of 10 bets?
→ Take investment advice from someone who’s usually wrong?
But here’s where it gets interesting…
While some analysts are essentially flipping coins with your money, others have built astonishing track records:
Daniel Ives… 82% accuracy!
Mark Palmer… 84% accuracy!
William Stein… a phenomenal 85% accuracy!
These aren’t just numbers.
They’re proof that some analysts truly understand their sectors.
The difference between following an analyst with an 85% track record versus one with a 31% track record?
On a $10,000 investment, that could mean the difference between:
- Growing your portfolio vs watching it shrink
- Making informed decisions vs gambling
- Following proven expertise vs random guesses
But here’s the real problem:
Most investors have no idea which analysts they can trust.
They read a headline about an upgrade or downgrade and make snap decisions without knowing if that analyst has any real track record of success.
It’s like taking medical advice from someone without checking if they’re actually a doctor.
The good news for you?
As a Benzinga Edge member, you don't need to worry about this.
Here's how to know – with precise accuracy – which analysts are worth your attention:
Let me show you exactly what I mean with some fresh analyst calls that just hit our desk:
- Carvana (CVNA) just received a major upgrade
- Brad Ericson (71% accuracy rate) raised his target to $280
- Potential upside: 35.99%
Would you trust this call?
With a 71% success rate, Ericson’s track record suggests yes.
- Lyft (LYFT) gets a decisive “Buy” rating
- Michael Ward (76% accuracy rate) keeps $20 target
- Potential upside: 37.36%
That’s a strong call from an analyst who’s right 3 out of 4 times!
- Capri Holdings (CPRI) sees significant target boost
- Simeon Siegel raises target from $25 to $31
- Potential upside: 40.07%
These are real calls hitting the market right now.
But here’s what matters:
Without knowing these analysts’ track records, these would just be more noise in a sea of Wall Street opinions.
As a Benzinga Edge member, you get this level of insight on EVERY analyst call:
✓ Real-time alerts on new ratings
✓ Complete accuracy tracking for each analyst
✓ Sector-specific performance metrics
✓ Historical success rates on specific stocks
Instead of guessing which analysts to trust, you’ll know exactly who has the proven track record to back up their calls.
Want to see who else is making calls on your favorite stocks right now?
Click here to see today’s latest analyst calls and ratings
Remember: Following the right analysts isn’t just about making better trades.
It’s about avoiding the wrong ones.
Benzinga Edge
P.S. The analysts mentioned above are just a few examples.
There are hidden gems (and warnings) across every sector.
See who’s making calls on your favorite stocks right now.
Image via Shutterstock
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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