Wall Street made some of its biggest calls of the year in 2025, and not all of them went the same direction.
In this video, MarketBeat analyst Thomas Hughes breaks down the five most downgraded stocks and the five most upgraded stocks of 2025, explaining what drove analyst sentiment and what investors should be watching as we head into 2026.
Get deeper stock research and see the full list of ratings on MarketBeat here.
Some companies struggled early in the year due to tariffs, slowing growth, or leadership changes, leading to a wave of analyst downgrades. Others saw analysts turn increasingly bullish as fundamentals improved, AI investments paid off, and outlooks strengthened. The key question now is whether those downgrades signal deeper trouble or potential rebound opportunities, and whether the upgraded stocks still have room to run.
In this video, we cover:
• The 5 most downgraded stocks of 2025 and why analysts pulled back
• The 5 most upgraded stocks of 2025 and what’s driving optimism
• When most of the downgrades happened and why timing matters
• What analyst sentiment could mean for stock performance in 2026
• Key trends investors should be watching in the new year
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Bridget Bennett, Host
Digital Media Producer, MarketBeat
Always the talker, Bridget Bennett turned her passion for people and sharing stories into a career in communications. She started working as a journalist in high school at her local county paper in Ellendale, North Dakota. After moving to Dallas for college at Southern Methodist University, she quickly fell in love with visual storytelling and started her career as a news anchor and reporter.
Bridget brings her 12 years of experience in broadcast writing and video production to the MarketBeat content team. She's also an energetic, creative thinker and lifelong learner, so she's always bringing new ideas. Bridget is thrilled to be part of an innovative team that is constantly looking to create useful content people can connect with.
When she's not working, Bridget is a busy mom of three and can be found at just about every activity or outing in town. She is also an adoption and foster care advocate and helps support foster children and families through her nonprofit volunteer work. She and her husband, Jason, grew up together and have spent their lives exploring the world through travel, hiking and ministry.
Thomas Hughes, Guest
MarketBeat Contributor, MarketBeat
Thomas got his start with the markets while working as a Chef. In 2005 a chance invitation to attend the seminar “How To Buy And Sell Your Own Stocks” altered his worldview. Soon trading and stocks consumed his every waking moment to the point of excluding all else. Thomas now enjoys a much different lifestyle engaged in his true passion, uncovering great investments.
