There is a small cohort of stocks that have drawn analyst optimism, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs have roiled markets. The three major indexes have yet to recover from February’s market sell-off as investors remain jittery over how Trump’s tariffs on a wide array of imports will affect the economy. The S & P 500 is down more than 5% so far this year, while the Nasdaq Composite has pulled back 10%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has slipped more than 2% in 2025. With more tariff news expected by Wednesday, investors may want to find stocks with rosier outlooks. Analysts have increased the price targets of this group by at least 5% even as the market has been increasingly volatile. The reasons analysts are bullish are largely company-specific, with catalysts ranging from a recent CEO change to strong demand in a particular market or being a business that analysts say is somewhat insulated from broader macroeconomic pressures. On Wednesday, the administration announced a 25% tariff on imported cars . Other sector-specific levies are to come by April 2, which Trump has dubbed ” Liberation Day .” These tariffs are retaliatory and take aim at countries that impose duties on U.S. imports. But analysts polled by FactSet think stocks including Live Nation Entertainment and Intel can find growth against the uncertain market backdrop. Here’s a closer look why analysts think so. Shares of Live Nation Entertainment had fallen 4% in 2025, as of Wednesday’s close. However, analysts surveyed by FactSet have increased their price targets by an average 10% since the market sell-off from Feb. 19 through March 26. Even as consumer sentiment has weakened, analysts have argued that live entertainment is a less cyclical part of the economy and will be somewhat insulated from a potential slowdown. LYV YTD mountain Live Nation stock in 2025. “Live Nation continues to observe healthy demand, and we believe consumer spending on live events should hold up relatively well in the event of a macroeconomic downturn (compared to other forms of discretionary spending),” Deutsche Bank analyst Benjamin Soff wrote in a March 11 note. The analyst noted that Live Nation has already sold 65 million tickets as of February 2025, which is 14% higher than the same period a year earlier. Elsewhere, Intel stock has gained 13% in 2025, far outperforming the broader market. However, shares have been under pressure in March with a loss of more than 4%. The chipmaker named Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO earlier in March. Wall Street largely lauded the move , which has been viewed as the first step in the company’s turnaround effort. Intel is hoping to revamp both its artificial intelligence and manufacturing strategies . Tan said he is focused on regaining ground lost to peers in the semiconductor sector. Intel was a provider of chips for Apple for roughly 15 years before the iPhone maker opted to vertically integrate and develop its own chips. “In areas where we are behind the competition, we need to take calculated risks to disrupt and leapfrog. And in areas where our progress has been slower than expected, we need to find ways to pick up the pace,” Tan said in a statement earlier in March . INTC YTD mountain Intel stock in 2025. The average consensus price target for Intel shares have increased more than 12% since the market sell-off through March 26, per FactSet. Taco Bell parent Yum Brands also made the list. Shares have advanced more than 16% so far in 2025, but the stock is down less than 1% in March. Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein in a March 14 note listed the company as a candidate for investors to “hide in” if the health of the consumer deteriorates, given that Yum’s restaurants are a step down in terms of price compared with fast-casual competitors. YUM YTD mountain Yum! Brands stock in 2025. Yum is also trying to innovate. Earlier this month , the company partnered with Nvidia to speed up its use of AI at Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants. Since the February market sell-off, analysts polled by FactSet have increased their price targets on the stock by an average 5.6%. Other names on the list include entertainment and media stock Warner Bros. Discovery and GPS product designer Garmin . Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today’s dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You’ll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited!
