How to read stock-market forecasts like a pro — without getting steered in the wrong direction

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Evaluate a forecaster’s credibility before buying in — and don’t mistake anecdotes for data

Last Updated: June 28, 2025 at 10:48 a.m. ET
First Published: June 25, 2025 at 8:05 a.m. ET

As a consumer of financial news, you may notice that much of the content is forward-looking. It’s a mix of forecasts, predictions and warnings. Almost everyone seems to have a crystal ball.

Some forecasters, whether financial analysts or media pundits, brand themselves as contrarians, visionaries or number-crunchers. They issue pronouncements like oracles who see what others don’t.

About the Author

Morey Stettner is a personal-finance columnist for MarketWatch. He is the author of "Skills for New Managers” (McGraw-Hill) and other books.

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