Equitable Holdings, Inc. Just Reported A Surprise Loss: Here's What Analysts Think Will Happen Next

Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) shareholders are probably feeling a little disappointed, since its shares fell 9.2% to US$44.87 in the week after its latest quarterly results. Revenues fell badly short of expectations, with revenue of US$1.5b missing analyst predictions by 60%. Statutory earnings correspondingly nosedived, with Equitable Holdings reporting a loss of US$4.47 per share, where the analysts were expecting a profit. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

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After the latest results, the eight analysts covering Equitable Holdings are now predicting revenues of US$17.0b in 2026. If met, this would reflect a sizeable 38% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Equitable Holdings is also expected to turn profitable, with statutory earnings of US$7.18 per share. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$16.2b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$7.10 in 2026. So it looks like there's been no major change in sentiment following the latest results, although the analysts have made a slight bump in to revenue forecasts.

View our latest analysis for Equitable Holdings

Even though revenue forecasts increased, there was no change to the consensus price target of US$65.08, suggesting the analysts are focused on earnings as the driver of value creation. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Equitable Holdings at US$77.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$58.00. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. The analysts are definitely expecting Equitable Holdings' growth to accelerate, with the forecast 29% annualised growth to the end of 2026 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 6.2% per annum over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to grow their revenue at 6.3% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Equitable Holdings is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. Happily, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, and are forecasting them to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Equitable Holdings analysts - going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Before you take the next step you should know about the 2 warning signs for Equitable Holdings that we have uncovered.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.