Oracle Stock Forecast: Will ORCL Rise in 2026?

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Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the world’s largest enterprise technology providers, offering cloud applications, cloud infrastructure, database software, hardware, and consulting services to organizations across industries. With a market cap near $472.9 billion, Oracle remains a major player in the global shift toward cloud computing and AI-powered enterprise tools.

Still, investors have recently questioned whether the Oracle stock forecast is turning more bullish—or if the company’s shares could stay under pressure in the months ahead. While Oracle has posted solid earnings growth and expanding cloud revenue, the stock has lagged broader market benchmarks, creating a mixed picture for potential buyers.

Oracle Stock Forecast vs. the Broader Market

Over the past 52 weeks, Oracle shares have fallen about 5.9%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP:.INX), which gained roughly 15.5% during the same period. On a year-to-date basis, Oracle stock has dropped approximately 17.9%, compared with the S&P 500’s modest rise.

This gap matters when evaluating an Oracle stock forecast, because underperformance can reflect either weakening investor confidence or a potential value opportunity—depending on the underlying business fundamentals.

Oracle has also trailed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLK), which returned about 25.9% over the last year. For a technology company with a significant cloud presence, lagging the broader tech sector raises the question: is the market discounting Oracle’s growth prospects, or simply reacting to short-term volatility?

Earnings Strength Supports the Oracle Stock Forecast

Oracle’s fiscal second-quarter 2026 results, reported on Dec. 10, delivered a strong performance on key metrics. Adjusted earnings per share rose 54% to $2.26, while total revenue increased 14% to $16.1 billion. Even more importantly for the long-term Oracle stock forecast, cloud revenue climbed 34% to $8 billion.

Oracle also posted a $2.7 billion pre-tax gain from selling its stake in Ampere, boosting overall profitability. The company highlighted rapid momentum in its multicloud database business, which reportedly surged 817% in the quarter.

Despite these headline numbers, Oracle stock dropped 10.8% the following day, reminding investors that markets often react not only to results, but to guidance, expectations, and forward-looking sentiment. A big selloff after strong earnings can happen when investors believe the “good news” was already priced in, or when management’s outlook doesn’t match the market’s high bar.

Still, from a fundamentals standpoint, Oracle’s quarterly growth suggests the business is moving in the right direction—especially in cloud infrastructure and database services, which are critical for long-term enterprise IT spending.

What Wall Street Expects Next for ORCL

A major driver of the Oracle stock forecast is earnings growth. For the fiscal year ending in May 2026, analysts expect Oracle’s EPS to grow about 36.8% year-over-year to $6.02. That’s a meaningful jump, especially for a mega-cap company already generating substantial revenue.

Oracle’s earnings surprise history also supports a constructive outlook. The company has met or beaten consensus expectations in each of the last four quarters, which can help build credibility with investors and analysts over time. Consistency matters because it reduces uncertainty—one of the biggest reasons stocks become volatile.

If Oracle can maintain cloud growth rates while improving margins, it could strengthen investor confidence and potentially close the performance gap versus peers in the broader technology sector.

Analyst Ratings: Moderate Buy With Upside Potential

Wall Street’s consensus view remains cautiously optimistic. Among 41 analysts covering Oracle, the stock holds a “Moderate Buy” rating. This includes 29 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” 10 “Hold” ratings, and one “Strong Sell.”

That mix suggests the Oracle stock forecast is generally positive, but not without skepticism. The “Hold” ratings imply some analysts believe the stock may already reflect a fair valuation, or that near-term catalysts may be limited.

However, price targets point to significant upside. The mean target of $304.03 represents an 89.9% premium to Oracle’s current trading levels, while the Street-high target of $400 implies upside of roughly 149.9%. Such aggressive targets indicate that many analysts see Oracle’s cloud transition and AI-driven database demand as major long-term growth drivers.

Notably, on Feb. 3, Piper Sandler lowered Oracle’s price target to $240 while keeping an “Overweight” rating. That kind of adjustment shows analysts can remain bullish while still tempering expectations based on market conditions, valuation, or competitive pressures.

Bottom Line: Is the Oracle Stock Forecast Bullish or Risky?

The current Oracle stock forecast reflects a company with strong earnings momentum, expanding cloud revenue, and improving competitive positioning in multicloud environments. Analysts largely view Oracle as a buy, and average price targets imply major upside from current levels.

At the same time, Oracle’s recent underperformance versus the S&P 500 and the broader tech sector signals that investors may still be cautious. The sharp post-earnings drop also highlights that sentiment can shift quickly, even when results look strong on paper.

For investors, Oracle may appeal most to those who believe cloud growth will remain durable through 2026 and beyond—and that the market is undervaluing Oracle’s ability to scale cloud infrastructure and database services in an AI-driven era. As always, the best approach is to weigh upside potential against volatility, valuation risk, and execution challenges in a highly competitive tech landscape.

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