Is a Stock-Pocalypse Coming This Week? Analysts Share Their Boldest Calls

Wall Street enters a high-stakes week after Friday’s sharp selloff. The Nasdaq fell 2.86%, its worst day since early June, while the S&P 500 lost 1.82%.

Now, analysts warn that midterms, AI spending fears, and key earnings could trigger even bigger swings.

What Sparked Wall Street’s “Stock-Pocalypse” Fears

A stock-pocalypse is an informal term for a sudden, severe market selloff. Jim Cramer used it to describe Friday’s session on Wall Street.

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The trigger was AI cash burn. Intel fell nearly 29%, and Amazon disappointed. Earlier, Alphabet had already lost about $500 billion in market value.

These results fueled doubts that massive AI infrastructure spending will pay off soon. Moreover, the Financial Times reported that Anthropic could receive a junk rating after its IPO. That deepened worries about the industry’s borrowing spree.

Meanwhile, the record $6.3 billion Binance hack added to the risk-off mood. Oil also stayed elevated amid Middle East tensions, which kept pressure on inflation expectations.

The Kobeissi Letter noted that the Nasdaq’s drop coincided with rising odds of a Democratic midterm sweep. “Next week is going to be interesting, to say the least,” it warned.

How Far Could Stocks Fall This Week, According to Analysts?

Forecasts vary widely. Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson sees “clearing events” that could push the S&P 500 about 9% below its record, toward 7,100. However, he views that dip as a potential buying opportunity and keeps his 8,000 year-end target.

Similarly, Bank of America’s Michael Hartnett remains “tactically risk-off” until mid-November. He expects further declines as markets price in political and AI risks.

Meanwhile, economist Peter Schiff has flagged a possible crash before the November 3 elections. He cites expensive valuations, rising yields, sticky inflation, and a soft labor market.

The most extreme scenario comes from TS Lombard’s Dario Perkins. His AI-crash model has the S&P 500 dropping at least 30%. That decline would erase about $20 trillion in value. Still, he does not call the current wobble the definitive trigger.

Several catalysts loom. Tuesday’s midterms could reshape AI regulation, while Apple, AMD, and Palantir report earnings. Friday’s jobs report follows. Some investors see a healthy reset, but others fear Friday was only the opening act.

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