Block (XYZ) stock has risen 26.4% over the past week, gained 6.7% in the last month, and is up 2.6% over the past year. Wall Street’s analysts are firmly bullish, with a StrongBuy consensus and a 12‑month average price target of $86.62, pointing to solid upside from the last closing price of $64.45.
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Analyst Saul Martinez of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. recently upgraded Block’s stock to Buy with a target price of $77.00, implying roughly 20% upside from current levels. He argues that the company’s accelerating profitability, helped by a major headcount reduction, sets Block up well for 2027 and beyond.
Martinez sees Block’s plan to cut nearly half of its workforce as a sign of strength rather than distress, noting that business and financial performance remain healthy. He highlights that while lending growth risks should be watched, the mix of strong gross profit growth and expanding operating margins has created an attractive risk‑reward profile.
The analyst also points to the timing of these gains, expecting most of the earnings power improvements from the headcount reduction to show up in the second half of 2026. His forecasts suggest that current 2027 consensus estimates may be too low, with his own adjusted operating earnings and EPS projections running ahead of Visible Alpha’s numbers.
Saul Martinez ranks 4,407 out of 12,096 analysts on TipRanks, with a success rate of about 55.3% and an average return of 4.1% per rating. Never miss a stock rating. Find all the latest ratings on TipRanks’ Top Wall Street Analysts page.