Price Target Summary
Retrieve aggregated analyst price target data across multiple timeframes using the Octagon MCP server.
Prerequisites
Ensure Octagon MCP is configured in your AI agent (Cursor, Claude Desktop, Windsurf, etc.). See references/mcp-setup.md for installation instructions.
Workflow
1. Identify the Stock
Determine the ticker symbol for the company you want to analyze (e.g., AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL).
2. Execute Query via Octagon MCP
Use the octagon-agent tool with a natural language prompt:
Retrieve the analysts' price-target summary for the stock symbol <TICKER>.
MCP Call Format:
{
"server": "octagon-mcp",
"toolName": "octagon-agent",
"arguments": {
"prompt": "Retrieve the analysts' price-target summary for the stock symbol AAPL."
}
}
3. Expected Output
The agent returns price target data across timeframes:
| Timeframe | Number of Analysts | Average Price Target |
|---|
| Last Month | 9 | $305.72 |
| Last Quarter | 16 | $312.80 |
| Last Year | 48 | $282.91 |
| All Time | 229 | $219.71 |
Key Insights: Trend analysis comparing timeframes
Data Sources: octagon-stock-data-agent (aggregating StreetInsider, TheFly, Benzinga, etc.)
4. Interpret Results
See references/interpreting-results.md for guidance on:
- Analyzing target trends
- Calculating upside/downside potential
- Understanding analyst coverage
- Evaluating consensus strength
Example Queries
Basic Query:
Retrieve the analysts' price-target summary for the stock symbol AAPL.
With Current Price Context:
What are the analyst price targets for TSLA compared to its current price?
Trend Focus:
How have analyst price targets for NVDA changed over the past year?
Coverage Analysis:
How many analysts cover Microsoft and what are their price targets?
Range Request:
What are the highest and lowest analyst price targets for AMZN?
Understanding Price Targets
What Price Targets Represent
| Aspect | Description |
|---|
| Definition | Analyst's expected stock price |
| Timeframe | Typically 12 months forward |
| Basis | Fundamental and technical analysis |
| Purpose | Guide for fair value |
Types of Price Targets
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Average | Mean of all targets |
| Median | Middle value |
| High | Most bullish target |
| Low | Most bearish target |
| Consensus | Weighted average |
Timeframe Analysis
Understanding Timeframes
| Timeframe | What It Shows |
|---|
| Last Month | Most recent sentiment |
| Last Quarter | Near-term trend |
| Last Year | Annual evolution |
| All Time | Historical context |
Trend Interpretation
| Pattern | Interpretation |
|---|
| Rising targets | Growing optimism |
| Falling targets | Increasing concern |
| Stable targets | Consensus maintained |
| Diverging targets | Uncertainty/debate |
Calculating Potential
Upside/Downside
Upside = (Target Price - Current Price) / Current Price × 100%
Example Calculation
- Current Price: $270.01
- Average Target: $312.80
- Upside: ($312.80 - $270.01) / $270.01 = 15.8%
Interpreting Potential
| Upside | Interpretation |
|---|
| >20% | Significant upside expected |
| 10-20% | Moderate upside |
| 0-10% | Near fair value |
| <0% | Downside risk |
Analyst Coverage
Coverage Levels
| Analysts | Coverage Level |
|---|
| 30+ | Heavily covered |
| 15-30 | Well covered |
| 5-15 | Moderate coverage |
| <5 | Limited coverage |
Coverage Implications
| Level | Characteristics |
|---|
| Heavy | More consensus reliability |
| Moderate | Good perspective diversity |
| Light | Less reliable consensus |
| Minimal | Limited institutional interest |
Consensus Strength
Evaluating Consensus
| Factor | Strong Consensus | Weak Consensus |
|---|
| Range | Tight (low to high) | Wide spread |
| Recent Changes | Aligned direction | Mixed revisions |
| Analyst Count | Many participants | Few analysts |
Standard Deviation
| Spread | Interpretation |
|---|
| Narrow | High agreement |
| Moderate | Normal debate |
| Wide | Significant disagreement |
Target Revisions
Revision Trends
| Pattern | Signal |
|---|
| Upgrades increasing | Improving outlook |
| Downgrades increasing | Deteriorating outlook |
| Mixed revisions | Uncertainty |
| No changes | Status quo |
Revision Triggers
| Catalyst | Common Result |
|---|
| Strong earnings | Target increases |
| Weak earnings | Target decreases |
| Guidance change | Aligned revision |
| Sector news | Coordinated moves |
Data Sources
Common Publishers
| Source | Description |
|---|
| StreetInsider | Financial news aggregator |
| TheFly | Real-time news |
| Benzinga | Market intelligence |
| Sell-side Firms | Investment bank research |
Source Considerations
| Factor | Note |
|---|
| Timeliness | Recent targets more relevant |
| Reputation | Weight by analyst track record |
| Conflicts | Consider investment banking ties |
| Methodology | Different valuation approaches |
Common Use Cases
Investment Decision
Should I buy AAPL based on analyst targets?
Valuation Check
Is MSFT overvalued relative to analyst expectations?
Sentiment Tracking
How has analyst sentiment on GOOGL changed this year?
Peer Comparison
Compare analyst targets for major cloud stocks.
Analysis Tips
- Compare to current price: Calculate upside/downside potential.
- Track trend direction: Rising or falling targets over time.
- Consider coverage: More analysts = more reliable consensus.
- Check range: Tight = agreement, wide = uncertainty.
- Time weight: Recent targets more relevant.
- Use with fundamentals: Targets are opinions, not facts.
Integration with Other Skills
| Skill | Combined Use |
|---|
| stock-quote | Current price vs. target |
| analyst-estimates | Targets + earnings expectations |
| income-statement | Fundamentals behind targets |
| stock-performance | Price trend vs. target evolution |
