But they don't want to predict that. Unforeseen things do happen. Stock prices through early November weren't exactly cheap. And corporate earnings will be hard-pressed to grow as fast they have this year. But earnings increases will be hard to come by next year.
Companies are up against some tougher comparisons.
Atkin didn't care to estimate where the Dow might finish in 1997. Neither did Bill Whitlow, stock analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. Nancy Zevenbergen, president and CEO of Zevenbergen Capital, gives it a shot. I think 6,800 is reasonable for the Dow. The caveat is, I believe growth companies will drive the market higher than the cyclical companies in the Dow.