Raymond James Predicts Up to ~760% Surge for These 2 ‘Strong Buy' Stocks
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week.
Naturally, all this has stirred up some uncertainty – especially for investors trying to read the tea leaves on inflation, supply chains, and overall market direction. And yet, Raymond James CIO Larry Adam sees plenty of reason for optimism when looking at the bigger picture.
'For investors, market ups and downs are nothing new. Despite interim setbacks, the S&P 500 has delivered a robust average annual return of ~11% since 1985. Bull markets historically last six times longer than bear markets and produce returns five times more powerful. The takeaway? Stay focused on the long term,' Adam notes.
That long-term perspective leads to a clear track, and Adam elaborates on it, saying, 'We continue to favor U.S. equities, where the outlook remains brighter… We expect two rate cuts by year end and two more in 2026, helping growth pick up to 1.5% next year. Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' could also provide a modest boost, even if it adds to the deficit.'
Against this backdrop, Raymond James analysts have zeroed in on two stocks they believe are set for substantial growth in the coming year – including one with a potential upside as high as 760%.
As if that weren't compelling enough, both names also earn a Strong Buy rating from the analyst consensus, according to the TipRanks database. Let's break down what's behind the bullish sentiment.
Achieve Life Sciences (ACHV)
We'll start with a stock that is bursting with upside potential. Achieve Life Sciences is both a biopharmaceutical company and a penny stock – two niches known for their ability to deliver outsized returns. Central to the company's growth story is its lead program: developing treatments for nicotine dependence.
Nicotine, the key addictive ingredient in tobacco products, has been connected to multiple health problems, including recurrent headaches, high blood pressure, dangerous blood clotting, sleep disorders, and changes in heart rhythm. The most common way that people satisfy their nicotine cravings is through smoking, which brings along its own array of health issues, from COPD to various cancers.
This isn't just a health challenge – it's a massive market opportunity. There are 29 million smokers in the US alone, some 16 million Americans living with smoking-related illnesses, and globally, about 8 million smoking-related deaths each year.
Achieve is targeting the problem with the development of cytisinicline, a naturally derived drug candidate designed to reduce withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to quit smoking or vaping.
What sets cytisinicline apart is its robust clinical profile. The drug has delivered strong Phase 3 data on smoking cessation, with a favorable safety record to match. In the ORCA-2 and ORCA-3 trials, cytisinicline consistently produced statistically significant improvements in abstinence rates versus placebo. In ORCA-3, 30.3% of participants in the 12-week arm achieved continuous abstinence during weeks 9 to 12, compared to 9.4% with placebo, and about 20.5% remained abstinent through week 24 versus 4.2% for placebo. The safety profile was favorable, with mostly mild to moderate side effects and no treatment-related serious adverse events. These findings were reinforced by the ORCA-OL trial, where the independent DSMC's third safety review identified no concerns with long-term cytisinicline use.
Now, Achieve is gearing up for the next phase: FDA approval and commercial launch. At the end of June, the company submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA. If approved, cytisinicline will become the first FDA-approved drug therapy for nicotine addiction in the past two decades. To support its commercialization efforts, Achieve recently announced a strategic partnership with Omnicom and has raised about $45 million.
Moreover, Achieve is not stopping with traditional smokers. The company is advancing cytisinicline as a potential treatment for nicotine dependence in e-cigarette users as well. In the Phase 2 ORCA-V1 trial, cytisinicline produced higher quit rates than placebo among individuals seeking to quit vaping, with no serious adverse events reported. Following these results, Achieve held an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA and reached agreement on the design of a pivotal Phase 3 trial for vaping cessation. With that green light, the company plans to kick off the ORCA-V2 Phase 3 study in the first half of 2026.
Put it all together – the compelling data, the unmet need, the imminent FDA milestone, and a bargain-bin $2.32 share price – and it's no wonder Raymond James analyst Gary Nachman thinks now is the time to get in on the action.
'Our Strong Buy rating is supported by a significant unmet need still in the [nicotine addiction] market that is a major global public health concern, with current options resulting in very low quit rates. Cytisinicline has a compelling clinical profile with strong Phase 2/3 data. Cytisinicline shows high smoking cessation quit rates and a favorable safety profile compared to PFE's Chantix (peak sales $1.1B) that is now generic. Cytisinicline has a proven mechanism that is similar to Chantix, but is naturally derived and more selective resulting in fewer AEs, has 50+ years of safe use in E. Europe, and now a submitted NDA with a de-risked regulatory pathway,' Nachman opined.
'There is a large opportunity in smoking cessation that is ripe for the taking and an expanded partnership with Omnicom should help with the US launch, and potentially big upside from vaping as well… A partnership/acquisition to maximize value is possible,' the analyst added.
All of this helps explain Nachman's Strong Buy rating on ACHV, which comes with a $20 price target. If his thesis plays out, investors could be looking at a whopping ~760% gain over the next 12 months. (To watch Nachman's track record, click here)
And it's not just Nachman who sees big upside here. The broader analyst community is similarly upbeat: in the past 3 months, ACHV has picked up 4 Buy ratings with no Holds or Sells, earning it a consensus Strong Buy status on Wall Street. Meanwhile, the average price target of $15.25 points to a 557% upside from current levels. (See ACHV stock forecast)
Avidity Biosciences (RNA)
The next stock catching Raymond James' attention is Avidity Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotech firm aiming to develop a new class of RNA therapeutics – drug candidates designed to tackle the root genetic causes behind a variety of serious diseases. The company is building its pipeline using its proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates platform, or AOC. This platform blends the targeting abilities of monoclonal antibodies with the gene-silencing power of oligonucleotide therapies, creating agents that can home in on disease drivers at the genetic level with notable selectivity and precision. Through this approach, Avidity aims to address conditions that have long eluded effective treatment.
At present, the company's primary targets are skeletal muscle diseases, especially within the muscular dystrophy class. Avidity has developed a robust research pipeline, which includes three lead drug candidates that are advancing through clinical trials. These three programs – Del-zota, Del-desiran, and Del-brax – are each aimed at specific muscle disorders: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), respectively.
Each of these candidates has shown solid progress. Del-zota, Avidity's program for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has demonstrated strong increases in exon skipping and dystrophin production, along with an encouraging safety profile. Based on these results, the company expects to submit its first Biologics License Application (BLA) for del-zota by year-end.
Meanwhile, del-desiran has delivered impressive data in early clinical trials, with patients experiencing not only reductions in toxic RNA but also meaningful signs of functional improvement. These encouraging results have been further supported by the ongoing MARINA-OLE extension study, which continues to show sustained benefit with longer-term treatment. On the strength of these findings, the program advanced into the pivotal Phase 3 HARBOR trial. The company previously noted that enrollment would be completed by mid-2025, setting the stage for comprehensive data readouts in the first half of 2026.
Rounding out the pipeline, the del‑brax program for FSHD is also advancing steadily. Initial data from the FORTITUDE study demonstrated significant reductions in DUX4 gene expression, and with an FDA‑validated accelerated approval pathway now in place, Avidity launched the pivotal FORWARD Phase 3 trial. This global, 18‑month, randomized, placebo‑controlled study is expected to deliver topline results by H2 2026.
With all three programs advancing toward key clinical and regulatory milestones, Raymond James analyst Martin Auster sees strong prospects for success here.
'We have high conviction in del-zota (DMD44) to become the first approved drug from Avidity's antibody oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) platform. Del-desiran (DM1) has been derisked through Ph1/2 biomarker and functional data, and a positive Ph 3 outcome in ~H1 2026 could be transformative for Avidity given del-desiran's first-mover potential and a large DM1 market opportunity (~$5B+ TAM). Del-brax has an even larger potential first-mover advantage in FSHD (opportunity for a strong competitive moat); we project accelerated approval in 2027 supported by cDUX biomarker data and 12-month placebo-controlled functional data,' Auster stated.
Auster's high conviction is reflected in his Strong Buy rating on RNA and a $65 price target, which suggests a potential 107% upside from current levels. (To watch Auster's track record, click here)
That's far from the only upbeat take on this stock. RNA enjoys a Strong Buy consensus, based on 18 recent analyst ratings – with 17 Buys and just a single Hold. At its current price of $31.45, the stock's average target price of $64.44 suggests RNA could surge ~105% in value over the next year. (See RNA stock forecast)
To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump is Undoing Climate Action. Can Clean Energy Investments Survive?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. You've probably heard of the old curse that goes, "May you live in interesting times." These are certainly interesting times for those in the clean tech and climate solutions sectors. With the passage of his "big beautiful" bill this month, President Donald Trump has eliminated many of the federal government incentives that had triggered hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in clean energy, batteries, EVs and other climate solutions over the past three years. The Trump administration has pulled the U.S. out of international climate agreements and scrapped regulations on emissions from autos and the power sector in an attempt to steer the energy economy back to reliance on fossil fuels. But the whiplash-inducing U-turn on energy policy in the U.S. is starkly at odds with signals from the broader energy market. In the U.S., renewable energy now accounts for about 90 percent of the new electricity capacity being added to the grid as wind, solar and batteries have become the cheapest and fastest sources of new power. In the series "Climate Investing in a Volatile Climate" we'll hear from leading climate tech investors about how they are navigating the rapid shifts in U.S. policy and the energy markets. In the series "Climate Investing in a Volatile Climate" we'll hear from leading climate tech investors about how they are navigating the rapid shifts in U.S. policy and the energy markets. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Globally, the International Energy Agency reported that the capital flowing into low-carbon energy sources this year is roughly twice that going into fossil fuel development, raising the specter that the U.S. is turning its back on one of the world's fastest-growing new industries. Add to all that the impacts of tariffs and trade wars, and you have a period of unparalleled uncertainty for clean tech companies and the investors who back them. Interesting times indeed. Better Planet asked some leading clean tech and climate solutions investors how they are making sense of this shifting landscape and what they see ahead for a series we're calling "Climate Investing in a Volatile Climate." In this first installment, we'll hear from Johanna Wolfson, co-founder and general partner at Azolla Ventures, a climate-focused venture capital fund, and Peter Davidson, founder and CEO at Aligned Climate Capital, an asset management company focused on companies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Both Wolfson and Davidson told Newsweek that Trump's sudden policy shifts on energy will slow, but not stop investment, and both predicted that the strong economic arguments for clean tech will still attract capital. "We are seeing signs of a coming pull back from other venture capital firms in clean tech," Wolfson said. Climate investing won't dry up altogether, she said, but newer companies and emerging technologies with higher risk will likely find it harder to attract capital. Her advice to clean tech companies: "Hunker down, do the work, build the solutions, and be ready," she said. Davidson said that even before the Republican-led Congress voted to phase out clean energy tax credits, the atmosphere of uncertainty was already causing companies to cancel or scale back some announced projects. "You can get depressed about that or you can continue the fight," Davidson said. Despite political headwinds, he said, market forces are working in favor of clean energy. "It's gotten complicated because you have to avoid things that are reliant on federal tax policy," Davidson said. "But there are plenty of companies out there, many projects out there, that we think are still highly investable and can earn a very good return." 'It's a Big World' for Climate Investors Wolfson described Azolla Ventures as a "catalytic capital" firm that invests in early-stage climate technologies, using capital sourced mainly from tax-exempt foundations and donor-advised funds. This allows Azolla to prioritize positive climate impact when deciding what companies to back. "We're taking on outsized risk and maybe doing that at an earlier time or in a different way than even other climate-oriented venture funds might be willing," she said. "We're looking for giga-scale impact." One budding success story, she said, is the low-carbon cement company Sublime Systems. Azolla was an early backer, and Sublime recently signed a deal with Microsoft that is the largest procurement deal for clean cement to date. Azolla's approach also assumes a long lead time for nascent clean technologies to develop, she explained, a mindset that is less susceptible to shifting political winds. "When we're evaluating companies for investment, we're looking at market growth and emissions avoided out to 2050," Wolfson said. "That's a lot longer than a four-year administration." Wolfson said some clean energy sources are still well-positioned to benefit under Trump policy, such as new nuclear technology and geothermal energy, which she expects to grow rapidly as major tech companies race to procure steady power for AI data centers. However, she said that as U.S. leadership retreats from climate action, much of the rest of the world is moving ahead, and investment dollars are likely to follow. "It's a big world," Wolfson said. Some companies Azolla works with are now looking to pilot new projects outside of the U.S., and her firm is supporting them to integrate into other markets. "We should go to where the early adopters are, and if that continues to shift, then those companies should shift with it." Overall, Wolfson said, she is "deeply concerned" about the lack of global progress on climate goals. That makes Azolla more interested in early-stage support for "big swing" technologies that have potential for large-scale emissions cuts. "They're going to have to shoulder more of the emissions avoided since we're not keeping track with the desired reduction," she said. Azolla is also looking at more investment in adaptation and resilience solutions to help society better deal with climate change impacts that are happening now. "They're going to accelerate," she said of climate-driven extreme weather events. "We've essentially baked that in." An Energy Policy 'Reckoning is Coming' Before launching Aligned Climate Capital, Peter Davidson had worked on funding energy projects in the Department of Energy (DOE), where he directed the DOE's Loan Programs Office under President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. That long history with the public and private sectors informs his view of what Trump 2.0 means for clean tech investment. "We've seen this movie before, because we were in this business during Trump One," Davidson said. "And during his entire first term, renewable deployment was never higher, EV deployment was never higher, corporate commitment to clean energy was never higher. So, we see the same things happening here." Aligned's most recent round of funding concluded in March with $85 million, double the previous round and higher than the company's target, Davidson said. The company's main focus is investing in proven technologies that can rapidly scale, and supporting construction of distributed power generation such as community and mid-sized solar projects—what Davidson called the "quiet workhorse" of the clean energy transition. Contractors install solar photovoltaic modules on top of a department store roof in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Contractors install solar photovoltaic modules on top of a department store roof in Hamilton Township, New Jersey."They're big enough for meaningful impact, but you avoid the red tape of utility-scale development," he said. Recent data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shows that even amid the Trump administration's assault on climate action, solar (often paired with battery storage) remains the favored way to add power as electricity demand rises. In the first four months of this year, FERC data showed, solar accounted for 78 percent of new capacity. Looking ahead, FERC expects about 90 gigawatts of new solar to come online in the coming three years, compared to only 19 gigawatts of new gas-fired power. Coal-fired power is expected to drop further with the retirements of several older facilities. "The energy transition is underway and it's unstoppable," Davidson said. Even with the reduced tax credits, he argued, solar generation is still cheaper to build than natural gas, and supply chain backlogs for gas turbines mean many gas projects will likely be delayed. "So, anything that's going to be built in the United States over the next five years is what we're doing, mid-size, or the large, utility scale, wind and solar," Davidson said. However, renewable energy will not grow as fast as it would have with continued tax credits and other government support. The existing fleet of natural gas power plants will be taking up a lot of the coming demand for electricity at the same time that the Trump administration is promoting more exports of liquified natural gas. That points to a nearly inevitable rise in energy prices, Davidson said. Most independent analyses of the "big beautiful" budget bill Trump signed on July 4 show sharp increases in energy costs. Analysts at Rhodium Group estimate the law will increase national average household energy bills by at least $78 and as much as $192 while forcing total industrial energy expenditures up by at least $7 billion. (Industrial energy costs also tend to get passed along to consumers via higher prices for goods and services.) Davidson predicted that rising energy prices will bring a political backlash. "Eventually there'll be a correction at the polls," he said. "We believe a reckoning is coming, and when that happens, it will bring a little more sense and sensibility into our energy policy." We'll have more conversations with climate investors in the weeks leading up to Climate Week NYC in September, when Newsweek will host events on energy and the green transition. Mark your calendars for our events "Pillars of the Green Transition" on Wednesday, September 24, and "Powering Ahead" on Thursday, September 25.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
June inflation expected to show tariff-driven uptick as Trump escalates trade threats
June's Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to show prices rose at a faster clip compared to May. The report, due Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. ET, comes as investors closely monitor whether President Trump's tariffs are starting to filter through to what consumers pay, even as inflation data has so far remained more resilient than expected. According to Bloomberg data, headline CPI is expected to have increased 2.6% year over year in June, up from a 2.4% rise in May. On a monthly basis, prices are forecast to climb 0.3%, marking an acceleration from the 0.1% gain the prior month. On a "core" basis, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, the annual inflation rate for June is expected to come in at 2.9%, a slight pickup from May's 2.8%. Core prices are also projected to climb 0.3% month over month, outpacing the previous 0.1% rise seen in May. In May, falling car and apparel prices, categories seen as early indicators of tariff impacts, contributed to a cooler-than-expected core CPI reading. But economists expect those trends to reverse in June, potentially pushing core inflation higher. Read more: How to protect your savings against inflation The report lands amid renewed trade tensions between the US and other countries. President Trump has unveiled new letters to over 20 countries outlining tariffs ranging from 20% to 50%, including a 35% duty on Canadian goods and 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union. He has also floated sweeping 15% to 20% tariffs on most trading partners. The EU, in response, is scrambling to negotiate while preparing potential countermeasures. The back-and-forth raises fresh questions about the Federal Reserve's rate-cutting path. Markets still expect the central bank to hold rates steady at its policy meeting in two weeks, largely due to uncertainties on how tariffs will trickle through to prices. "The June CPI report is likely to show inflation beginning to strengthen again, albeit not enough to alarm Fed officials at this juncture," Wells Fargo economist Sarah House wrote in a note. "The next three months will mark a key stretch of inflation data," she added, noting that while inventory front-running has so far limited price hikes, "it will become increasingly difficult for businesses to absorb higher import duties as pre-tariff stockpiles dwindle." Wells Fargo expects core goods prices to continue rising in the second half of the year as those buffers wear off, although House noted the pass-through to consumers may be limited: "Amid a softer labor market and services inflation dissipating a bit more, the pickup in core inflation stemming from tariffs is likely to look more like a bump than a spike." Bank of America economists Stephen Juneau and Jeseo Park also expect core CPI inflation to accelerate, driven by a rebound in used car prices and broad-based hikes likely linked to tariffs. On the services side, they see inflation firming due to rising medical costs, travel-related prices, and stronger shelter price increases. And Goldman Sachs echoed similar concerns, writing, "Going forward, tariffs will likely provide a somewhat larger boost to monthly inflation," while projecting core CPI gains of 0.3% to 0.4% in the coming months. The firm expects a sharp pickup in core goods inflation but sees only limited effects on services. Still, Goldman anticipates inflation pressures to ease later this year as housing and labor market dynamics cool. Allie Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at 登入存取你的投資組合
Newsweek
36 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Student Loan Update: Gen Z Hit With Highest Payments
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans with federal student loans have seen a sharp rise in monthly payments, with Gen Z borrowers now facing the steepest costs. New survey data from Empower reported that Gen Z participants pay an average of $526 per month toward student loans, significantly above the overall average payment of $284 for all age groups. The findings come as borrowers respond to the end of pandemic-era payment relief and major legislative changes in 2025 that eliminated income-driven repayment options, increasing financial strain for the newest generation in the workforce. Why It Matters The surge in loan payments for Gen Z is reshaping the financial futures of millions of young Americans. With nearly one-third of all borrowers experiencing increased monthly payments in 2025, more than half (56 percent) say their student loan obligations limit their ability to save or invest. Almost half delay major life milestones like buying a home or planning for retirement. Harvard graduates listen to speakers during the commencement ceremony in Harvard Yard on May 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard graduates listen to speakers during the commencement ceremony in Harvard Yard on May 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Libby O'Neill/Getty Images What To Know While the average student loan payment is $284, Gen Z was paying substantially more, with an average of $526 each month, according to the Empower survey of more than 400 student loan borrowers. "Gen Z is facing the highest student loan payments largely due to the interest rates on their loans," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "Over the years, those rates have steadily climbed, and this generation is bearing the brunt of that increase. As a result, their monthly payments are significantly higher than those of previous borrowers." Across all borrowers surveyed, 34 percent said they were paying $200 or more per month. The added stress has not only affected finances but also mental health, with 59 percent of borrowers reporting anxiety related to their debt. And borrowers are not always prioritizing their student loan debt, as 54 percent said they prioritize other types of debt, like credit cards and car loans. The burden on Gen Z has grown in the wake of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump that removed the income-driven repayment plans established during President Joe Biden's administration. Under the new law, available repayment options provide less relief for those earning lower incomes, especially younger borrowers just starting their careers. The end of the pandemic-era forbearance and stricter repayment requirements have produced heightened monthly payments, with substantial repercussions for budgeting and debt prioritization among Gen Z and millennials. Collectively, Americans now owe more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, with balances having increased sixfold since 2003. As of 2024, 42.7 million Americans held federal student loans, and a significant portion are delinquent on their payments. As loan repayment resumed, only 22 percent of Gen Z borrowers felt confident about paying back their student loans, Empower found. Half of all borrowers contributed less to savings or retirement accounts as a result of their debt. Additionally, the lingering debt has led 42 percent of borrowers to wish they had chosen a different major or school, and 57 percent now say they regret their level of indebtedness. "Long-term, this is going to delay major milestones: starting families, buying homes and climbing the career ladder," Thompson said. "Many will feel pressured to stay with companies that offer student loan repayment perks, curbing their upward mobility and locking them into jobs they might otherwise leave." What People Are Saying Rebecca Rickert, head of communications and consumer insights at Empower, told Newsweek: "When post-grads are spending over $500 a month on loan payments, it can push other financial priorities like emergency savings or homeownership down the list. This is often coupled with more reliance on credit, and later entry into financial independence." Leslie Silva, principal attorney with McCall Sweeney & Silva P.C and a student loan expert, told Newsweek: "The current student loan system, and the changes in the new domestic policy bill, do nothing to help borrowers alleviate the burden of the cost of higher education. Half of millennial and Gen X borrowers have suffered delays in other major financial decisions due to student loan debt. The new bill places limits on what parents and borrowers can apply for to fund higher education. While some hope that these limits force institutions to lower their costs, that is a very unlikely outcome." Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "The current student loan system, in my opinion, was designed to keep borrowers tied to the workforce. This wasn't by accident, it was by design. By saddling young people with debt early, the system ensures a steady flow of labor from a group that must keep earning just to stay afloat." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "They [Gen Z] enrolled and completed college at a time when the cost of tuition and housing had risen dramatically, and, on top of those elevated prices, those who attended in the last few years have had to take out loans with higher interest rates. The result is higher monthly payments that are creating real hardship for some borrowers who are just getting started in their careers." What Happens Next Borrowers previously enrolled in income-driven plans face a transition period of at least one year and, starting July 2026 to July 2028, will have select new repayment arrangements as the latest legislation takes effect. Gen Z and other borrowers are likely to face ongoing financial strain, delayed major life decisions, and an increasing demand for financial guidance amidst the rapidly changing student loan policy landscape. Silva said that moving forward, students and parents should expect to pay more out of pocket or rely more on private loan companies as the changes take effect. "We can expect to see a resurgence in private student loans forcing new student borrowers into even more debt at higher interest rates. Private student loan companies do not have a limit on applicable interest rates, whereas federal student loans do," Silva said. And the more debt student borrowers have, the longer it will take them to buy homes or contribute to retirement plans, Silva added. "It is possible we could see more support from the institutions themselves, but there has not been much evidence to support a decrease in the cost of higher education," Silva said.
