European stocks hit record highs before the upward trend may come to an end, strategists predict that they will remain relatively flat by the end of the year.

Although it is not even March yet, a survey shows that strategists believe the historic new highs reached by European stock markets this week are the best market potential investors will see this year. The median forecast of the 17 analysts surveyed shows that the Stoxx Europe 600 index will be close to Wednesday's record high of 630 points by the end of 2026.