If politics and football aren’t enough to discuss at your Thanksgiving dinner table, CNBC Pro has some stocks to discuss. CNBC Pro screened the S&P 1500 index for Wall Street’s most divisive large- and mid-cap stocks. All of the following stocks have market capitalizations of at least $5 billion and each has at least a 20% bullish rating and a 20% bearish rating from analysts. For Southwest Airlines, a quarter of analysts rate the airline as a “buy,” and an equal number rate it as a “sell.” The Dallas-based airline plans to end its iconic empty-seat policy early next year in a bid to boost profits. Southwest stock is up 4.5% year-to-date through midday Wednesday, well below the S&P 500 index. Analysts expect the stock to decline 2% over the next year, based on average price targets compiled by LSEG. 2025 LUV YTD Mountain Southwest More than 40% of analysts give Tesla a buy rating, while nearly a quarter give it a sell rating. Electric vehicle makers fell behind their mega-cap technology peers in 2025, advancing by 4%. CEO Elon Musk spooked some investors earlier this year with his forays into conservative politics, including leading President Donald Trump’s government efficiency initiative. But shareholders approved his $1 trillion compensation package earlier this month. Analysts generally expect Tesla to decline more than 8% over the next 12 months, according to LSEG.
