For European stocks, the year started like much of the past decade — a struggle to keep up with gains on Wall Street. But now some investors say the familiar pattern is about to be disrupted.

Strategists at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and MFS Investment Management are among those talking up Europe’s prospects. After being out of favor with investors for so long, stock valuations look enticing compared with their pace-setting US peers. Plus, there’s no threat of Magnificent Seven tech bubble popping.