In this article, we discuss the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
Amid the ongoing small-cap rally, mounting retirement concerns are looming in the U.S. According to Vanguard data, the average retirement account balance for Americans aged 55-64 was just $271,000 at the end of 2024, which is far below the $1 million target. Furthermore, a new executive order has made the $9 trillion retirement market available to private equity and cryptocurrencies. While this means that investment choices may be expanded for nearly 90 million 401(k) participants, critics warn it could also inject higher volatility, risks, and fees into retirement portfolios.
Amid these challenges, equity markets continue to hit new highs. On Monday, September 23, 2025, the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all closed the day at record highs, thanks to a 3.9% surge in Nvidia following its $100 billion investment in OpenAI to scale data centers. Additionally, Oracle and Apple also closed the day higher, while the Russell 2000 small-cap index hit its first record close since 2021, driven by the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut.
In an environment where retirement readiness is lagging despite strong market momentum, analysts point toward stocks with stable balance sheets, consistent dividends, and durable growth prospects as the best options for retirement investors seeking long-term security and income.
With this backdrop in mind, let’s move on to our list of the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
Our Methodology
To curate our list of the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we used the Finviz screener to select dividend-paying stocks with a forward yield of 5% or higher and a consensus analyst rating of ‘Buy’ or above. This ensures that our list is suitable for a retirement stock portfolio, as they are diversified across multiple industries and have remained consistent with their payout policies. Finally, we ranked these stocks in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in each stock, as of Q2 2025.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
11. Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN)
Analyst Rating: Buy
Dividend Yield: 5.10%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) is one of the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
On September 10, 2025, Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) highlighted its strategic initiatives at Morgan Stanley’s 13th Annual Laguna Conference. This comes amid a challenging economic environment.
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN)’s CFO highlighted that the automotive segment beat expectations, but durables and building construction faced headwinds. Meanwhile, the company is emphasizing cost-cutting measures, targeting $75 million in net benefits. Furthermore, EMN is pursuing operational efficiency through its methanolysis plant, which is expected to contribute $75 million in incremental EBITDA by 2025.
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) also expects $1 billion in operating cash flow for 2025, thanks to inventory normalization, which is expected to add $50-100 million in 2026. At the same time, the company is planning a potential expansion of methanolysis capacity to strengthen its production footprint.
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) serves a diverse range of markets by developing specialty materials globally, including additives, polymers, and advanced materials. It secures a place in the Best Retirement Portfolio.
10. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN)
Analyst Rating: Buy
Dividend Yield: 5.38%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
With significant upside potential, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN) secures a spot on our list of the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
On September 15, 2025, UBS reaffirmed its ‘Buy’ rating on Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN) with a $34 price target. With the company’s shares currently trading at about $21.40, the price target implies roughly 58.88% upside.
The investment firm highlights that attendance for August climbed 3% year-over-year and was up 2% over a nine-week period. It outpaced its own third-quarter estimate of 0.5% growth and Wall Street’s consensus of 0.6%. This also marks an improvement from the 1% growth reported for the five-week period ended August 3.
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN) operates amusement parks, water parks, and resorts across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It secures a place in the Best Retirement Portfolio.
9. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY)
Analyst Rating: Buy
Dividend Yield: 5.26%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is one of the 11 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
On September 3, 2025, Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY)’s Richard M. Schulze, who is Chairman Emeritus, sold 196,100 shares of the company’s common stock at a weighted average price of about $74, totaling $14.5 million.
Based on the SEC filing, the sales were made on behalf of a family foundation, ranging between $73.75 and $74.36 per share. The sale leaves the foundation with no remaining shares. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) remains a $15.8 billion company with a solid dividend yield, steady fundamentals, and investor confidence.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) offers technology products and solutions across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. It secures a place in the Best Retirement Portfolio.
