In this article, we’ll look at the 10 Best Consensus Buy-Rated Stocks to Invest in.
Wall Street’s consensus calls are starting to matter more again. With interest rates still well above the post-pandemic floor and earnings revisions turning more selective, dispersion across sectors has widened. In that kind of market, stocks with mixed ratings don’t offer much conviction on their own. What stands out instead are names where analysts are aligned, not just positive, but collectively constructive on upside and earnings visibility.
That tone is echoed across major 2026 outlooks. BlackRock says it will “stay pro-risk and overweight U.S. stocks,” signaling that the firm still sees opportunity for domestic equities. Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan Asset Management argues that investors seeking resilience should focus on “companies that can translate investments into healthy profits,” particularly in an environment where higher rates reward balance sheet strength and return discipline.
Even the more measured forecasts reinforce the same point. Vanguard expects U.S. growth to hover near 1% in 2026, a reminder that the backdrop is steady but not booming. Fidelity cautions that “valuations are high” and that policy uncertainty remains a factor. Put together, the consensus among asset managers is constructive but measured.
In a market where asset managers are leaning pro-equity but urging precision, consensus Buy ratings can act as a filter. When multiple analysts converge on the same names, it often reflects a shared view on earnings visibility, balance sheet strength, and thematic exposure. In view of this, we’ll look at the 10 best consensus Buy-rated stocks to invest in.
Our Methodology
To identify the 10 Best Consensus Buy-Rated Stocks to Invest in, we used the Finviz screener and filtered for companies with a market capitalization above $2 billion that carry a consensus “Buy” or better rating from analysts. We then used CNN’s compilation of analyst ratings to rank the stocks based on their median upside as of February 16, 2026. We have also included the number of hedge funds that hold the stock as of Q3 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
10. KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR)
Consensus Rating: Buy
Potential upside: 33.69%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 89
On February 9, 2026, BofA lowered its price target on KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) to $160 from $164 previously but still maintained a Buy rating, revising EPS estimates following fourth-quarter results across its brokers, asset managers, and exchanges coverage.
Earlier, on February 6, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) to $177 from $176 previously and kept an Overweight rating, citing what it views as an attractive entry point with the stock down 22% year to date.
KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) reported fourth-quarter asset management segment revenue of $1.64 billion on February 5, 2026, compared with the $1.78 billion consensus estimate. Total revenue was $5.74 billion versus $3.26 billion in the prior year. Co-CEOs Joseph Bae and Scott Nuttall said 2025 was a strong year, highlighted by record annual figures across key metrics, including Fee Related Earnings, Adjusted Net Income per share, capital raised, and capital invested. They also announced the acquisition of Arctos Partners, describing it as a scaled platform in sports investing and capital solutions for asset managers, with experience in secondaries. Management said it remains confident in the firm’s long-term positioning.
KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) is an investment firm focused on private equity, real estate, credit, and other alternative asset strategies across global markets.
9. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)
Consensus Rating: Buy
Potential upside: 37.62%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 112
On February 12, 2026, JPMorgan analyst Jeremy Tonet raised his price target on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) to $239 from $233 previously and maintained an Overweight rating on the company.
Earlier, on February 10, 2026, Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith upgraded Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) to Buy from Hold and increased the price target to $203 from $191 previously, citing a more favorable risk/reward profile after the stock’s recent selloff. The firm noted that Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is down significantly since September despite announcing Texas data center contracts and what it described as an “attractively priced” Cogentrix acquisition, and said current levels do not reflect future data center contract potential.
On February 6, 2026, Goldman Sachs analyst Carly Davenport also upgraded Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) to Buy from Neutral and lifted the price target to $205 from $200 previously. The firm pointed to the recent pullback and higher estimates, adding that the Meta deal demonstrates Vistra’s ability to secure sizeable power purchase agreement contracts with a shorter ramp, even amid policy uncertainty and affordability concerns.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company in the United States across its Retail, Texas, East, West, and Asset Closure segments.
