10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy in 2026

2. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)

5-Year EPS CAGR: 31.40%

Forward EPS Diluted Growth (1-Year Estimate): 24.51%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 186

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is one of the best growth stocks to buy in 2026. On December 16, BMO Capital raised the firm’s price target on Alphabet to $343 from $340, while maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. BMO is leaning into a more bullish outlook for Google Cloud, citing Cloud Expert calls that suggest a rapid acceleration in enterprise AI adoption. Reflecting this momentum, BMO Capital adjusted its Google Cloud growth targets upward for the coming quarters, peaking at 40% in the first quarter of the next year.

On the same day, Papua New Guinea confirmed that Google had been selected to construct three new undersea fiber-optic cables to modernize the nation’s digital infrastructure. The $120 million project is being fully funded by the Australian government under the provisions of the Pukpuk Treaty, a landmark mutual defense agreement signed in October 2025. This initiative, officially known as the Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative, aims to link PNG’s northern and southern regions to create a high-capacity, resilient digital backbone for the Pacific nation.

Earlier on December 11, Piper Sandler increased its price target for the company to $365 from $330 with an Overweight rating. Despite a premium valuation, analysts remain bullish due to the significant revenue contributions from Google’s AI-enhanced advertising suite.

A day before, on December 15, RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson maintained a Buy rating on Alphabet with a price target of $315.

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) offers various products and platforms in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments.