On February 19, Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist and ‘The Road to Freedom’ author, joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the state of the economy and argued that conditions are poor and likely to deteriorate. Challenging more optimistic views, Stiglitz addressed the debate over why tariffs have not sparked an immediate inflationary explosion. He explained that economists must consider the counterfactual: what inflation would have been without the tariffs. He noted that while inflation was declining rapidly following the pandemic and the onset of the war in Ukraine, the decline slowed significantly after President Trump’s arrival. Stiglitz maintained that the basic law of economics dictates that prices are inevitably affected by costs, even if there is a time lag. He rejected the argument that tariffs are an acceptable way to raise revenue or lower the deficit.
Earlier on February 7, Richard Bernstein, Richard Bernstein Advisors CEO, joined ‘The Exchange’ on CNBC to argue that the market has been undergoing an extraordinarily healthy broadening since approximately the end of October. Bernstein attributed this to the surprising strength of the overall economy and noted that nominal GDP last quarter exceeded 8%. He emphasized that, excluding the immediate post-pandemic period, the US has not seen a nominal GDP quarter over 8% since 2006. He finds it mind-boggling that the market remained narrow for so long despite such strong growth, but observes that investors are finally beginning to accept the strength and breadth of corporate profits.
That being said, we’re here with a list of the 10 best stocks for beginners with little money in 2026.
Our Methodology
We used screeners to identify stocks for beginners based on positive analyst ratings that are priced under $30, and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Note: All data was sourced on February 23.
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 Best Stocks for Beginners with Little Money in 2026
10. NetScout Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT)
NetScout Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) is one of the best stocks for beginners with little money in 2026. On February 5, NetScout Systems delivered FQ3 2026 financial results that exceeded expectations, reporting revenue of $250.7 million, which, despite declining modestly by 0.53% year-over-year, surpassed Street estimates by $16.99 million. The quarter was marked by a 6.4% year-over-year increase in diluted EPS to $1.00.
While product revenue experienced a slight dip due to the timing of customer orders, service revenue grew 4.1%, and the company’s cybersecurity segment surged 9% over the first nine months of the year. Looking ahead, NetScout expects FY2026 revenue to fall between $835 and $870 million, with non-GAAP EPS projected between $2.37 and $2.45. A key driver of the quarter’s success was ~$15 million in deal pull-ins, where customers used year-end budget surpluses to accelerate orders.
NetScout Systems Inc.’s (NASDAQ:NTCT) CEO noted that NetScout’s Smart Data is increasingly being used for AI-driven use cases, allowing integration with platforms like Splunk to enhance data utility beyond traditional service assurance.
NetScout Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:NTCT) provides service assurance and cybersecurity solutions to protect digital business services against disruptions in the US, Europe, Asia, and internationally.
9. Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:TCMD)
Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:TCMD) is one of the best stocks for beginners with little money in 2026. On February 17, Tactile Systems Technology delivered financial results for 2025, with total revenue rising 12% to $329.5 million. The company concluded the year with a robust cash position of $83.4 million.
During this period, the company acquired Lymphotec to target the large population of undiagnosed lymphedema patients. By integrating Lymphotec’s fluid-monitoring tech into its commercial engine, Tactile aims to enhance patient surveillance and streamline the path to therapy. The CEO noted that 2024 investments in a new CRM system and expanded sales headcount are now driving productivity gains. Additionally, updated Medicare National Coverage Determination criteria have provided a tailwind by allowing certain patients to access the FlexiTouch system more directly.
Despite the positive momentum, Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:TCMD) issued a balanced outlook for 2026, projecting revenue growth of 8% to 11%. This guidance accounts for a potential short-term headwind: a new Medicare prior authorization requirement for pneumatic compression devices.
Tactile Systems Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:TCMD) is a medical technology company that develops and provides medical devices to treat underserved chronic diseases in the US.
