In this piece, we look at the 10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Goldman Sachs’ “Conviction List”.
Goldman Sachs’ Conviction List carries weight because it is not meant to be a casual collection of “stocks we sort of like.” It is where the firm places names it sees as especially compelling across its coverage universe, often backed by specific earnings, valuation, capital return, product-cycle, or sector views. For investors, that makes the list a useful starting point, even if it is not a substitute for doing independent research.
The more interesting layer comes from market positioning. A stock can have a strong analyst case and still face heavy short-seller pressure if investors are worried about margins, leverage, execution risk, valuation, or a fading growth story. On the other hand, low short interest can suggest that bears have not built a large visible case against the stock. That does not make the company risk-free. The market is not a monastery of rational monks. But it does mean the bullish case is not fighting an unusually crowded short trade.
That combination makes Goldman’s list especially useful when filtered through short interest. It highlights stocks where institutional conviction is paired with relatively limited bearish positioning, giving investors a cleaner way to look at some of Wall Street’s favored names.
Photo by Akshay Sadarangani on Unsplash
Methodology
To build our list of the 10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Goldman Sachs’ Conviction List, we reviewed publicly available Goldman Sachs Conviction List picks and screened them by short interest as a percentage of float. We then ranked the stocks in descending order of short float.
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10. DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH)
Short Percentage of Float: 3.42%
DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) is one of the best stocks to buy according to Goldman Sachs’ Conviction List. Goldman added the stock to its U.S. Conviction List on February 2, saying the company was well-positioned both cyclically and secularly into 2026, with revenue growth supported by a healthy consumer. The firm kept its Buy rating on May 7, though it trimmed its price target to $280 from $286 after DoorDash’s Q1 report. Goldman pointed to platform growth, tech-stack improvements, advertising strength, and an outlook where 2026 EBITDA is expected to grow slightly faster than gross order value, excluding Deliveroo.
DoorDash’s latest numbers give that view some backing. On May 6, the company said Q1 2026 Marketplace GOV rose 37% year-over-year, or 24% excluding Deliveroo, while revenue increased 33%, or 21% excluding Deliveroo. The company also highlighted stronger U.S. restaurant engagement, growth in grocery and retail, faster DashPass member growth, and early progress in integrating Deliveroo and its broader global technology platform. DoorDash guided for Q2 2026 Marketplace GOV of $32.4 billion to $33.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $770 million to $870 million.
DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) is a local commerce platform that connects consumers with restaurants, grocers, retailers, and other merchants, while also providing logistics, membership, advertising, and merchant tools across more than 30 countries.
9. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Short Percentage of Float: 2.16%
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the best stocks to buy according to Goldman Sachs’ Conviction List. Goldman added UnitedHealth to its U.S. Conviction List on May 1, alongside Interactive Brokers, while removing Abbott Laboratories and Keysight Technologies. The firm said its conviction lists highlight stocks it views favorably for investment, and UnitedHealth’s inclusion followed Goldman’s April 22 move to raise its price target to $435 from $400 while maintaining a Buy rating. Goldman cited the company’s first-quarter performance, higher full-year guidance, and a turnaround still in its early stages.
The case is not frictionless because UnitedHealth is still working through medical cost pressures, scrutiny of its insurance practices, and a federal probe into its government-backed plans. Reuters reported on May 18 that the stock dipped after Berkshire Hathaway exited its stake, though analysts quoted by Reuters said the operational recovery still appeared to be moving in the right direction. On April 21, UnitedHealth reported Q1 2026 revenue of $111.7 billion, up 2% year-over-year, adjusted earnings of $7.23 per share, and raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook to more than $18.25 per share.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a health care and well-being company operating through UnitedHealthcare and Optum, serving consumers, care providers, employers, governments, and health systems.
