On February 12, Thomson Reuters released its 2026 Global Trade Report, and the findings paint a clear picture of an industry navigating serious headwinds. Global trade is under pressure, and the numbers make it hard to ignore. Tariff volatility is the biggest story. Nearly three-quarters of trade professionals surveyed flagged U.S. tariffs as the most disruptive regulatory change this year, up sharply from 41% just a year ago. Supply chain concerns have almost doubled over the same period, with companies now treating issues like supplier reliability and customs delays as full-blown enterprise risks, not just operational hiccups.
The cost pressure is real, too. Many companies are being forced to choose between raising prices or taking a hit on their margins; neither is a comfortable position. But where there’s disruption, there’s also opportunity. Companies that can navigate this environment efficiently are becoming increasingly valuable, and investors are starting to take notice.
So which trading and distribution stocks are worth watching right now? Here’s a look at our 10 Best Trading and Distribution Stocks to Buy.
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Our Methodology
To identify relevant stocks for this article, we screened U.S.-listed trading and distribution companies with market capitalizations above $2 billion. Next, we shortlisted stocks with at least 15% upside potential. Finally, we selected 10 stocks with the highest upside and ranked them in ascending order.
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX)
GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX) is one of the 10 best trading and distribution stocks to buy.
On February 24, Citigroup downgraded GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX) from a Buy rating to a Neutral rating. The firm raised the price target from $197 to $210, which now leads to a revised upside potential of almost 18%. The firm cited valuation as the primary reason for the downgrade, noting that the expected synergies from GATX Corp.’s (NYSE:GATX) joint venture with Brookfield appear to have already been reflected in the stock.
On February 20, Susquehanna increased the firm’s price target on GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX) from $212 to $220. The firm maintained its Positive rating on the stock, which offers a revised upside potential of more than 23% at the prevailing level.
This upward adjustment in the target price reflects the firm’s continued confidence in the company’s market position. Susquehanna believes that the company continues to capitalize on the supply-constrained railcar market. Furthermore, it highlights that GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX) maintains a unique opportunity and long-term visibility into fleet growth, characterized by attractive economics.
GATX Corp. (NYSE:GATX) is a global leader in railcar and engine leasing, providing essential transportation assets to industries like chemicals, energy, and agriculture. The company offers comprehensive maintenance and regulatory services for its rail fleet while also managing a diverse portfolio of commercial aircraft, spare engines, and specialized tank containers.
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