10 Best Young Stocks to Buy Right Now

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6. Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD)

Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 24, Smithfield Foods reported financial results for the full year 2025, achieving an annual operating profit of $1.3 billion, which was a 15.6% increase over the previous year. Net sales reached $15.5 billion, supported by the company’s flagship Packaged Meats segment, which contributed over $1 billion in operating profit for the fourth consecutive year.

Following its first year post-IPO, the company announced a dividend increase to $1.25 per share for 2026, reflecting strong cash flow and a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.3x. In 2025, Smithfield also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nathan’s Famous, a move intended to transition the company from a manufacturer to a brand owner. Additionally, the company initiated plans for a modern processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, designed to enhance operational efficiency through advanced automation and streamlined design.

For 2026, Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD) expects low-single-digit sales growth and a total adjusted operating profit between $1.325 billion and $1.475 billion. The outlook includes 53 weeks of results but excludes the pending Nathan’s Famous transaction and the Sioux Falls capital investment.

Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD) is a packaged foods company that offers meats and fresh pork products through Packaged Meats, Fresh Pork, Hog Production, and Other segments. The company is a subsidiary of SFDS UK Holdings Limited.

While we acknowledge the potential of SFD to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SFD and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best Young Stocks to Buy Right Now.

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