In this article, we will discuss the 10 Best Young Stocks to Buy Right Now.
On April 6, Katie Stockton, Fairlead Strategies Founder & Managing Partner, appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the stability of US equities amid a geopolitical conflict. Stockton noted that while the S&P 500 recently saw a round trip (dropping over 4% before recovering those losses with a bounce to around 6,600), she does not believe that this recovery is sustainable. She viewed the current month as an interruption in a larger corrective phase rather than the end of it. She identified the next major support level at 6,175 and warned that momentum gauges suggest things could get worse. While DeMarc indicators support about four weeks of stabilization, she emphasized the absence of oversold upturns or extremes in breadth and sentiment that usually signal a durable bottom.
Stockton compared the current environment to last April, which she described as swifter and less severe. She noted that the current breakout in oil prices began even before the war was initiated, suggesting a meaningful long-term turnaround. She warned that if the current resistance levels are breached, WTI crude could test the 2022 high of 130 and potentially reach 147. Given these peaks, she encouraged investors to wait for more weight of the evidence rather than chasing brief relief rallies. Talking about a quick resolution to the war (such as a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz) would invalidate her bearish outlook. Stockton maintained that the difficult market environment could persist, suggesting that reopening the strait may not be enough to fix a market with widened credit spreads.
Our Methodology
We used screeners to identify stocks that have gone public in the last 3 years, 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 April 8.
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 Best Young Stocks to Buy Right Now
10. Versant Media Group Inc. (NASDAQ:VSNT)
Versant Media Group Inc. (NASDAQ:VSNT) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On April 2, Versant Media Group announced the acquisition of StockStory, which is an AI-powered financial analysis platform. This move is designed to bolster CNBC’s digital capabilities by integrating technology that provides real-time, actionable market insights and stock recommendations.
The acquisition aligns with Versant’s broader strategy to expand its core brands into new digital platforms and services. The integration of StockStory’s ML and data-driven frameworks will allow CNBC to provide faster and more scalable analysis of public companies. Deep Bagchee, Chief Product & Technology Officer for News at Versant, noted that the addition of these capabilities is intended to deepen engagement among retail investors across CNBC’s digital portfolio.
As part of the agreement, StockStory Founder and CEO Adam Hejl will join Versant Media Group Inc., reporting to Deep Bagchee. The StockStory team will transition to support various product and technology initiatives, focusing initially on enhancing the digital investing tools available through CNBC’s platforms.
Versant Media Group Inc. is a media company that produces, licenses, and acquires news, sports, and entertainment content. Versant Media was formerly a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
9. Everus Construction Group Inc. (NYSE:ECG)
Everus Construction Group Inc. (NYSE:ECG) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On April 2, Everus Construction acquired SE&M Constructor Inc., SE&M of the Triangle Inc., and SECO Rentals LLC for $158 million in cash. Headquartered in Elm City, North Carolina, SE&M is a specialist contractor providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services primarily to the pharmaceutical, industrial, and health care sectors. The deal includes a potential earnout of up to 8% based on future performance, following SE&M’s 2025 revenue of $109 million.
The acquisition strengthens Everus’ presence in the Southeast region and diversifies its revenue mix through SE&M’s high-margin mechanical services and recurring maintenance work. SE&M generates ~60% of its revenue from the pharmaceutical and health care markets, maintaining long-term relationships with global health care firms. Everus intends to use this expertise to pursue new growth opportunities, including expanding into the data center submarket within the region.
SE&M’s existing leadership team, including CEO Zack Bynum and President Patrick Rogers, will remain with the company to ensure operational continuity. Everus Construction Group Inc. highlighted the alignment of SE&M’s safety-focused culture with its own strategic priorities and noted that the transaction was supported by its strong financial flexibility. The company expects to update its 2026 financial forecast during its upcoming Q1 earnings report.
Everus Construction Group Inc. is an engineering & construction company that offers contracting services to customers in various industries. It has two segments: Electrical & Mechanical and Transmission & Distribution.
8. Amentum Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMTM)
Amentum Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMTM) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On April 7, Amentum was awarded a $425 million contract by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to provide aerial firefighting support. The agreement features an initial 3-year term with 2 additional option years. Under this partnership, Amentum will manage the training, scheduling, and mobilization of a specialized workforce to protect California’s environment and infrastructure.
The contract tasks Amentum with delivering comprehensive aviation expertise, including the deployment of 350 elite pilots and mechanics. The company will use advanced technical solutions, such as AI-driven predictive maintenance and overhaul services, to ensure the state’s specialized aircraft fleet remains operational. These efforts are designed to support firefighting capabilities as California faces an increasingly year-round wildfire crisis.
According to Dr. Karl Spinnenweber, president of Amentum’s Mission Solutions business, the company’s logistics and deployment expertise will help safeguard the state’s communities and economy. Amentum Holdings Inc.’s (NYSE:AMTM) role involves ensuring that crews and aircraft are ready for immediate deployment for vital operations. This mission focuses on maintaining constant readiness to address the growing dangers and complexity of modern fire seasons.
Amentum Holdings Inc. is a business services company that specializes in engineering and technology solutions through two segments: Digital Solutions and Global Engineering Solutions.
7. Karman Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KRMN)
Karman Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KRMN) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 25, Karman reported financial results for Q4 and the full-year 2025, highlighted by annual revenue of $471.5 million, which was a 36.6% increase year-over-year. The company achieved record annual net income of $17.4 million and saw its backlog grow to $801.1 million by year-end. Growth was driven by organic gains across all end-markets, particularly in tactical missiles and integrated defense systems, which rose 48.5% annually due to demand for drone and loitering munitions technologies.
During 2025 and early 2026, Karman completed several strategic milestones, including its IPO, which raised $581 million and a subsequent $1.2 billion secondary equity offering. The company also expanded its capabilities through three accretive acquisitions, including the January purchases of Seemann Composites and MSC. These additions have transitioned Karman into an all-domain provider and pushed its total backlog past the $1 billion mark as of March 20.
Karman Holdings Inc. has now raised its full-year 2026 outlook, projecting revenue between $715 and $730 million and adjusted EBITDA between $207 and $218 million. CEO Jon Rambeau attributed this trajectory to a generational increase in demand for missile and munitions programs, the expansion of the space economy, and the establishment of multi-year government contracts. The company also upsized its revolving credit facility to $150 million to support growth.
Karman Holdings Inc. is an aerospace & defense company that deals in mission-critical systems in the US. The company supplies products for hypersonic systems, strategic missile defense, tactical & integrated defense, and space & launch markets.
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. 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. 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.
5. Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO)
Veralto Corporation (NYSE:VLTO) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 31, Veralto entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GlobalVision, which is a Montreal-based provider of AI-augmented packaging quality and compliance software. The acquisition will integrate GlobalVision into Veralto’s Esko business, formalizing a decade-long partnership.
This move is designed to strengthen Esko’s digital workflow solutions, helping pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods customers ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance throughout the packaging lifecycle. Financially, GlobalVision is projected to deliver ~$25 million in sales for 2026, with 85% of that revenue being recurring. The purchase price is valued at ~15x the estimated adjusted EBITDA of $13 million, which includes anticipated cost synergies.
Veralto Corporation expects the transaction to be neutral to adjusted EPS in 2026 and accretive in 2027, with a return on invested capital projected to exceed the company’s costs by the third year. In addition to the acquisition, Veralto announced the completion of $300 million in share repurchases during Q1 2026. This involved the buyback of ~3.2 million shares, representing about 1.3% of the company’s outstanding common stock as of February.
Veralto Corporation is a pollution & treatment controls company that offers water analytics & treatment, marking & coding, and packaging & color solutions through two segments: Water Quality and Product Quality & Innovation.
4. Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SUNB)
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SUNB) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 12, Sunbelt Rentals reported total revenue of $2,637 million for FQ3 2026, with rental revenue increasing 2.6%. This quarter marked the company’s first reporting period under US GAAP following the transition of its primary listing to the NYSE. Despite mixed end markets and lower hurricane activity compared to the previous year, Sunbelt achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $1,082 million and narrowed its full-year rental revenue growth outlook to a range of 2% to 3%.
The company invested $1.9 billion year-to-date in rental fleet capital expenditures, greenfield expansions, and ten bolt-on acquisitions. CEO Brendan Horgan noted that while local non-residential construction remains moderate, momentum in mega projects and specialty segments remains strong. Consequently, Sunbelt raised its gross capital expenditure outlook for the full year to between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion to support recent project wins and advanced fleet replacement.
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. showed significant shareholder returns, totaling $1,354 million year-to-date through dividends and $1,047 million in share buybacks. A new $1.5 billion share buyback program commenced on March 2, coinciding with the NYSE listing move. The company ended the quarter with a record free cash flow of $1.4 billion, providing ample financial flexibility to execute its Sunbelt 4.0 growth strategy.
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc. is a rental & leasing services company that offers construction, industrial, and general equipment rental businesses for customers in various sectors.
3. Amrize (NYSE:AMRZ)
Amrize (NYSE:AMRZ) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 31, the Amrize Board of Directors appointed Baris Oran as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the company’s Executive Committee, effective April 1. Oran succeeds Ian Johnston, who is stepping down after a 27-year career with the company. Johnston will remain as a senior advisor to assist with the leadership transition, having played a key role in the company’s spin-off and initial public listing.
Oran joins Amrize from GXO Logistics, where he served as CFO and established the finance organization following its spin-off from XPO. His 25-year career includes executive finance roles at Sabanci Group and Kordsa, as well as leadership positions at Ernst & Young, PwC, and Sara Lee Corporation. He brings extensive expertise in capital allocation, M&A, and capital markets to his new role.
Chairman and CEO Jan Jenisch praised Johnston’s contributions to Amrize’s (MYSE:AMRZ) financial stability, including its investment-grade credit rating and strong cash conversion. Jenisch noted that Oran’s track record of building high-performance teams makes him ideally positioned to accelerate the company’s profitable growth.
Amrize is a building materials company that offers building solutions for infrastructure, commercial, and residential construction markets through two segments: Building Materials and Building Envelope.
2. Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG)
Venture Global Inc. (NYSE:VG) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On March 26, Venture Global and Edison announced a commercial agreement to settle their pending arbitration regarding the Calcasieu Pass LNG project. The settlement, which is expected to be finalized by the end of Q2 2026, fully resolves the dispute and will lead to the termination of all arbitration proceedings. The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening the commercial partnership between the two companies.
As part of the resolution, the parties have agreed to the delivery of additional LNG cargoes to Europe beyond the original terms of their long-term contract. These deliveries are intended to support gas supplies primarily for the Italian market. The first of these additional cargoes is scheduled for delivery in May at the Adriatic LNG Terminal in Italy.
Both companies welcomed the settlement as a means to enhance energy security and stabilize global markets amidst ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Edison remains a foundational customer for the Calcasieu Pass project, and the new agreement establishes a framework for future deliveries. This cooperation is intended to support Venture Global’s mission of market stabilization and Edison’s role in securing Italy’s energy supply.
Venture Global Inc. is an energy, specifically LNG, company that owns, develops, constructs, and operates LNG production facilities in the US Gulf Coast. The company operates as a subsidiary of Venture Global Partners II LLC.
1. Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN)
Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) is one of the best young stocks to buy right now. On April 6, Medline launched Pick Pack Pro, which is a new custom product fulfillment technology at its Montgomery, NY distribution center. This system integrates robotic sortation, conveyor movement, and automated packing to deliver medical supplies directly to the homes of health plan members.
The investment is specifically designed to handle high-volume spikes for select product catalogs, such as over-the-counter medications and everyday medical essentials. The technology addresses the unique ordering patterns of health plan providers, including those administering Medicare benefits. By using Tompkins Robotics for sortation, Trew for carton movement, and Ranpak for sustainable automated packaging, Medline aims to increase delivery speed and order accuracy.
This Montgomery installation represents Medline’s initial capital and staffing investment in this specialized technology. Following the successful launch, the company plans to deploy Pick Pack Pro across its broader network of 45 distribution centers in the US. Sean Halligan, executive vice president of operations, emphasized that the solution positions Medline Inc. as an industry leader in solving fulfillment challenges specific to the health plan sector.
Medline Inc. is a medical instruments & supplies company that serves hospitals, post-acute facilities, and nursing homes through two segments: Medline Brand and Supply Chain Solutions.
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