In this article, we will look at the 10 Strong Buy S&P 500 Stocks to Invest In.
Strong Buy S&P 500 stocks are getting more attention as investors look beyond the index-level story and focus on which large-cap companies can still deliver upside. The S&P 500 has already had a strong run, but the setup is becoming less dependent on a narrow group of mega-cap technology names. BlackRock says “earnings are broadening beyond a highly concentrated group of mega-cap technology names tied to AI,” adding that this “gives investors greater choice for sourcing growth.” The market may still favor the S&P 500, but the more interesting question is which companies inside the index analysts believe can keep outperforming.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management says “sentiment is finally catching up to fundamentals,” noting that “2026 S&P 500 earnings growth has been revised up from 14.9% on December 31 to 17.6% today,” with “profits gaining steam as the year progresses.” Capital Group makes a similar point from a stock-picking angle, describing the market as “a more balanced one with a broadening opportunity set” and saying “the importance of active stock selection, supported by deep research, has never been clearer.” This supports a screen focused on Strong Buy-rated names rather than simply buying the benchmark.
Against this backdrop, Strong Buy S&P 500 stocks deserve a closer look, especially when analyst optimism is backed by earnings momentum, durable demand, or improving guidance. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 Strong Buy S&P 500 Stocks to Invest In.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify S&P 500 stocks that are viewed favorably by analysts. We then 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.
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. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is reportedly working on a financing deal for a data center in El Paso, Texas, that could total about $13B, with Morgan Stanley (MS) and JPMorgan (JPM) leading the process, according to Bloomberg. The report said most of the funding is expected to come from debt, with the remainder from equity.
On April 30, 2026, BofA analyst Justin Post raised the price target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) to $835 from $820 and maintained a Buy rating, noting increased investment in AI capacity alongside headcount reductions. Justin Post said the AI investment cycle is larger than expected, with returns less clear than for Cloud providers, though AI-driven ad gains remain intact, and raised 2027 revenue to $101B and EPS to $34.46 after the “strong” Q1 results. Barclays analyst Ross Sandler also raised the price target to $830 from $800 with an Overweight rating, saying Meta is growing faster than the digital advertising industry while “slimming down the company,” and pointing to progress following the Muse Spark introduction.
On April 29, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reported Q1 EPS of $10.44 versus $6.82 consensus and revenue of $56.31B compared to $55.56B expected. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company delivered a “milestone quarter” with momentum across its apps and the release of its first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) develops products that enable people to connect and share across mobile devices, computers, VR headsets, and AI glasses globally.
9. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
On May 4, 2026, Wolfe Research said the FDA received a report on April 30 through its Adverse Event Reporting System involving a case of serious hepatic failure in a patient treated with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s Foundayo. After contacting the company, Wolfe Research cited Lilly’s response that it “determined it was not reasonably related to Foundayo,” and said the market reaction appears “overdone,” maintaining an Outperform rating and $1,325 price target.
On the same day, RBC Capital noted Eli Lilly shares fell as much as 3% in pre-market trading following the report, but said the company provided the same assessment that the case was not linked to Foundayo. The firm described the clinical data as “clean” and said hepatic events are seen across injectable GLP-1s, adding the reported case “represents baseline noise,” while maintaining an Outperform rating and a $1,250 price target.
On May 1, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Eli Lilly to $1,344 from $1,327 with an Overweight rating, citing Q1 results and higher 2026 guidance supporting its GLP-1 outlook.
On April 30, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported Q1 EPS of $8.55 versus $6.79 consensus and revenue of $19.8B compared to $17.8B expected. CEO David Ricks said the company delivered “56% revenue growth” and raised full-year guidance, highlighting FDA approval of Foundayo and continued pipeline progress.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) develops and markets pharmaceutical products globally.
8. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)
On May 1, 2026, Susquehanna lowered its price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to $665 from $670 and maintained a Positive rating. The firm said the year started strong, but April slowed, with cross-border travel growth decelerating to 2% from 8% in Q1, while purchase volume remained supported by cross-border payments, particularly non-travel, and new consumer and commercial wins.
On the same day, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to $679 from $678 and kept an Overweight rating, noting the FY outlook is unchanged as Middle East impacts and portfolio shifts weigh on high-yield cross-border volume. The firm added that underlying trends remain stable and U.S. spending is improving, excluding the Capital One migration.
On April 30, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $4.60 versus $4.41 consensus and revenue of $8.4B compared to $8.26B expected. CEO Michael Miebach said results reflect a “diversified” and “future-ready” business, with net revenue up 16% and value-added services growing 22% year over year, alongside progress in agentic commerce and stablecoin initiatives.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) provides payment processing and related services globally.
7. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT)
On May 4, 2026, Seaport Research initiated coverage of Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) with a Buy rating and a $500 price target. The firm said the company is among the best-positioned global WFE suppliers, noting that while it does not have ASML’s monopoly in EUV lithography, it offers tools across deposition, etch, implant, CMP, cleaning, and more, making its role in advanced semiconductors “almost as irreplaceable.”
On May 3, 2026, Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) agreed to acquire ASMPT Limited’s NEXX business, expanding its panel-level advanced packaging portfolio. The company said the deal supports the development of technologies that enable larger AI accelerators with improved energy efficiency.
On April 27, 2026, Erste Group upgraded Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) to Buy from Hold, citing rising investment in advanced semiconductors driven by AI, while noting Applied supplies the equipment needed for this buildout. Earlier in April, B. Riley analyst Craig Ellis raised the price target on Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) to $485 from $450 and maintained a Buy rating after updating semiconductor capital spending outlooks for 2026 to 2028.
Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) provides equipment and materials engineering solutions for semiconductor manufacturing and related industries globally.
6. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
On May 4, 2026, BofA said Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) introduced Amazon Supply Chain Services, opening its full logistics network to third parties, from raw materials to finished goods. The firm noted that while Amazon had previously offered parts of its supply chain, the new offering makes it a more complete 3PL provider, giving customers access to freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping. BofA believes the launch, alongside unchanged 2026 capex plans, suggests sufficient capacity to handle additional third-party demand and could improve utilization of fixed logistics assets. The firm maintains a Buy rating with a $310 price target.
Earlier that day, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) said the new service extends its logistics capabilities to businesses across industries, including healthcare, automotive, manufacturing, and retail. The company noted that these services were originally built for its own operations and have already been used by sellers to move and deliver hundreds of millions of packages across external facilities and channels.
On May 1, 2026, Raymond James raised its price target on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) to $280 from $225 and kept an Outperform rating, citing 28% AWS growth and stronger positioning from AI partnerships and expanded capabilities.
On April 29, Amazon reported Q1 EPS of $2.78 versus $1.65 consensus and revenue of $181.5B compared to $177.17B expected. CEO Andy Jassy said results reflect “significant growth,” highlighting 28% AWS growth, advertising revenue above $70B on a trailing basis, and 15% unit growth in Stores.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) operates retail, advertising, and subscription businesses across online and physical channels globally.
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