In this article, we will take a look at the 11 Best Stocks You’ll Wish You Bought Sooner.
Discussions on best investment opportunities remain in the spotlight even as the macroeconomic signals point to looming uncertainty and shifts in the capital allocation strategies. On March 25, 2026, in one of its articles, CNBC reported that the probabilities of a recession, estimated by major institutions, are going up. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, warned that recession is to be perceived as a real threat, with the firm’s estimation placing the probability of a downturn within the next 12 months at 48.6%. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs and Wilmington Trust projects elevated risks of 30% and 45%, respectively.
Various factors contribute to this increase in probability, including the ongoing Iran conflict, alongside a labor market that has shown limited breadth outside healthcare hiring. The Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, stated that stagflation comparisons to the 1970s remain overstated and policymakers are trying to balance the inflation pressures with slowing employment growth.
Investment opportunities exist even in the midst of such troublesome market conditions. But they have to be availed before their price goes up. The legendary billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett has elegantly quoted this:
Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.
Against this backdrop, we have put together a list of 11 best stocks that will benefit your portfolio sooner rather than later.
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Our Methodology
To put together our list of 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner, we screened for stocks with a market cap of more than $2 billion and an average return on equity of more than 20% over the past 5 years. We narrowed our list further to companies with a 3-year performance of more than 50% and a price target of 20% or more. We then selected the 11 best stocks based on the number of hedge funds having a stake in each and ranked them in ascending order. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. All the pricing data are as of market close on March 29, 2026.
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).
11. Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 2, 2026, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) raised approximately $1.387 billion through an unsecured offering of senior notes maturing in 2029 and 2036. The company aims to use the proceeds to fund the acquisition of KENE Parent, Inc., the parent company of Entrust. The notes were managed under a 2020 indenture with Citibank. To safeguard the interests of bondholders and highlight its acquisition-based growth strategy, the notes include a special mandatory redemption clause at 101% of principal if the transaction is not finalized by mid-August 2026. While the debt issuance is not strictly contingent on the deal’s closure, Leidos maintains strategic flexibility to utilize the proceeds for general corporate purposes, potentially impacting its long-term leverage profile and acquisition-driven growth strategy.
In another development, on March 11, 2026, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) announced that it had secured a $454.9 million contract to modernize the U.S. Air Force’s Cloud One platform. The company partners with major cloud providers such as Amazon (AMZN) and Google to improve security and automation. This initiative supports the NorthStar 2030 strategy and assists in speeding up the mission-critical cloud adoption across the military.
Founded in 1969, Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LDOS) is a Fortune 500 science and technology company with a focus on serving defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. Based in Virginia, the company offers mission-critical solutions in cybersecurity, data analytics, and systems engineering.
10. PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 5, 2026, The St. Joe Company (JOE) announced the establishment of a new strategic partnership with PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM), the nation’s third-largest homebuilder. The collaboration aims to develop over 1,300 homesites in Bay County, Florida. The project features two gated communities within the Pigeon Creek area, with options to expand to 2,653 total units. The partnership with The St. Joe Company marks PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM)’s first entry into Northwest Florida. Justin Cook, President for the Northeast Florida Division, PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM), gave the following statement:
The location aligns perfectly with our portfolio of consumer-inspired designs.
Separately, on March 4, 2026, Truist initiated coverage on PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) with a Buy rating and a price target of $170. The firm forecasts 2026 as a bottom year for industry margins and demand. However, the firm’s analyst expects significant earnings growth in 2027. Truist believes that the market is currently mispricing PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM)’s long-term profitability.
Founded in 1950, PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) is one of the largest U.S. homebuilders, operating under brands like Pulte, Del Webb, and Centex. The Georgia-based company provides various residential solutions including entry-level housing to active-adult homebuyers.
9. Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOXA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOXA) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 18, 2026, Front Office Sports reported that Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOXA) and Kalshi have entered advanced negotiations for a strategic partnership centered on Fox News and Fox Weather. Similar to Kalshi’s other integrations with CNN and CNBC, the new deal would involve incorporating the prediction market data into Fox’s news programming. Though Kalshi’s platform is heavily driven by sports trading, this potential agreement intends to exclude Fox Sports. Notably, Kalshi has been balancing support from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) against criminal charges and cease-and-desist orders from various states like Arizona.
In a more recent development, on March 27, 2026, Wells Fargo lowered the price target on Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOXA) from $75 to $67. The firm’s analyst Steven Cahall kept an Equal Weight rating on the stock. Wells Fargo maintains a positive near-term outlook on cable advertising and 2026 EBITDA, but takes a cautious stance on the long term due to the NFL.
Founded in 2019 following The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:FOXA) is an American multinational mass media company specializing in live news, sports, and streaming. Based in New York City, the company operates major brands including FOX News, FOX Sports, and Tubi.
8. Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52
Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 9, 2026, Wolfe Research upgraded its rating on Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) from Peer Perform to Outperform. The firm maintained a price target of $184 on the company’s stock. Wolfe Research cited the earned value credibility of the company’s Brinker’s Chili’s unit and the outperformance in its traffic.
In line with this sentiment, JPMorgan raised its price target on Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) from $187 to $190 on March 16, 2026. The firm’s analyst John Ivankoe maintained an Overweight rating on the company’s stock. JPMorgan noted that Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT)’s Chili’s brand is “generating a flywheel of success,” and the momentum allows for reinvestments into a consistent remodeling program and provides a clear path for the company to return to unit growth.
According to CNN, Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) maintains a consensus Buy rating from 23 analysts covering the company, as of March 29, 2026. The analysts have forecasted a 1-year average upside potential of 42.14%.
Founded in 1975, Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT) is one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies. Headquartered in Texas, the company owns, operates, and franchises over 1,600 locations through its core brands, Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.
7. Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 23, 2026, Truist lowered the price target on Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) from $84 to $71. The firm’s analyst kept a Hold rating on the company’s stock. The update was part of a broader research note on Financials. Truist is adjusting its financial models to reflect a higher cost of equity. In a research note, the analyst further told investors that the market is currently assigning lower-than-historical valuation multiples, necessitating these updated projections.
Separately, on March 9, 2026, Bank of America analyst Mihir Bhatia lowered the firm’s price target on Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by $6 from $96 to $90. Bhatia maintained a Buy rating on the stock. The firm was revising price targets for multiple consumer finance companies under its coverage. In addition to an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic environment, the analyst cited lower market multiples as the primary driver of these valuation adjustments.
Founded in 2003, Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company with headquarters in Connecticut. The company provides customized financing programs and analytics across platforms and industries, including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoor, pet, and other sectors.
6. Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) is one of the 11 best stocks you’ll wish you bought sooner.
On March 12, 2026, Guggenheim increased the price target on Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) from $271 to $283 and kept a Buy rating on the stock. In addition to the 90% return reported by the company, the firm identifies a few more reasons that validate its price target adjustment. This includes the analyst’s description of the first quarter as an “easy set-up” due to conservative guidance. The firm also views the projected 10% core EBITDA growth for 2026 as a manageable hurdle when compared to Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC)’s historical outlook or expectations.
In a separate event that day, Mizuho raised its price target on Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) from $235 to $265. The firm maintained its Outperform rating on the company’s stock. This update follows the company’s Q4 report. The firm’s analyst anticipates the company will benefit from a positive demographic shift toward an aging population and a focus on higher-acuity surgeries.
Founded in 1969, Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) is a diversified healthcare services company. Based in Texas, the company operates through the Hospital Operations and Ambulatory Care segments.
While we acknowledge the potential of THC 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 THC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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