On December 18, Ryan Detrick, The Carson Group chief market strategist, joined ‘Squawk Box’ on CNBC to discuss the market expectations through year-end and the market formula for 2026. Detrick expressed confidence that the S&P 500 can reach new all-time highs before the end of the year, which is a move requiring roughly a 3% lift in the final eight and a half trading sessions. Detrick supported his bullish stance by highlighting a significant broadening of the market. He pointed out that even on a day when tech headlines were negative, the NYSE saw more 52-week highs than the previous day, and the number of stocks above their 50-day and 200-day moving averages actually increased. He noted that advance-decline lines remain solid and that high-yield corporate bonds are trading less than 1% away from all-time highs, suggesting that the recent volatility in tech and AI is not the first domino signaling a broader market collapse.
Detrick pointed out that broadening will likely be the theme for 2026. He characterized the recent tech weakness as a standard consolidation after a record-breaking 13-day win streak and noted that tech is simply back to where it was three months ago. Addressing historical patterns, Detrick acknowledged that a midterm year is typically the weakest in the four-year presidential cycle, often seeing a 17.5% peak-to-trough correction. He rejected the idea that the current bull market is old and explained that it has just entered its fourth year; over the last 50 years, bull markets of this age have lasted an average of eight years, with the shortest being five.
That being said, we’re here with a list of the 11 most active US stocks to buy according to analysts.
Our Methodology
We sifted through the Yahoo stock screener to compile a list of active US stocks that had high one-day volumes and average three-month volumes. We then selected 11 stocks that had an upside potential of over 30%. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q3 2025, which was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.
Note: All data was sourced on December 23.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
11 Most Active US Stocks to Buy According to Analysts
11. Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE)
Volume as of December 23: 12.017 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 17.396 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 89
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 31.29%
Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 19, UBS analyst Jay Sole lowered the firm’s price target on Nike to $62 from $71 with a Neutral rating on the shares.
On the same day, Stifel analyst Peter McGoldrick also cut the firm’s price target on Nike to $65 from $68 while keeping a Hold rating on the shares. After the company released its FQ2 2026 financial results, the firm noted that Nike’s recovery remains inconsistent. While the quarter provided some upside and positive revenue growth, this was offset by a disappointing FQ3 outlook and a forecast for a low-single-digit decline in the topline. Given Nike’s current valuation premium compared to its footwear peers, the firm finds it difficult to justify a strong case for significant stock upside at this time.
A day before these ratings, Nike disclosed the FQ2 financial report, where the company achieved a total revenue increase of 1% year-over-year on a reported basis, which totaled $12.43 billion and exceeded estimates by $218.31 million. The company also made an EPS of $0.53, which beat guidance by $0.16. Performance across sales channels showed a shift toward wholesale, which grew by 8% globally. In contrast, Nike Direct revenues declined by 9%, weighed down by a 14% drop in Nike Digital and a 3% dip in physical Nike stores.
North America emerged as a major bright spot for the company, posting a 9% overall revenue increase fueled by a massive 24% surge in wholesale growth. Management remains optimistic about this market, citing strong consumer engagement and balanced growth between new and existing partners. In contrast, Greater China remains the company’s most significant challenge, with revenue plummeting 16% and Nike Digital sales in the region dropping by 36%. Other international regions also saw declines, with EMEA revenue down 1% and APLA revenue falling 4%.
Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE), together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, markets, and sells athletic and casual footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services for men, women, and kids in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Greater China, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
10. Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS)
Volume as of December 23: 37.243 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 83.346 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 31.42%
Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 15, Stifel analyst Jonathan Siegmann initiated coverage of Ondas with a Buy rating and $13 price target. The firm believes that Ondas is positioned to lead the unmanned systems market. Stifel advised investors to overlook high current valuation multiples and suggested that these figures simply reflect the early stages of the drone industry’s disruptive integration into military operations.
Earlier on December 11, Needham analyst Austin Bohlig raised the firm’s price target on Ondas to $12 from $10, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. After two days of investor meetings with the CEO, the firm has grown increasingly optimistic about Ondas’ growth trajectory. Needham remains impressed by the company’s execution of both organic and inorganic strategies. Demand is now believed to be accelerating even faster than management projected during the Q3 2025 earnings call due to recent acquisitions and new contract wins.
In Q3 2025, Ondas Holdings reported record-breaking financial results that were headlined by a more than sixfold year-over-year revenue surge to $10.1 million. This growth was majorly driven by the Ondas Autonomous Systems/OAS division, which alone contributed $10 million. The company’s consolidated backlog doubled since the start of the year to $23.3 million, a figure expected to exceed $40 million by year-end. Consequently, management raised its full-year 2025 revenue target to ~$36 million and established an ambitious 2026 goal of ~$110 million.
Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) provides private wireless, drone, and automated data solutions in the US and internationally. It operates through two segments: Ondas Networks and Ondas Autonomous Systems.
9. D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS)
Volume as of December 23: 24.361 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 48.404 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 32.98%
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 17, Wedbush initiated coverage of D-Wave Quantum with an Outperform rating and $35 price target. Wedbush argues that D-Wave is a standout investment because it is commercial-ready in an otherwise young industry. The firm highlighted the company’s immediate applicability of its annealing systems to complex optimization problems, its expansive reach across multiple industrial verticals, and the competitive advantage of its energy-efficient hardware.
On December 16, Jefferies also initiated coverage of D-Wave Quantum with a Buy rating and $45 price target. The firm highlighted that the company is well-positioned to capitalize on broad ecosystem tailwinds that are boosting both market sentiment and usage across various quantum architectures. With the Advantage2 system now commercially accessible through the Leap cloud platform, these industry catalysts are driving several key growth drivers: enhanced customer education, expanded experimentation budgets, and a steady stream of pilot programs.
Furthermore, Mizuho initiated coverage of D-Wave Quantum with an Outperform rating and $46 price target on December 11. Mizuho noted that the company is pursuing a dual-track strategy, developing both quantum annealing and gate-model technologies while maintaining the flexibility for future acquisitions. D-Wave currently stands as the dominant leader in quantum annealing.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) develops and delivers quantum computing systems, software, and services worldwide.
8. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)
Volume as of December 23: 11.468 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 26.854 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 122
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 51.48%
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 15, Phillip Securities lowered the firm’s price target on Oracle to $344 from $350 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. The firm raised its 2026 capital expenditure outlook for Oracle from $35 billion to $50 billion. The increased spending reflects the firm’s continued confidence in the company’s dual role as a specialized cloud provider/OCI and a comprehensive full-stack AI leader.
Earlier on December 11, RBC Capital also lowered the firm’s price target on Oracle to $250 from $310 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares. This sentiment came out as Oracle’s FQ2 2026 results were a mixed bag: robust cloud growth and strong Remaining Performance Obligations/RPO were dampened by high capital spending and negative free cash flow.
In its FQ2 report, Oracle highlighted a 13% year-over-year increase in total revenue to $16.1 billion. The primary growth engine was the cloud division, which saw revenue surge 33% to $8 billion, now accounting for half of Oracle’s total business. Within this segment, OCI revenue jumped 66% to $4.1 billion, specifically fueled by a 177% explosion in GPU-related revenue. Other strong performers included Autonomous Database revenue (up 43%) and Cloud Applications, which reached $3.9 billion (up 11%).
Looking forward to FQ3, Oracle projects total cloud revenue growth between 37% and 41% and total revenue growth between 16% and 18% in constant currency.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide.
7. Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI)
Volume as of December 23: 19.850 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 76.229 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 56.56%
Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 17, Wedbush initiated coverage of Rigetti Computing with an Outperform rating and $35 price target. The firm views Rigetti as a prime beneficiary of the growing quantum sector, citing its decade of expertise and focus on superconducting qubits. This specific technology leads the field in versatility and use cases, backed by heavy funding from major global players and government entities, therefore positioning Rigetti at the center of the industry’s long-term expansion.
On December 16, Jefferies initiated coverage of Rigetti Computing with a Hold rating and $30 price target. The company is positioned to capitalize on the initial momentum of the quantum computing cycle, but Jefferies believes that the stock’s potential is tempered by risks related to execution and revenue concentration. The company must demonstrate a period of on-time delivery to overcome the credibility issues caused by previous roadmap delays. Rigetti’s heavy reliance on government contracts limits short-term financial visibility.
Additionally, on December 11, Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh also initiated coverage of Rigetti Computing with an Outperform rating and $50 price target. Mizuho identified the company as the primary scalable peer to industry giants IBM and Google in the superconducting quantum computing space. The firm highlighted Rigetti’s robust liquidity and noted that the company has ~$450 million in cash, equivalents, and investments, providing a financial runway sufficient to sustain operations and scaling through 2030.
Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI), through its subsidiaries, builds quantum computers and superconducting quantum processors in the US, the UK, the rest of Europe, Asia, and internationally.
6. Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR)
Volume as of December 23: 13.356 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 59.539 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 58.83%
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 2, Archer Aviation announced an exclusive collaboration with Karem Aircraft to integrate military-grade rotor and tiltrotor technology into Archer’s next-generation vertical take-off and landing/VTOL aircraft. This alliance grants Archer unique access to Karem’s Optimum Speed Tiltrotor/OSTR technology, a system validated by the US Army through the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration/JMR TD program.
By optimizing rotor speed for both hover and high-speed forward flight, this technology is designed to significantly improve range, fuel efficiency, and payload capacity. The collaboration is a cornerstone of Archer’s dual-use strategy, aimed at serving both commercial urban air mobility and defense sectors. The target platform is an autonomous, hybrid-propulsion aircraft intended to modernize the vertical lift capabilities of the US military and its allies.
By combining Karem’s aeromechanics with Archer’s autonomous systems and recently acquired intellectual property from Overair and Lilium, the company aims to produce an aircraft capable of operating in contested airspaces with a low thermal and acoustic signature. The partnership follows Archer’s November 2025 agreement to supply its proprietary electric powertrain to Anduril and the EDGE Group for the Omen Autonomous Air Vehicle.
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR), together with its subsidiaries, designs and develops aircraft and related technologies and services in the US and internationally. It operates through the commercial and defense sectors.
5. Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:RXRX)
Volume as of December 23: 20.107 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 43.447 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 62.41%
Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:RXRX) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 8, Recursion announced positive Phase 1b/2 results for REC-4881, which is its investigational allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor designed to treat Familial Adenomatous Polyposis/FAP.
FAP is a rare, life-altering hereditary condition affecting over 50,000 people in the US and EU5. It is driven by inactivating mutations in the APC gene, which typically result in a near-100% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. Currently, no medical therapies are approved, forcing patients to undergo frequent endoscopic removals and major surgeries, such as colectomies, starting in their early 20s.
The TUPELO trial data demonstrated that REC-4881 achieved both rapid and durable clinical activity. The study revealed that 87% of untreated individuals experience a progressive increase in polyp burden, with only 3% showing any modest decrease. The safety profile of REC-4881 remained consistent with the MEK1/2 inhibitor class; most treatment-related adverse events were mild (Grade 1 or 2), such as acneiform dermatitis or elevated blood CPK. While Grade 3 events occurred in 15.8% of the safety population, no Grade 4 or 5 events have been reported to date.
This trial represents a major milestone for the Recursion OS, as REC-4881 was identified through AI-driven phenotypic screening that linked MEK1/2 inhibition to the rescue of $APC$ loss-of-function. The company originally in-licensed the molecule from Takeda, where it had previously been studied for solid tumors. Recursion now plans to expand the study population to include patients as young as 18 and intends to engage with the FDA in H1 2026 to define a potential registration pathway for the drug.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:RXRX) operates as a clinical-stage biotechnology company that decodes biology and chemistry by integrating technological innovations across biology, chemistry, automation, data science, and engineering to industrialize drug discovery in the US.
4. Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR)
Volume as of December 23: 11.798 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 50.049 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 66.05%
Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 19, Rosenblatt lowered the firm’s price target on Cipher Mining to $25 from $33, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. 2025 has been a difficult year for Bitcoin miners, as high network difficulty collided with a sharp downturn in BTC prices to create a worst-case scenario for profitability. The firm also noted that pure-play miners that are solely focused on crypto face significant financial strain, but the impact is less severe for companies that have diversified into HPC.
Earlier on November 24, JPMorgan upgraded Cipher Mining to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $18, up from $12. The firm believes that Cipher Mining is exceptionally well-positioned to secure further HPC contracts across its other approved sites, which could serve as a significant catalyst for medium-term growth.
In Q3 2025, Cipher Mining highlighted a strategic pivot from traditional Bitcoin mining to HPC and AI infrastructure. Total revenue surged 65% quarter-over-quarter to $72 million, driven by the mining of 629 Bitcoin and the expansion of the Black Pearl facility. While the company recorded a GAAP net loss of $0.01 per share, its non-GAAP adjusted earnings climbed to $0.10 per share. The company’s financial position was dramatically supported by a $1.3 billion convertible note offering due 2031, which increased its cash and equivalents to ~$1.2 billion by the end of the quarter.
Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR), together with its subsidiaries, develops and operates industrial-scale data centers in the US.
3. TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF)
Volume as of December 23: 12.311 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 40.791 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 68.40%
TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 19, Rosenblatt lowered the firm’s price target on TeraWulf to $20 from $24, while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. The firm warned that Bitcoin miners are facing intense network competition, and the recent plunge in BTC prices has severely hurt their profitability. While companies solely focused on mining are under significant pressure, those that have diversified into HPC are better protected because HPC hosting offers a more stable revenue stream that is independent of crypto market volatility.
In its Q3 2025 earnings report, TeraWulf highlighted a pivotal transition from pure-play Bitcoin mining to HPC infrastructure. The company’s GAAP revenue rose 6% quarter-over-quarter to $50.6 million. This growth was supported by the recognition of TeraWulf’s first $7.2 million in HPC lease revenue, following the energization of 22.5 MW of hosting capacity. While Bitcoin mining production fell 22% to 377 tokens, adjusted EBITDA improved by 25% to $18.1 million, which reflected the higher-margin nature of the new HPC business.
In the said quarter, TeraWulf closed over $4.2 billion in transactions, including $3.2 billion in senior secured notes and $1.025 billion in convertible notes. This capital, backed by a significant 10-year agreement with Google expected to generate $670 million in average annual revenue, fully funds the expansion of the Lake Mariner facility. Despite the operational progress, the company reported a substantial GAAP net loss of $455 million, compared to $18.4 million in the prior quarter.
Looking forward, TeraWulf has significantly increased its annual target for new HPC signings from 100 MW to a range of 250 to 500 MW. This expansion is supported by a 51%-owned joint venture with FluidStack and Google to develop the Abernathy HPC campus in Texas.
TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF), together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital asset technology company in the US. The company develops, owns, and operates bitcoin mining facilities in New York and Pennsylvania.
2. NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR)
Volume as of December 23: 10.713 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 23.812 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 100.13%
NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 22, B. Riley lowered the firm’s price target on NuScale Power to $24 from $38 with a Buy rating on the shares. NuScale’s stock has declined 10% year-to-date as investors weigh the impact of potential share dilution. This stems from a recent partnership milestone agreement with ENTRA1 and an increase in authorized capital. Additionally, the firm noted that shareholders recently approved doubling the authorized Class A common stock from 332 million to 662 million shares.
Earlier on December 10, Citi lowered the firm’s price target on NuScale Power to $18.50 from $37.50 and kept a Sell rating on the shares. The firm attributed the company’s 52% stock decline over the past quarter to Fluor Corp.’s (NYSE:FLR) plans to liquidate its stake and persistent uncertainty regarding NuScale’s first binding commercial contract. Citi expects continued downward pressure as revenue from existing legacy contracts tapers off while Fluor continues its share sell-off.
Additionally, UBS lowered the firm’s price target on NuScale Power to $20 from $38 with a Neutral rating on the shares on November 25. UBS reduced its price target for NuScale Power following Q3 2025 earnings results that were heavily impacted by substantial milestone payments under the ENTRA1 agreement. While the firm maintained a cautiously optimistic outlook on the broader US nuclear sector, it expressed concern regarding the high capital requirements for project development, as well as the recurring industry risks of construction delays and cost overruns.
NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) provides small modular reactor technology solutions. It offers NuScale Power Module/NPM, which is a water reactor that can generate 77 megawatts of electricity.
1. Mara Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA)
Volume as of December 23: 15.151 million
Average Volume (3-Month): 49.236 million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
Average Upside Potential as of December 23: 133.86%
Mara Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA) is one of the most active US stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 19, Rosenblatt analyst Chris Brendler lowered the firm’s price target on Mara Holdings to $15 from $22, while keeping a Buy rating on the shares.
JPMorgan also lowered the firm’s price target on Mara Holdings to $13 from $20 with an Overweight rating on the shares earlier on November 24. This sentiment was posted as JPMorgan cited lower bitcoin prices and a higher share count for the target cut.
In Q3 2025, Mara Holdings reported a 92% revenue surge to $252.4 million, which was up from $131.6 million in the same period last year. The company achieved a turnaround in profitability and reported a net income of $123.1 million (or $0.27 per diluted share), compared to a net loss of $124.8 million in Q3 2024. This performance was driven by an 88% increase in the average price of Bitcoin and a $343.1 million gain on digital assets.
The company’s Bitcoin-related metrics showed substantial growth, with its energized hash rate increasing 64% year-over-year to 60.4 exahash per second (EH/s). Mara Holdings mined 2,144 Bitcoin during the quarter, and its total holdings grew by 98% to nearly 53,000 Bitcoin. Despite a competitive environment where global network difficulty reached all-time highs, Mara Holdings improved its operational efficiency, reducing the daily cost per petahash by 15% year-over-year. The average purchased energy cost per Bitcoin mined during the quarter was $39,235.
Mara Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA) operates as a digital asset technology company in the US and Europe. It also provides technology solutions to optimize data center operations, such as liquid immersion cooling and firmware for Bitcoin miners.
While we acknowledge the potential of MARA 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 MARA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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