In this article, we will look at the 11 Most Profitable NYSE Stocks to Buy Right Now.
On December 12, Adam Parker, Trivariate Research founder and CEO, appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ to talk about his view on the ‘buy high and sell low’ mantra. He was of the view that valuation doesn’t work for picking stocks, as we have seen that we cannot buy super cheap stocks.
Similarly, one can also not buy stocks that are down from 52 week highs because of underperformance. According to him, buy low, sell high really comes down to earnings estimates: buying companies when their earnings estimates are too low and selling them when they are too high. The mantra to him is thus more about estimate achievability than price action.
READ ALSO: 15 Best Long-Term Penny Stocks to Invest In and 11 Best Pharma Stocks to Invest In.
Daniel McCormack, head of research and economics at Macquarie Asset Management, also appeared on CNBC to talk about his 2026 outlook on December 12. He expects 2026 to be a year of solid growth, with global growth estimated to be 3 and a half percent, which is roughly in line with its long-run average.
He also expects the US to remain strong, with recoveries slowly but surely gaining ground in Europe and the UK. The big picture, according to McCormack, adds up to an environment with healthy growth and modestly falling interest rates, which is pretty constructive for asset prices in general, making 2026 a “pretty decent” year for returns.
With these trends in view, let’s look at the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now.
Our Methodology
We used stock screeners to make a list of profitable NYSE stocks and selected 25 stocks with the highest TTM net income and net income margins. We then picked 11 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2025. We sourced the hedge fund sentiment data from Insider Monkey’s database. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund holders.
Note: All data was recorded on December 11.
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 Profitable NYSE Stocks to Buy Right Now
11. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)
TTM Net Income: $14.39 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 25.53%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33
Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. HSBC lifted the price target on Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) to $112 from $106 on December 10 while maintaining a Reduce rating on the shares.
The rating update came as part of the 2026 outlook for the pharma group, with the firm telling investors that it sees the sector as well-positioned to outperform in the coming year. This trend is expected to materialize “even more if AI panic kicks in”, according to the firm. HSBC added that while its preferred stocks are “growth bucket ideas”, “fallen angels and value could work as well.”
In a separate development, Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) announced on December 9 positive results from VAYHIT2, a Phase III trial evaluating ianalumab plus eltrombopag in patients living with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and previously treated with corticosteroids. The results showed that Ianalumab (9 mg/kg) plus eltrombopag managed to extend ITP disease control by 45%, based on the primary endpoint of time to treatment failure (TTF). This ascertains the length of time in which patients maintain safe platelet levels during and after the treatment period.
Management further reported that 62% of the patients who were treated with ianalumab plus eltrombopag attained sustained platelet response at six months compared to 39% with placebo plus eltrombopag. Ianalumab thus holds the potential to reduce the need for chronic treatment and provide durable disease control in ITP, administered as four once-monthly intravenous doses in the ITP setting.
Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) has plans to submit VAYHIT2 data from second-line ITP with results from the ongoing first-line ITP trial, VAYHIT1, to health authorities in 2027.
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) develops, markets, and manufactures a range of healthcare and pharmaceutical products. Its operations span the Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate segments
10. BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK)
TTM Net Income: $6.1 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 26.64%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. On December 12, Barclays slashed its price target on BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) to $1,340 from $1,360 and maintained an Overweight rating on the stock.
The firm told investors that it revised targets in the brokers, asset managers, and exchanges group to take into account its 2026 outlook, adding that markets “look constructive” going into the next year. This holds especially true for the alternative asset managers and wealth brokers. However, the firm expects a more mixed outlook for the exchanges and traditional asset managers going into 2026.
In addition, BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) was initiated with a Neutral rating by UBS on December 11, with a price target of $1,180. Despite a mixed outlook on valuations and consensus expectations, the firm cited strong sector fundamentals across 20 US asset managers and brokers, adding that the outlook supports disciplined capital allocation, undervalued growth, and margin expansion for firms. However, secular tailwinds favor independent investment banks and wealth brokers where robust earnings growth appears only partly priced in, according to the firm.
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) also received a rating update from BofA on December 10, with the firm raising the price target to $1,464 from $1,456 and reaffirming a Buy rating. It told investors in a note on the brokers, asset managers, and exchanges group that it favors alternative asset managers to online brokers when looking towards 2026, primarily due to a stronger macro backdrop and better valuation and positioning setup.
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) provides investment, advisory, and risk management solutions, with its products including multi-asset and single-asset portfolios.
9. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)
TTM Net Income: $6.5 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 24.73%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. JPMorgan reaffirmed an Overweight rating on NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) on December 11 and raised the price target on the stock to $97 from $94. The rating update came as part of the updated models in the North American utilities group.
In a separate development, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) reported on December 8 that its subsidiary NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, reached a new agreement to continue the supply of electricity to WPPI Energy from the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers.
WPPI is a not-for-profit, member-owned energy company serving 51 locally owned utilities in Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Presently, it takes 168 megawatts (MW) of the plant’s nearly 1,200-MW output, and will continue taking 168 MW into the 2050s, as per the agreement.
In addition, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) also announced on December 8 that it entered into an agreement for the acquisition of Symmetry Energy Solutions from Energy Capital Partners (ECP). Management stated that this strategic transaction is anticipated to close in fiscal Q1 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals, and would boost the company’s existing customer supply business.
Symmetry Energy Solutions provides natural gas supply, storage, and asset management solutions to a range of end users across the nation and is one of the leading suppliers of competitive natural gas in the US. It serves around 80,000 residential and small customers and approximately 5,500 large commercial and industrial customers across 34 states.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) provides renewable energy and operates through the FPL and NEER segments. The FPL segment entails the generation, distribution, transmission, and sale of electric energy in Florida, while the NEER segment produces electricity from renewable and clean sources, including solar and wind.
8. Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX)
TTM Net Income: $2.71 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 21.17%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. On December 12, Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish lifted the price target on Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) to $172 from $165 and maintained an Equal Weight rating on the stock.
The firm told investors that it adjusted targets in the brokers, asset managers, and exchanges group as part of its 2026 outlook. It expects market conditions to look constructive going into 2026, especially for alternative asset managers and wealth brokers. However, for the exchanges and traditional asset managers, it sees a more mixed outlook.
In a separate development, Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) announced on December 11 a forward flow origination partnership between Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) and Harvest Commercial Capital, LLC for the acquisition of business loans secured by first lien mortgages on owner-occupied commercial real estate. Harvest Commercial Capital, LLC is a leader in small business lending.
Management reported that BXCI has purchased an initial portfolio of loans and established a forward flow program for a total of $1 billion in loans, with the long-term partnership entailing the acquisition of small business loans from Harvest by BXCI. This includes both the SBA 504 and non-SBA conventional loans, offering permanent capital for the expansion of lending to small businesses across the United States.
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) also reported that Harvest will continue its operations as an independent entity, seeking benefit from Blackstone’s platform and scaled insurance capital base while maintaining its specialized expertise in SBA 504 and conventional small balance commercial loans.
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) provides investment and fund management services. The company’s operations are divided into the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions.
7. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET)
TTM Net Income: $3.36 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 39.73%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. Mizuho Securities reiterated a Buy rating on Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) on December 11 and set a price target of $175.
In a separate development, Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) announced significant advancements for Cognitive Campus scale on December 10, including the introduction of Arista Virtual Ethernet Segment with Proxy ARP (Arista VESPA) for WLAN mobility, allowing customers to deploy large-scale mobility domains. Arista VESPA addresses critical scaling limits that major enterprises experience when they undergo exponential growth in the number of IoT devices and clients. Arista VESPA allows customers to design massive Wi-Fi roaming domain networks with more than 500,000 clients.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) also announced the expansion of Arista AVA® (Autonomous Virtual Assist) agentic AI, which now delivers a unified agentic AI framework to provide operational simplicity and proactive intelligence into AIOps. The company is also introducing two new ruggedized platforms, 710HXP-28TXH and 710HXP-20TNH, and is expanding its portfolio to support demanding industrial or outdoor environments across a number of sectors. The new platforms include a 1RU 24-port switch with an IP30 rating and a 20-port Din Rail switch with an IP50 rating.
Management reported that all the newly announced software capabilities and switch platforms are anticipated to be generally available by fiscal Q1 2026.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) develops, markets, and sells cloud networking solutions. The company’s solutions include EOS, a set of network applications, and Gigabit Ethernet switching and routing platforms. It also offers various product categories, including Core, Cognitive Adjacencies, and Network Software and Services.
6. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
TTM Net Income: $18.41 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 30.99%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. In a report released on December 12, Scotiabank analyst Louise Chen reiterated a Buy rating on Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) and set a price target of $1,165.00.
In another development, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced on December 11 positive topline results from the Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the two highest investigational doses of retatrutide in adults with obesity or overweight and knee osteoarthritis, and without diabetes, as an adjunct to physical activity and healthy activity. Retatrutide is a first-in-class GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist.
The company reported that its triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered weight loss of up to an average of 71.2 lbs in the first successful Phase 3 trial, along with substantial relief from osteoarthritis pain. Participants with obesity and knee osteoarthritis in TRIUMPH-4 lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight at 68 weeks after taking retatrutide 12 mg, with the treatment also reducing WOMAC pain scores by up to an average of 4.5 points (75.8%) while considerably improving measures of physical function. More than 1 out of 8 patients treated with retatrutide were reported to be completely free from knee pain at the end of the trial.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) further reported that seven additional Phase 3 trials evaluating the investigational once-weekly treatment in obesity and type 2 diabetes are anticipated to be completed in 2026.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) develops, manufactures, discovers, and sells pharmaceutical products. These products span oncology, diabetes, immunology, neuroscience, and other therapies.
5. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)
TTM Net Income: $15.43 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 25.28%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 122
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan slashed the price target on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) to $220 from $320 on December 12 and maintained a Neutral rating. The analyst told investors that Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) exhibited modest revenue and cloud-growth shortfalls in fiscal Q2 2026 results, along with free cash flow burn and sharply higher capex. These trends aggravate concerns regarding tenant concentration, financing needs, and valuation.
Rangan added that while management reiterated the fiscal year 2026 guidance and addressed balance sheet-related concerns, the stock’s decline points to a large capex rise with the absence of near-term revenue uplift, softer cloud momentum, uncertainty regarding the sustainability of OCI’s bring-your-own-chips and leasing mix, and concerns associated with OpenAI’s commitments.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) announced its fiscal Q2 2026 results on December 10, reporting that total quarterly revenues for the quarter rose 14% in USD and 13% in contant currency to $16.1 billion. Cloud revenues experienced a 34% growth in USD and 33% in constant currency to $8.0 billion, but software revenues dropped 3% in USD and 5% in constant currency to $5.9 billion.
Management further reported that the total remaining performance obligations (RPO) rose 438% year-over-year in USD to $523 billion, supported by new commitments from Meta, NVIDIA, and others.
GAAP earnings per share for the quarter rose 91% to $2.10, while non-GAAP earnings per share was up 54% to $2.26. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) stated that its GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share were both positively affected by a $2.7 billion pre-tax gain in the sale of the company’s interest in its Ampere chip company.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) provides products and services addressing aspects of corporate IT environments, including applications and infrastructure technologies. The company’s operations are divided into the following business segments: Cloud and License, Hardware, and Services.
4. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)
TTM Net Income: $14.25 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 45.28%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 136
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. Evercore ISI lifted the price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to $610 from $600 on December 12, keeping an In Line rating on the shares. The firm also added the stock to its “Tactical Outperform” list going into the end of the year and into the fiscal Q4 earnings season, citing valuation, potential reversion of relative year-to-date underperformance, and the potential for higher investor interest going into year-end as significant factors.
In a separate development, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) announced a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend on December 9, stating that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 87 cents per share, up from the previous dividend of 76 cents per share. The cash dividend would be paid to holders of record of the company’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of January 9, 2026, on February 9, 2026.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) also announced that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program, allowing it to repurchase up to $14 billion of its Class A common stock. According to the management, the new share repurchase program will become effective at the completion of its previously announced $12 billion program (December 2024). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) has around $4.2 billion remaining under the current approved share repurchase program, as of December 5, 2025.
Separately, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) delivered net revenue growth of 17% year-over-year, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, in its fiscal Q3 2025 results, with net income for the quarter coming to $3.9 billion, and diluted earnings per share of $4.34. Q3 net revenue also rose 17%, or 15% on a currency-neutral basis, to $8.6 billion. Management stated that the positive trends were supported by the continued strong performance of the company’s differentiated services and healthy consumer and business spending.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a technology company that provides payment solutions for developing and implementing debit, credit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs via its brands. Its portfolio includes Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro. The company also offers intelligence and cyber solutions.
3. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)
TTM Net Income: $16.64 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 33.54%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 143
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson reaffirmed a Buy rating on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) on December 12 and set a $110 price target.
The same day, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) announced the official launch of Robotaxi passenger rides in Dubai on the Uber app in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The company reported that starting on December 12, WeRide Robotaxis will be available on the Uber app to all riders in locations across Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, which mark two of the most popular tourist zones near public beaches in Dubai.
The ‘Autonomous’ option on the Uber app can help riders book and be matched to a WeRide Robotaxi. The main fleet operator for WeRide vehicles on the Uber platform will be Tawasul and would provide fleet management services.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) added that the launch came after the collaborative pilot program and testing taking place since the company announced the initial partnership in April 2025, allowing a smooth and safe transition to autonomous mobility. Management also stated that the trial service will currently be operating with an on-board vehicle specialist to ensure a reliable and safe experience, and help bolster the groundwork for a completely driverless commercial service in early 2026.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) operates as a technology platform that offers ride services and merchant delivery service providers for food, groceries, meal preparation, and other delivery services. The company’s operations are divided into Delivery, Mobility, and Freight. The Delivery segment allows users to order food, while the Mobility segment provides access to Mobility Drivers who provide rides in various vehicles. The Freight segment connects Carriers and Shippers.
2. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
TTM Net Income: $19.85 billion
TTM Net Income Margin: 50.15%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 179
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. On December 12, Evercore ISI maintained an In Line rating on Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and lifted the price target to $380 from $375. The firm also added the stock to its “Tactical Outperform” list going into the year-end and the Q4 earnings season.
In addition to Evercore ISI, BofA also upgraded Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) to Buy from Neutral on December 11 and set a $382 price target. The firm told investors that it sees the company’s shares to offer a “very attractive return potential” after the recent underperformance, and believes stablecoins to be an opportunity, with “manageable” regulatory and litigation risks. It also considers Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) to be “a premier business.”
In a separate development, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) announced the appointment of Najada Kumbuli as the President of Visa Foundation, effective immediately, on December 11. Kumbuli would be responsible for the management of the Visa Foundation’s impact investing and grantmaking with guidance from the Board, and would also serve as the company’s head of global philanthropy.
Additionally, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Pismo announced on December 3 a joint strategic collaboration with Circle Asia Technologies for unlocking credit for millions in Vietnam. Circle Asia Technologies is a pioneering credit-led neobank in Southeast Asia, and the collaboration would allow it to launch the country’s first truly AI-powered PayLater card aimed at setting new standards for user experience, transparency, and personalization in the financial industry.
The card is powered by AI and is set for a phased rollout in early 2026. It would allow users a seamless way to build credit with instant approval, manage their finances with ease, and make payments across the globe, dismantling the roadblocks leading to Vietnam’s low credit card penetration.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) provides digital payment services. It offers credit cards, debit cards, prepaid products, global automated teller machines, and commercial payment solutions.
1. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)
TTM Net Income: $1.57 trillion
TTM Net Income Margin: 43.29%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 194
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of the most profitable NYSE stocks to buy right now. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) received a rating update from Bank of America Securities analyst Mike Yang on December 10, who reaffirmed a Buy rating on the stock and set a $390 price target.
The rating update came the same day Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) reported its November 2025 revenue report. Revenue for November 2025 on a consolidated basis reached around NT$343.61 billion, reflecting a drop of 6.5% from October 2025 and an increase of 24.5% compared to November 2024.
Management further reported that revenue for January through November of 2025 reached a total of NT$3,474.05 billion, which translates to a growth of 32.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
For reference, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) reported consolidated revenue of NT$989.92 billion in its fiscal Q3 2025 results, along with a net income of NT$452.30 billion, and diluted earnings per share of NT$17.44. Year-over-year fiscal Q3 revenue rose 30.3%, while net income and diluted EPS grew 39.1% and 39.0%, respectively. Fiscal Q3 2025 results reflected a 6.0% increase in revenue and a 13.6% increase in net income compared to fiscal Q2 2025. Q3 revenue in US dollars was $33.10 billion, up 40.8% year-over-year and up 10.1% compared to the previous quarter.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the largest contract semiconductor manufacturer in the world. Some of its prominent customers include semiconductor companies that outsource all or part of their chip production, including Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Broadcom, and more.
While we acknowledge the potential of TSM 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 TSM and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money.
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
