In this article, we will take a look at the most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026.
In a changing market landscape, investors are increasingly focused on profits and returns. Amid growth narratives and speculative bets, some companies across all sectors remain committed to fundamentals, including strong top-line growth, robust margins, and earnings growth.
Markets are once again on edge as traders note the developments around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. A Reuters article on April 7 reported that UBS Global Wealth Management lowered its S&P 500 target for the year, suggesting that a continued rise in oil prices could weigh on U.S. economic growth and inflation. Since the war with Iran started on February 28, the benchmark index has declined nearly 3.9%. This fall stems from geopolitical risks and rising oil prices, pushing investors to step back from equities.
According to UBS, the Middle East conflict will ease in the coming weeks, allowing energy flows to resume slowly, Reuters noted. However, bringing oil production back to pre-conflict levels will take time due to infrastructure damage, the firm added.
Despite the index target cut, UBS reaffirmed an “attractive” view on U.S. equities and maintained its S&P 500 earnings per share forecast for 2026 at $310. As stated by the firm,
“As the negative effects of the war begin to fade, we expect stocks to be buoyed by a combination of still solid profit growth, a Fed that remains broadly supportive even if policy easing is delayed, and the continued adoption and monetization of AI.”
Keeping this outlook in mind, we have compiled a list of the most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026.
A technical stock market chart. Photo by Energepic from Pexels
Our Methodology
For this article, we looked at stocks that have been most profitable for investors from a share-price return perspective. We filtered for companies with a market capitalization of over $2 billion and a year-to-date price change of more than 20%. We then shortlisted the stocks with the highest YTD price change for each sector. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks were then ranked according to the number of hedge fund holdings.
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. Almonty Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:ALM)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: N/A
Sector: Basic Materials
YTD Return: 96.29%
Almonty Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:ALM) is among the most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 20, TheFly reported that B. Riley lifted the price target on Almonty Industries Inc. to $23 from $17 and maintained a Buy rating. Forecasts have been revised to better reflect the Sangdong Tungsten Mine commissioning and an improved APT pricing backdrop after the fourth-quarter earnings report, the analyst said, adding that the prices climbed to nearly $2,250/MTU and the long-term deck increased to $800/MTU.
On the same day, Oppenheimer also elevated the price target on Almonty Industries Inc. from $16 to $19 and reiterated an Outperform rating after Q4 results. Back on March 16, the company announced the successful completion of Phase 1 commissioning at its Sangdong Mine. The processing plan has an annual capacity of approximately 640K tons of ore, the firm said.
According to Alliance Global, Almonty Industries Inc. is the “primary avenue for investors to gain exposure to tungsten prices going forward,” as it is the leader in the tungsten market. The firm boosted the price target on the company to $19.25, up from $14, and reaffirmed a Buy rating on March 20.
Almonty Industries Inc. is a Canadian company that mines and ships tungsten concentrates, while exploring for tin and tungsten deposits. The company has 100% interests in projects and mines based in Canada, Korea, Portugal, Spain, and the United States.
10. Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo – SABESP (NYSE:SBS)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 17
Sector: Utilities
YTD Return: 31.58%
Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo – SABESP (NYSE:SBS) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. As of March 6, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo – SABESP is a consensus buy among 93% of the analysts covering the stock. The 1-year median price target of $31.08 reflects an upside potential of mere 2.68%. On March 19, Jefferies started coverage with a Buy rating and a price target of $36.60, being one of the firms bullish on the company.
The firm believes that Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo – SABESP has the potential to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate water and sewage coverage under favorable regulatory conditions. That said, Jefferies expects the company’s regulatory asset base to climb 70% by 2029.
As stated by analyst Alejandro Demichelis,
“We launch on Brazil’s largest water utility Sabesp at Buy with a US$36.6/BRL190 PT. While the stock has performed well YTD, to us the market still under-appreciates its scope to ramp up operational efficiencies and water/sewage coverage under supportive regulation.”
Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo – SABESP is a Brazilian company that provides basic and environmental sanitation services. Founded in 1954, the company offers treated water and sewage services.
9. Adecoagro S.A. (NYSE:AGRO)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 20
Sector: Consumer Defensive
YTD Return: 78.44%
Adecoagro S.A. (NYSE:AGRO) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 30, UBS upgraded Adecoagro S.A. to Buy from Neutral and lifted the price target from $8 to $16.20. The firm associated its improved outlook on the company with the Profertil acquisition and stronger commodity price assumptions. Additionally, the firm’s analysis now includes the Fertilizers segment in the company’s financial projections, which is behind most of the consolidated financial surge.
According to UBS, the market underappreciates EBITDA and cash flow upside from the Fertilizers division, with current valuation pointing to EBITDA about 10-20% lower than the firm’s forecasts for 2026-27. If we consider the stock’s YTD performance, it has impressively appreciated by approximately 78%. This was mainly due to the urea price hike after Middle East supply disruptions.
During the Q4 earnings call, Adecoagro S.A. outlined its commitment to improved performance in 2026, with an emphasis on enhancing ethanol production. The company also projects a complete rebound in adjusted EBITDA for the fertilizers business, along with a favorable market environment for urea and ammonia.
Adecoagro S.A. is a Luxembourg-based company that engages in agricultural and agro-industrial activities. Incorporated in 2002, the company operates through two segments: Farming, and Sugar, Ethanol, and Energy.
8. Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ:UNIT)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 22
Sector: Real Estate
YTD Return: 50.21%
Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ:UNIT) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On April 1, Raymond James reaffirmed a Strong Buy rating on Uniti Group Inc. with a price target of $11. As highlighted by the firm, the company’s share price ended the last half hour of Q1 with a 15.8% spike, driving nearly half of its 33.8% move for the quarter.
This comes as a TMT Finance article pointed to a possible acquisition of the company by TPG and T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS), which the firm believes makes sense due to the growing interest of T-Mobile in more fiber-to-the-home passings.
The analyst further said that there is uncertainty around the fate of the legacy incumbent local exchange carrier that T-Mobile isn’t looking for, adding that TPG could run the asset for cash over the upcoming few years. Raymond James believes other carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Bell Canada, may also show interest, with a live buyer likely accelerating their participation.
During the 47th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference on March 4, Uniti Group Inc. noted that the company targets a 40% penetration rate in the long term, with an emphasis on converting DSL customers to fiber. The company also considers buying and selling assets.
Uniti Group Inc. is a Delaware-based premier insurgent fiber provider that facilitates mission-critical connectivity. Incorporated in 2015, the company builds efficient communications services.
7. Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 27
Sector: Industrials
YTD Return: 120.78%
Amprius Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AMPX) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. During the 38th Annual Roth Conference on March 23, Amprius Technologies, Inc. announced its strategic shift towards outsourced manufacturing, while highlighting meaningful developments in silicon anode battery technology. The company also noted strong revenue growth and emphasized its future goals.
Just last year, Amprius Technologies, Inc. reported a threefold surge in revenue. For 2026, the goal is to achieve over 25% gross margins, with a few offerings already surpassing 30%, along with a 70% growth. What strengthens the case for the company is its involvement in the Drone Dominance Act initiatives and possible opportunities with Amazon.
For the future, Amprius Technologies, Inc. is focused on sustaining its position in energy density, aiming for higher watt-hours per kilogram. Additionally, the company is focusing on improving the power capabilities of its batteries to meet eVTOL requirements.
Earlier on March 9, B. Riley lifted the price target on Amprius Technologies, Inc. to $22 from $16 and maintained a Buy rating. Some of the factors behind this optimism are above consensus baseline revenue guidance for 2026, quicker advancement toward NDAA-approved battery production, and robust growth visibility across rising electric mobility markets.
Amprius Technologies, Inc. is a California-based provider of lithium-ion batteries for mobility applications. Incorporated in 2008, the company’s core offerings are offered through SiCore and SiMaxx product platforms.
6. Erasca, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERAS)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 32
Sector: Healthcare
YTD Return: 354.57%
Erasca, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERAS) is among the 11 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 18, JPMorgan lifted the price target on Erasca, Inc. to $25 from $24 and maintained an Overweight rating. This upward price revision is based on the firm’s model adjustments within the SMID-cap biotechnology group.
Back on March 13, Stifel reaffirmed a Buy rating on Erasca, Inc. with a price target of $20. This comes after the company’s Q4 results, in which it reported a net loss of $29.1 million for the quarter and $124.6 million for 2025.
Additionally, Erasca, Inc. maintained cash and cash equivalents of $341.8 million as of the year-end. What bolsters the case for the company is its nearly $434 million in pro forma cash to fund operations in the latter half of 2028. Stifel highlights that the cash runway stretches past key ERAS-0015 clinical catalysts planned for the first half of this year and the next.
On the same day, H.C. Wainwright elevated the price target on Erasca, Inc. from $15 to $20. This optimism is driven by the trial data, which demonstrated two confirmed partial responses and one unconfirmed partial response in patients living with tumors. The firm has an unchanged Buy rating on the stock.
Erasca, Inc. is a California-based clinical-stage precision oncology company that provides solutions for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. The company’s core therapies include ERAS-0015, ERAS-4001, and ERAS-12.
5. Virtu Financial, Inc. (NYSE:VIRT)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 40
Sector: Financial Services
YTD Return: 46.31%
Virtu Financial, Inc. (NYSE:VIRT) is among the 5 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 20, Piper Sandler increased the price target on Virtu Financial, Inc. to $61 from $57 and reiterated an Overweight rating. According to the firm, the company is well-positioned to deliver “a BIG quarter” in Q1, with adjusted net trading income surpassing $10 million per day for the first time since the “meme stock” impact in the first quarter of 2021.
TheFly reported that Virtu Financial, Inc. is increasingly expanding its base of trading capital, now actively being deployed in a highly favorable market-making backdrop. Piper Sandler anticipates record quarterly volumes across various asset classes, adding that fluctuations in energy, precious metal, and commodity markets will drive the Q1 performance.
A stock market graph. Photo by energepic.com
Overall, Virtu Financial, Inc. has mixed analyst sentiment, with 43% of the analysts bullish on the stock, another 43% holding a cautious view, and the remaining 14% keeping a bearish stance. While the 1-year highest and lowest price targets reflect an upside potential of 28.31% and downside potential of 24.27%, respectively, the median price target implies a downside potential of 3.24%.
Virtu Financial, Inc. is a New York-based financial services company operating in two segments: Market Making and Execution Services. Founded in 2008, the company is engaged in the cash trading business, agency execution services, and securities.
4. Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 54
Sector: Communication Services
YTD Return: 48.86%
Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) is among the 5 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On April 2, Nehal Chokshi, an analyst at Northland, trimmed the price target on Nebius Group N.V. from $232 to $215 and maintained an Outperform rating. The firm associated this price cut with incremental dilution stemming from convertible debt.
Back on March 24, BofA Securities started coverage on Nebius Group N.V. with a Buy rating and a $150 price target. The stock’s performance has remained impressive, with a one-year gain of approximately 452%.
On the other hand, BWS Financial’s bullish stance on Nebius Group N.V. is driven by the Meta contract, valued at $12 billion, with potential for up to an additional $15 billion. Planned for early next year, the project is poised to accelerate future growth, the firm said.
According to BWS Financial, Nebius Group N.V. is well-positioned to deliver on its growth initiatives to achieve $7 billion to $9 billion in annualized recurring revenue by the end of this year. That said, the firm boosted the price target on the company to $200 from $130 and reiterated a Buy rating.
Nebius Group N.V. is a Netherlands-based technology company that develops full-stack infrastructure for the global AI market. Founded in 1989, the company has a strategic collaboration with NVIDIA Corporation to power physical AI development.
3. Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE:MOD)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 59
Sector: Consumer Cyclical
YTD Return: 77.14%
Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE:MOD) is among the 5 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 30, DA Davidson maintained a Buy rating on Modine Manufacturing Company with a price target of $265 after a call with the company’s management, including Neil Brinker, President and CEO, and Mick Lucareli, EVP and CFO.
DA Davidson appears optimistic about Modine Manufacturing Company in several respects. This is reinforced by the stock’s performance, with a one-year share price appreciation of nearly 192%. What’s more appealing is the company’s data center funnel aperture, which has climbed more than 3x since the analyst day in September 2024.
The firm appears positive on the incremental growth vectors from specific hyperscalers and non-U.S. data center proliferation. The potential for additional growth at Modine Manufacturing Company is driven by long-term data center agreements, noted DA Davidson, adding that non-data-center inorganic deployment prospects further strengthen the case for the company.
On the same day, GLJ Research started coverage on Modine Manufacturing Company with a Buy rating and a $290 price target. The firm believes the Climate Solutions business will rise at a 45% CAGR from CY25 to CY28.
Modine Manufacturing Company is a Wisconsin-based provider of mission-critical thermal solutions. Founded in 1916, the company offers heat-transfer, data-center, and powertrain-cooling products, among others.
2. Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 62
Sector: Energy
YTD Return: 95.10%
Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) is among the 5 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On April 6, Valaris Limited announced it had won a 1,064-day contract extension with Petrobras for the drillship VALARIS DS-4, which will operate offshore Brazil. Planned to begin in November next year, after the completion of the existing project, the extension will add nearly $447 million to the contract backlog.
As stated by President and CEO Anton Dibowitz,
“We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Petrobras in Brazil, which remains the largest source of deepwater demand globally. This contract extension secures continuous work for DS-4 into 2030, supporting future earnings and cash flow.”
Previously, on March 9, BTIG downgraded Valaris Limited to Neutral from Buy following the announcement of the all-stock acquisition by Transocean. The firm expects the transaction to close in the latter half of this year, viewing the timing of the deal as ahead of a rebound in offshore activity. BTIG believes the improved market outlook, anticipated for late 2026 and early 2027, is likely one of the reasons the company accepted Transocean stock.
Valaris Limited is a Bermuda-based provider of offshore contract drilling services. Founded in 1975, the company operates through four segments: Floaters, Jackups, ARO, and Other.
1. Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK)
Number of Hedge Fund holdings: 75
Sector: Technology
YTD Return: 230.33%
Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is among the 5 most profitable stocks in each sector so far in 2026. On March 26, BofA Securities reaffirmed a Buy rating on Sandisk Corporation with a price target of $900. This is driven by robust demand from hyperscalers and AI inference applications.
During investor meetings with senior leadership, Sandisk Corporation said that capacity expansion will remain in line with the current high-teens growth outlook for 2026-27. That said, the company is committed to reshaping the product mix toward increased cloud exposure.
With the BiCS8 eSSDs qualification, Sandisk Corporation is focused on expanding its market share in the eSSD business to increase its revenue for the second half of 2026 and onwards. Management also eased investor worries regarding Google’s TurboQuant compression methodology, stating that enhanced ROI of hyperscale capital expenditures may boost demand.
Overall, Sandisk Corporation has a Buy rating from 75% of the analysts covering the stock, with the remaining 25% holding a cautious view. The 1-year median price target of $745 reflects an upside potential of 4.47%.
SanDisk Corporation is a California-based company that provides data storage devices and solutions based on NAND flash technology. Founded in 2024, the company offers solid-state drives and flash-based embedded storage products.
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