This article looks at the 13 best big name stocks to buy now.
The S&P index rose 0.80% on Thursday to close just shy of a new record, culminating a remarkable turnaround from the lows set in April, after overcoming a series of challenges, including tariffs, inflation, and wars in South Asia and the Middle East.
The broad market index rallied after the White House spokesperson downplayed the looming July tariff deal deadlines that had been hanging over the markets. Karoline Leavitt hinted that the deadlines could be extended by President Trump.
Strong earnings, a stable labor market, and the revival of AI trade have also contributed to the comeback of American equities. The S&P index is up by over 27% from the intraday low for the year during the height of tariff fears in April, and had gained 4.41% year-to-date, as of the close of business on June 26.
Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group, shared the following remarks on the rally:
“The markets are looking forward, seeing lower interest rates, less regulation in the banking sector, a shift from austerity to stimulus in Europe, and a less biting inflation and tariff environment. This sure isn’t the stagflation story we’ve been told to brace for.”
With that said, let’s now head over to discuss the best big name stocks to buy now.
Methodology
For this article, we identified several leading large-cap companies having a strong presence in their industries and ranked them in ascending order of the number of hedge fund investors having a stake in them, based on Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 prominent hedge funds as of Q1 2025.
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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now:
13. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On June 23, analysts at UBS lifted the stock’s price target to $215 from $190 after the company deployed a small group of robotaxis in Austin.
The launch has increased investor focus on the EV maker’s potential to gain from the autonomous ride-hailing market. UBS analysts project Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) could have a fleet of 2.3 million robotaxis by 2040, generating $200 billion in revenue, if it navigates the regulatory and technological challenges.
However, analysts at UBS remain cautious about Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s overall valuation and reiterated their Sell rating for the stock in the latest update, saying the autonomous ride-hailing opportunity is already priced into the stock.
The robotaxi rollout is the first instance of Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s driverless cars carrying paying riders. Investors see the venture as crucial to the company’s future financial performance.
12. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 140
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. During an interview with Bloomberg this week, CEO Marc Benioff described the rise of artificial intelligence as a ‘digital labor revolution’, and stated that it accounts for between 30% to 50% of the work at Salesforce.
Benioff said that Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) was accelerating the use of artificial intelligence and had achieved approximately 93% efficiency with the technology, which could help automate workloads to shift focus to high-value work.
“All of us have to get our head around this idea that AI could do things, that before, we were doing, and we can move on to do higher-value work.”
His statement comes as companies across the technology industry look for ways to reduce costs, enhance efficiencies, and streamline their operations with the use of AI. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) cut around 1,000 jobs in February this year as it restructured around AI.
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a cloud-based software company that provides customer relationship management technology to connect customers and companies worldwide.
11. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 145
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On June 24, the company announced that it had partnered with Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Atlanta.
The two companies first laid out plans for the launch in September last year. Riders can now get matched with Waymo’s autonomous vehicles on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)’s app for travel across 65 square miles of Atlanta.
There are already around 100 Waymo vehicles on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)’s platform in Austin. The recent launch builds on the growing momentum in self-driving cars and follows Tesla’s robotaxi trial run in Austin last week.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) is an American transportation company that provides ride-hailing services, food delivery, courier services, and freight services. It sold its self-driving unit in 2020 to reduce cash burn and focus on its core business.
10. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 150
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. Last week, two Wall Street analysts lifted their price targets for the stock, suggesting that it could continue to see growth ahead. The company’s shares are already up by over 45% year-to-date.
On June 20, Pivotal Research raised its price target for Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) to $1,600 from $1,350, while reiterating a Buy rating for the stock. The analysts cited confidence in the company’s market dominance and robust valuation metrics as the reasons behind the adjustment.
Jeffrey Wlodarczak said the following in a client note:
“Our positive Netflix investment view remains unchanged. Netflix remains underpenetrated globally, offers an extremely compelling price-to-entertainment value boosted by their ad-supported offering.”
The firm noted that Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s scale remains a critical competitive advantage. They also expect the company to benefit as rivals offload premium library content.
On the same day, analysts at Wells Fargo also lifted Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s price target to $1,500 from $1,222, representing a 16% upside potential from its current trading value. The overall sentiment around the stock remains bullish, with Wall Street analysts having a consensus Buy rating for the stock.
9. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 155
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On June 19, Singapore’s leading digital payments solutions provider, dtcpay, announced it had partnered with Mastercard Move to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions for its users.
Under the strategic collaboration, dtcpay will leverage Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)’s global money movement capabilities to enhance speed, security, and transparency for global money transfers. Beginning in June, dtcpay users will be able to access over 49 payment corridors originating from Singapore.
Users will also enjoy quicker processing times through this integration, with around 60% of payments received within 1 hour and 95% within 24 hours. This will also allow businesses to pay overseas vendors faster than traditional wire transfers, which could take up to five days.
In April this year, MoneyGram also announced a partnership with Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to implement Mastercard Move to improve digital payments both within the U.S. and outside its borders.
8. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 159
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On June 25, the company announced that it had added tennis to its list of supported sports on Apple Sports, a free app for iPhone users that provides them with real-time scores, statistics, and more.
Tennis fans will now be able to access live scores and track points for all men’s and women’s matches for Grand Slam and 1000-level tournaments, beginning with Wimbledon this summer. Fans will also be able to stay updated on players’ progress during the tournaments.
Moreover, Apple Sports has also recently unveiled a new home experience, making it easier for users to personalize and follow their favorite teams and tournaments on the app.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been making heavy investments in Apple Sports to expand its growing list of supported sports. In recent months, the app has added NASCAR, F1, and several soccer tournaments.
7. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 165
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. This week, a U.S. district judge dismissed a class action lawsuit by consumers, accusing the company of failing to warn that its Vanilla gift cards were susceptible to theft.
The case was brought by Ira Schuman of New York, who sued Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and two Vanilla card issuers last year, upon learning that eight $500 cards he had bought in 2022 and 2023 as gifts for employees had been emptied.
District Judge Gregory Woods ruled that it was unreasonable for customers to consider gift cards to be immune from scams. He also added that Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)’s logo did not amount to a promise that no theft would occur, and the card payments company would help victims.
The judge also rejected claims about Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) not providing enough warnings on the cards’ packaging about potential fraud. Here is what Woods wrote in his verdict:
“No reasonable consumer would expect the allegedly ‘widespread’ practice of third-party scams affecting prepaid cards to somehow not affect one of the industry’s major suppliers.”
6. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 187
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. The company is set to inject $10 billion in capital into its overseas unit, TSMC Global Ltd., to counter foreign exchange fluctuations.
The unit has approved a plan to raise capital by issuing new shares worth $10 billion to the parent company to cut foreign exchange hedging costs. This is the third such deal since 2024, said Bloomberg.
The capital injection is for general investment purposes, mainly bonds and bank deposits, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Department of Investment Review. It is part of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)’s efforts to shift its forex holdings to the unit to help with hedging costs and maintain financial stability.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) produces around 90% of the world’s super-advanced semiconductor chips used to power electronic devices such as smartphones, servers, and laptops. These chips are also used to run most artificial intelligence applications.
5. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 212
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. Two years after joining the $1 trillion club, the chipmaker is on the verge of becoming the first company to reach $4 trillion in market capitalization.
The company’s shares have staged a remarkable comeback after China’s DeepSeek sparked a massive selloff earlier in the year and stoked concerns that AI infrastructure outlays were set to slow down.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s shares have roared back over the past couple of months as doubts about big tech spending subside. Easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and a broadening customer base have also helped the stock rebound.
Shares rose 1.72% on Friday to close at $157.75, taking the market cap to nearly $3.85 trillion. With competition still distant and customers clamoring for its latest accelerators, analysts remain bullish on the stock, with a consensus Strong Buy rating.
On June 25, Loop Capital lifted NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s price target to $250 from $175, while maintaining a Buy rating for its shares. The adjustment represents a 59% upside potential from its current trading value and would equate to nearly $6 trillion in market value.
4. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 227
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On Friday, JMP Securities upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Market Outperform, while maintaining a price target of $220 per share.
The revision comes as analysts believe artificial intelligence is becoming a new tailwind for the company. They also noted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s massive user base, compared to rivals, which is helping drive robust revenue growth.
The firm highlighted how AI Overviews has resulted in a 10% query growth and is expected to expand from 1.5 billion monthly users in the first quarter of 2025 to 4 billion by the end of the third quarter. Analysts also estimate the feature to cover around two-thirds of the queries by the next quarter.
Wall Street analysts maintain a bullish outlook for the stock, with a consensus Buy rating and a one-year average price target of $201.74, representing a 17% upside potential from its current trading value.
3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 273
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. The company has held talks with AI startup Runway over a potential acquisition bid, several news outlets reported this week.
However, the talks did not progress far and dissolved, CNBC said on Monday. The approach comes amid an aggressive push from CEO Mark Zuckerberg to bolster Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)’s AI efforts in recent months.
The social media giant made a multi-billion-dollar investment in Scale AI in June and has also approached Safe Superintelligence and Perplexity AI about potential takeover deals this year. On June 26, Bloomberg reported that Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) had engaged in talks to acquire the voice cloning startup PlayAI.
The company agreed to a 49% stake in Scale AI and hired its founder Alexandr Wang, along with other prominent employees in the firm. While it failed to acquire Safe Superintelligence, there are reports about Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) working on hiring its CEO, Daniel Gross, to boost its AI push.
2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 284
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. On June 25, Wedbush hiked its price target for the stock to $600 from $515, while maintaining an Outperform rating for its shares.
The analysts cited a ‘massive adoption wave’ for Copilot and Azure as the reason behind the revision. They estimate the two offerings could add about $25 billion in revenue for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) by fiscal 2026.
The adjustment follows recent field checks by Wedbush, which indicate accelerating customer demand and improved deal conversion for AI deployment across the industry. Here’s what Dan Ives wrote in an analyst note on Wednesday:
“Based on our recent work in the field we believe the next 3 years over 70% of its MSFT installed base will ultimately be on this AI functionality for the enterprise/commercial.”
Ives described this as a ‘shining moment’ for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and noted that the market was underestimating the full extent of the company’s AI and cloud monetization opportunity.
During the week, analysts from Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley also lifted their price targets for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to $585 and $530, respectively, while reiterating their Overweight ratings for its shares.
1. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 328
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is among the 13 Best Big Name Stocks to Buy Now. According to reports, the company has lost a key AWS vice president, as competition for tech talent heats up.
Vasi Philomin, who oversaw the development of generative AI and product strategy, told Reuters in an email he had left the job to join another company. An Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) spokesperson confirmed Philomin’s exit, after eight years of service.
Philomin had helped create and lead the company’s Bedrock service, a vital product for AWS’s battle for AI supremacy, that served as a hub for using multiple AI models. He was also a frequent speaker at AWS events.
Companies across the tech industry are deploying unique and creative techniques to hire top AI talent, including sports industry data analysis, Reuters reported last month, which has resulted in compensation skyrocketing for these professionals.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) says Rajesh Sheth, a vice president who previously oversaw Amazon Elastic Block Store, had assumed some of Philomin’s responsibilities. The spokesperson added that the company also has other vice presidents who work on AWS’ generative AI projects.
While we acknowledge the potential of AMZN 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 AMZN and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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