In this article, we will take a look at the 13 Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
The US equity market has recorded a stunning recovery after President Donald Trump’s tariff policies sent markets on a tailspin in April. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index has surged at the back of blue-chip stocks, leading the recovery and driving the index more than 15% higher.
The Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 are up 4% for the year, awaiting confirmation on whether the equity market rally will continue in the second half of the year.
“When you’re higher in May and June like we’re probably going to be with June, because we’re up pretty good, July does better, and the final six months of the year have been higher 15 of the last 16 times. When these weak months are strong, like we’re doing right now, that could be a signal this bull market is alive and well,” said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group.
Amid the recent rebound, valuations have returned to historical highs. While elevated valuations are a point of concern, Dan Niles, a portfolio manager at Niles Investment Management, insists on a shift of focus away from price-to-earnings ratios and other multiples.
“You kind of have to forget about valuations for now,” Niles said on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” “Then we’re going to get to Thanksgiving, and I think things are going to hit a wall. But for right now, I’m really enjoying the ride.”
With that in mind, let’s look at the 13 Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
A financial professional in a suit looking at a computer monitor displaying the performance of the United States public equity markets.
Our Methodology
To create our list of the 13 Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we analyzed holdings from multiple blue-chip-focused ETFs to identify top-rated companies. We focused on high-profile blue chip stocks popular among elite hedge funds. We concluded by ranking the stocks in ascending order according to their projected upside potential, as estimated by analysts.
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).
Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Analysts
13. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Stock Upside Potential as of July 1: 4.82%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 284
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the 13 best blue-chip stocks to buy, according to analysts. On June 27, the company made it clear that artificial intelligence is an integral part of its fundamental operations. The company’s head of artificial intelligence tools and services, Julia Liuson, has instructed managers to start evaluating employees’ performance based on how they use internal AI tools.
The new directive is part of the company’s push to address lagging internal adoption of its Copilot services. By conducting an AI usage evaluation, Microsoft aims to increase the adoption of AI tools to enhance productivity and efficiency.
In addition, the AI evaluation push also comes at a time when the company’s GitHub Copilot service is facing increasing competition from other AI coding services, such as Cursor. Microsoft has allowed its employees to use external AI tools that meet specific security requirements.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a software application company that develops, licenses, and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. It’s a major player in cloud computing, productivity software, gaming, and more.
12. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Stock Upside Potential as of July 1: 10.97%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 139
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the 13 best blue-chip stocks to buy, according to analysts. On June 26, UNH appointed Patrick Conway to lead its Optum Health division, citing his expertise in value-based care. Conway, who previously headed Optum Rx and became CEO of the broader Optum segment in April, replaces Amar Desai, now vice-chairman. The leadership reshuffle follows UnitedHealth’s first earnings miss since 2008 and reflects its strategy to strengthen executive depth across business units.
Optum Health, UnitedHealth’s care delivery arm, has faced recent challenges, including reduced Medicare Advantage engagement and a Department of Justice probe into its billing practices. New CEO Stephen Hemsley acknowledged the underperformance during a June shareholder meeting and confirmed a company-wide review is underway to address operational concerns.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) offers healthcare coverage alongside data analytics and software solutions. Its operations span four core segments: OptumRx, OptumInsight, OptumHealth, and UnitedHealthcare—each playing a key role in the company’s strong, integrated healthcare ecosystem.
11. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Stock Upside Potential as of July 1: 10.42%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 159
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the 13 best blue-chip stocks to buy according to analysts. On June 30, the company confirmed the opening of a new, state-of-the-art studio facility in Los Angeles. The studio features two advanced radio studios and Spatial Audio capabilities dedicated to audio mixing and production spaces.
The new state-of-the-art studio is part of Apple’s push to support artist-driven content creation, audio innovation, and fan connections. The studio is to serve as the anchor of the company’s Apple Music global network of creative hubs.
“With this new studio we are furthering our commitment to creating a space for artists to create, connect, and share their vision,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head.
Apple Music is part of Apple’s vast service network, offering a catalog of over 100 million songs available in more than 167 countries.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a technology company that designs, manufactures, and markets a range of consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. Its product categories include iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. Apple also offers various services, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness.
Hedge Fund Resource Center