In this article, we are going to discuss the 14 best S&P 500 stocks to buy now according to analysts.
As of the writing of this piece, the S&P 500 index has surged by 8.35% since the beginning of 2026. The benchmark index has had a turbulent year so far in 2026, getting off to a decent start, dropping significantly following the onset of the US-Iran war, and then rebounding rapidly since the end of March.
The star performer so far this year has been the energy sector, boosted by the high oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. The closure of the waterway of Hormuz has choked around 20% of the global crude and LNG supply, leading to massive disruptions and pushing prices to levels last seen when Russia invaded Ukraine back in 2022.
The successful IPO of SpaceX has also been an important catalyst recently, as it represents a positive signal for broader investor interest in innovation and technology. Moreover, the announcement of a deal between Washington and Tehran to end the Middle East war should also help ease inflation concerns and lift investor sentiment.
That said, analysts were expecting the S&P 500 to rally to new heights even before the deal was announced. On June 11, BMO Capital raised its 2026 year-end target for the S&P 500 to 7,850, supported by a robust macroeconomy and an even stronger earnings backdrop.
With that said, here are the Best Large Cap Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
Photo by Viacheslav Bublyk on Unsplash
Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we referred to screeners to identify stocks that are part of the auspicious S&P 500 and then shortlisted the ones with an upside potential of over 15% according to Wall Street analysts, as of June 14. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. The following are the Best Large Cap Stocks to Buy According to 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. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).
14. APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 15.05%
APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) is an independent energy company that explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids.
APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) announced on June 10 that it had agreed to acquire Savant Alaska for an initial payment of $70 million, plus additional contingent payments tied to future development of APA’s eastern North Slope position.
The transaction adds approximately 104,000 gross acres and around 1,500 bpd of oil production through interests in the Badami and Grey Owl units. Moreover, the deal also includes the 40,000 bpd Badami facility along with extensive supporting infrastructure, and the 80,000 bpd Nutaaq Pipeline that connects to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Following the acquisition, APA’s position on Alaska’s eastern North Slope will expand to around 487,000 gross acres. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions.
John J. Christmann IV, CEO of APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA), commented:
“The acquisition of Savant secures control of strategic infrastructure adjacent to our eastern North Slope acreage, enhancing our ability to execute our planned drilling program efficiently. As we continue to appraise and de-risk our resource base, ownership of this infrastructure provides greater flexibility and optionality in future development planning and represents a key step toward unlocking the potential of our position in Alaska.”
On a separate note, APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) remains popular among institutional investors and was held by 49 hedge funds at the end of Q1, as per the Insider Monkey database. Ariel Investments, an investment management company, stated the following regarding APA in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“Oil and gas producer APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA) was the top contributor during the quarter, benefiting from higher oil prices and the company’s strong exposure to upstream operations, which tend to perform well when commodity prices improve. Longer term, we believe APA is well positioned to sustain production and generate cash. The company has a large inventory of drilling opportunities in the Permian Basin and a good track record of replacing production. Additionally, growing natural gas exposure in Egypt and APA’s liquefied natural gas–linked marketing portfolio are beneficial. Together, we believe these assets support ongoing free cash flow, which can be returned to shareholders and drive value over time.”
13. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 15.66%
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) engages in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, ecommerce websites, and mobile applications worldwide. The company’s 2.1 million associates serve customers and members in communities spanning 19 countries.
On June 5, Erste Group downgraded Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) from ‘Buy’ to ‘Hold’, without assigning the stock a price target. According to the analyst firm, the stock is highly overvalued in relation to its projected earnings growth and compared to its peers, limiting the potential for further gains.
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) came under pressure after sticking to its conservative annual sales and profit targets in its Q1 report last month, even as the soaring fuel costs drove bargain-hunting shoppers to its low-priced groceries and essentials. The company’s annual guidance includes net sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5%, and EPS in the range of $2.75 and $2.85.
While Walmart expects net sales to be near the top of that guidance, the outlook was still deemed as cautious, as the company has been mostly insulated from weak spending, since its scale helps keep prices low despite the tariffs and geopolitical volatility.
