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.
12. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 16.39%
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large data center/AI, campus, and routing environments.
On June 12, Morgan Stanley lifted its price target on Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) from $180 to $190, while keeping an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The target boost reflects an upside of over 16% from the current price level.
Morgan Stanley highlighted the strong demand for AI inference workloads and rising CPU intensity as key drivers for a front-end refresh cycle. The firm views both Arista and Cisco as its preferred choices to capitalize on what it believes is “an underappreciated front-end networking refresh cycle.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) has delivered exceptional growth over the last few years. The company’s revenue surged by 8.6% in FY 2025 to $9 billion, after posting 19.5% and 33.8% growth in the previous two years. Arista raised its guidance for the ongoing fiscal year last month and is now targeting to grow its revenue by another 27.7% to approximately $11.5 billion.
11. Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 16.77%
Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. The company helps customers solve complex challenges through expertise in electromechanical systems, filtration, fluid and gas handling, hydraulics, pneumatics, and process control across industrial, mobile, aerospace, and other critical markets.
On June 10, Bernstein analyst Varun Govindaraj initiated coverage of Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) with an ‘Outperform’ rating and a price target of $1,026, implying an upside of over 13% from the current levels.
Similarly, Citi also opened a “90-day upside catalyst watch” on Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) earlier on June 8. The analyst firm maintained its ‘Buy’ rating and $1,141 price target on the stock (read more details here).
Bernstein justified PH’s premium valuation by citing its history of “operational excellence”, as well as the company’s ongoing transition toward both higher growth, higher margin markets and stickier revenue streams.
Known for its strong commitment to shareholders, Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) has grown its annual dividend for 70 consecutive fiscal years. This marks one of the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index, putting PH among the 10 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks to Invest In According to Billionaires.
10. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 17.34%
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world.
A Bloomberg report on June 12 indicated that Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is currently exploring potential acquisition targets, including Australia’s Woodside Energy, to bolster its position in the growing LNG and Asian markets. According to people familiar with the matter, the energy behemoth has been holding early-stage discussions internally, and Woodside is one of the targets currently being evaluated.
However, these deliberations are still at a preliminary stage, and there is no certainty that they will lead to a formal offer. Both Exxon and Woodside declined to comment on the matter.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s last major acquisition occurred in 2024 when the company purchased Pioneer Natural Resources for roughly $60 billion. Woodside is the largest LNG exporter in Australia, and a move for the company would expand Exxon’s presence in a sector in which it has lagged rivals like Shell and TotalEnergies.
9. PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 19.91%
Next on our list of the Best Large Cap Stocks is PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP). The company engages in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of various beverages and convenience foods worldwide.
On June 12, Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery trimmed the firm’s price target on PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) from $181 to $178, but maintained its ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The lowered target still indicates an upside potential of over 23% from the current share price.
The analyst firm remains optimistic about Pepsi’s brands and its ability to spring back to sustainable growth. That said, Piper recognizes that the company’s growth trajectory could be a bit uneven, as the rising costs continue to put additional pressure.
PepsiCo has witnessed a slower-than-expected distribution momentum in its salty snacks business in the near-term. However, the analyst expects this to improve as the company rolls out more innovation and completes several delayed shelf resets.
With an annual dividend yield of 4.10%, PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) was also recently included in our list of the 10 Best Dividend-Paying Beverage Stocks to Buy Now.
8. Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 20.29%
Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) is a leading supplier of high-performance interconnect systems, sensors, and antennas for a broad range of industrial applications.
On June 8, Barclays raised its price target on Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) from $180 to $198, while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The revised target reflects an upside of almost 29% from the current price level, and comes after the analyst firm boosted the company’s estimates, driven by the increased confidence in its AI-related growth opportunities.
Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) exceeded Wall Street estimates in its Q1 report in April. The company closed the quarter with record sales and adjusted diluted EPS, both exceeding the high end of our guidance, driven by the strong organic growth in most of its end markets.
Amphenol is expecting its Q2 sales to range from $8.1 billion to $8.2 billion, beating the analysts’ estimates of $7.7 billion. Similarly, the company is forecasting to earn between $1.14 and $1.16 per share on an adjusted basis, topping the $1.05 that analysts had expected.
Baron Capital, an investment management company, stated the following regarding Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“We took advantage of price volatility to add to our position in Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH), a leading provider of high-technology interconnect, sensor, and antenna solutions to a broad range of end markets. Amphenol is benefiting from the AI data center buildout as the leading supplier of high-speed copper interconnects. Its IT datacom segment has been growing rapidly (now around $10 billion revenue run rate), and the recent $10.5 billion CommScope CCS acquisition (closed January 2026) adds fiber optic capabilities, making Amphenol a total solution provider for data center connectivity.”
7. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 22.60%
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is an aerospace and defense company that provides systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace (Collins), Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon.
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) announced on June 8 that it would invest $100 million in a Raytheon facility in Rhode Island to cater to the rising demand for air and missile defense systems. The investment will support expanded testing of the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), a next-generation radar designed to detect and track advanced threats, including hypersonic weapons. The company is currently under contract to provide multiple LTAMDS radars to the US Army and Poland.
Moreover, the Rhode Island facility will also increase production of components used in the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical, known as GEM-T. The missile is used by Patriot air defense systems to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
RTX revealed that it currently employs more than 850 people in Rhode Island, and the expansion will bring a further 150 high-tech jobs to the state.
Tom Laliberty, President of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, stated:
“This investment strengthens our ability to deliver critical air and missile defense capabilities to customers around the world. Expanding in Portsmouth allows us to scale production, advance LTAMDS testing, and ensure the U.S. Army and our international partners receive these systems as quickly as possible.”
6. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Upside Potential as of June 14: 25.54%
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is a leading global aerospace company that develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries.
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) announced on June 9 that it delivered 60 commercial aircraft in May, including six 787 Dreamliners and 51 of the company’s best-selling 737 Max jets. The figure marks a sharp increase of 33% YoY as the aerospace firm bounced back from a production setback that slowed deliveries earlier this year.
Aircraft deliveries remain an important detail for investors as they generate the cash Boeing needs to bolster its balance sheet and support its recovery from the company’s recent manufacturing, safety, and quality challenges.
Boeing also revealed that it booked 27 gross aircraft orders last month and recorded 16 cancellations, taking its net new orders to a total of 295 so far this year. The company has already delivered 250 jets through the end of May, including 198 737 MAX jets, and maintained a backlog of 6,178 as of the end of last month.
While we acknowledge the potential of BA as an investment, 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 BA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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