15 Best Affordable Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

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1. California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC)

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.32

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

Analyst Upside Potential: 51.21%

California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) is one of the Best Affordable Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On December 17, Emma Schwartz from Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating on the stock but lowered the price target from $71 to $68. Earlier on December 12, Josh Silverstein from UBS also reiterated a Buy rating on the stock and lowered the price target from $68 to $64.

Analyst Silverstein of UBS highlighted that he anticipates 2026 to be a better year for the energy sector after 3 years of limited gains. The stronger 2026 is expected to be driven by improved natural gas and oil outlooks, boosted by increased M&A value creation and capital expenditure efficiencies.

Moreover, recently on December 18, California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) announced completing its all-stock merger with Berry Corporation (NASDAQ:BRY). Management noted that, as a result of this deal, the company is expanding its portfolio by integrating Berry’s operations without using cash. Management expects the combined entity to perform stronger in 2026.

Moreover, as part of the transaction, the equity holders of former Berry received approximately 5.6 million shares of CRC common stock, having an approximate aggregate value of $253 million based on CRC’s closing share price on December 17, 2025.

​California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) is an independent energy company focused on oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production, primarily in California’s San Joaquin, Los Angeles, and Sacramento basins.

While we acknowledge the potential of CRC 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 CRC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money.

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