In this article, we are going to discuss the 15 best blue chip stocks to buy now.
Despite some corrections so far this month, the S&P 500 index is down by 0.61% since the beginning of 2026. The lackluster performance comes amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and concerns about the economic impact of artificial intelligence.
While there was some cautious investor optimism following the ceasefire, Tehran and Washington failed to find a common ground in the recent Islamabad talks, and uncertainties still remain. The energy supply disruptions remain in place for now, and oil prices are still hovering at over $100 a barrel, pressuring global economic growth and raising fears of inflation.
As a result, there is an increasing sense of anxiety among analysts and investors. On April 7, UBS cut its 2026 forecast for the S&P 500, now forecasting it to end the year in the range of 7,500 to 7,700 due to the sustained higher oil prices. That said, the brokerage’s target still indicates a YoY growth of 11% for the index at the midpoint.
Similarly, other major investment banks also project the benchmark S&P 500 index to extend its rally this year, expecting the strong AI momentum and corporate earnings to offset the short-term economic impact of the conflict. An example is Morgan Stanley, which still maintains a year-end target of 7,800 for the S&P 500, provided a recession is avoided.
With that said, here are the Best Blue Chip Stocks to Buy in 2026.
Photo by Viacheslav Bublyk on Unsplash
Our Methodology
To collect data for this article, we used our stock screeners to identify blue-chip stocks that are industry leaders in their respective sectors and boast a market cap of over $50 billion. Spread across every major sector in the S&P 500, the stocks have been ranked by the number of hedge funds invested in them at the end of Q4 2025, as per the Insider Monkey database. The following are the Best Blue Chip Stocks According to Hedge Funds.
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
15. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) invests in diversified commercial real estate and manages a portfolio of 15,500 properties in all 50 US states, the UK, and seven other countries in Europe.
On April 1, Deutsche Bank slightly raised its price target on Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) from $69 to $70, while keeping a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The revised target represents an upside of almost 10% from the current share price.
Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is targeting a 2026 AFFO of $4.38 to $4.42 per share, which represents an acceleration in AFFO per share growth versus 2025. Moreover, the company is projecting $8 billion in investments for the year, with credit-related loss projected at 40 to 50 basis points of revenue, down from 70 basis points in 2025.
Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) is known for its strong dividend history, despite the volatile nature of the real estate market. The company has raised its payouts for 32 consecutive years and currently boasts a robust annual dividend yield of 5.07%.
As a result, Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) was also recently included in our list of the Dividends Kings and Aristocrats List: 32 Biggest Stocks.
14. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life.
On April 9, UBS reduced its price target on Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) from $312 to $293, while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating on the shares. The lowered target still indicates an upside of over 7% from the current levels.
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) delivered record-breaking sales, EPS, and free cash flow in FY 2025. The company is now targeting organic sales growth of 3% to 4% for FY 2026, with growth accelerating through the year. Meanwhile, the operating income margin for the year is projected to expand to over 19%, leading to OI growth of 14% to 16%, and EPS growth of 12% to 15%.
In a significant development, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) also announced last month that it had agreed to acquire the data center cooling company, CoolIT Systems, in a deal worth $4.75 billion. The company expects CoolIT to generate sales of $550 million over the next year and accelerate its total organic sales growth rate by 1%.
13. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is one of the world’s largest independent E&P companies based on oil and natural gas production and proved reserves.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) received a boost on April 12 when Jefferies analyst Lloyd Byrne raised the firm’s price target on the stock from $129 to $160, while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. The bumped target represents an upside of over 30% from the current levels.
The move comes ahead of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)’s Q1 2026 results, in which Jefferies expects the company to post higher oil volumes. Moreover, the energy giant is well-positioned to take advantage of the soaring oil prices amid the US-Iran war. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, crude oil prices are up by over 65% since the beginning of the year, providing a significant cash flow boost to producers.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is targeting production of 2.23 million – 2.26 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, with first-quarter output expected between 2.3 – 2.34 million barrels per day. The company is also projecting a $1 billion annual free cash flow growth through 2028 as it accelerates its cost-cutting measures. Then it expects a further $4 billion cash flow injection when its Willow project in Alaska comes online in 2029.
12. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
With a market cap of over $196 billion as of the writing of this article, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is the most valuable utility company in the world. The company boasts a diverse mix of energy sources, including natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy, and battery storage.
On April 10, BofA bumped its price target on NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) from $87 to $95, but maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating on the shares.
BofA expects the utility giant to deliver an EPS of $1.06 in its upcoming Q1 2026 report. This estimate reflects a YoY growth of 7%, but falls below the consensus expectations of $1.07 per share. NextEra’s performance in the quarter is expected to be driven by higher system investment and rates and returns at Florida Power and Light, offset by higher interest expense and equity dilution. The analyst firm is also projecting a slight YoY decline in the utility’s wind portfolio.
While BofA doesn’t expect NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) to update its FY 2026 guidance in the upcoming earnings call, it is looking for incremental commentary on the company’s generation and infrastructure build-out, data center pipeline, the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear facility, and progress regarding other capital plans since December.
11. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 78
Next on our list of the Best Blue Chip Stocks to Invest in is The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS). It is a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals.
On April 6, Jefferies lowered its price target on The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) from $1,125 to $1,049, but maintained its ‘Buy’ rating on the shares. Despite trimming the bank’s price target, which still indicates an upside of over 15% from the current levels, Jefferies increased its Q2 EPS estimate for Goldman by 11% to $15.60. This is still down from the consensus of $16.29.
Similarly, the following day, UBS also reduced its price target on The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) from $990 to $930, while keeping a ‘Neutral’ rating on the shares. The target cut comes as the analyst firm revised its targets in the large-cap banks and consumer finance group as a part of a Q1 preview (read the details here).
10. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is engaged in the designing, marketing, and distribution of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories and services for sports and fitness activities.
On April 10, Piper Sandler downgraded NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) from ‘Overweight’ to ‘Neutral’, while also cutting its price target on the stock from $60 to $50. That said, the trimmed target still reflects an upside of over 17% from the current levels.
Piper Sandler expects the strong industry performance to continue, but warned that NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is only a quarter away from lapping big gains in running. Moreover, the analyst firm expressed concerns over athleisure, which it believes is ‘becoming too saturated across the industry, with frequency metrics at peakish levels’.
Piper also noted that NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) lacks enough innovation to offset the declining volumes in its classics division. While the firm has lowered its valuation of the sports equipment company, it believes that the stock is still not cheap.
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) reported its Q3 2026 results on March 31, with the company beating estimates in both earnings and revenue. That said, the firm expects its Q4 revenue to be down 2% to 4%, as it targets finishing ‘Win Now’ actions by year-end.
9. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) manufactures and sells a range of high-quality refined products, including gasoline, diesel, marine and aviation fuels, premium base oil, finished lubricants, and fuel oil additives.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) revealed on April 9 that it expects its Q1 upstream earnings to grow by $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion from the previous quarter, driven by the soaring oil prices amid the US-Iran war. The conflict has choked around a fifth of the global crude oil supply, leading to an over 65% jump in prices since the beginning of the year.
That said, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) expects the timing effects tied to hedging and accounting to cut its earnings and operating cash flow, excluding working capital, by $2.7 billion to $3.7 billion after tax. However, the company expects this impact to reverse in the future.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) also sees its Q1 2026 output to fall as much as 6% compared to the previous quarter, driven mainly by the downtime at Kazakhstan’s Tengizchevroil project, as well as disruptions in the Middle East. The company expects its net production to average 3.8 million to 3.9 million boe/day in the first quarter, down from 4.05M boe/day it delivered in Q4 2025.
With a robust annual dividend yield of 3.78%, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) was recently included in our list of the 15 Best High Yield Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now.
8. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 90
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and home to iconic, trusted brands, including Always®, Charmin®, Braun®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Oral-B®, Pantene®, Pampers®, Tide®, and Vicks®.
On April 9, RBC Capital trimmed its price target on The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) from $172 to $167, but maintained its ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The lowered target, which still indicates an upside of 15% from the current levels, comes as part of the analyst’s firm’s broader research note previewing the upcoming Q1 results in Home and Personal Care, Beverages, and Packaged Food categories.
RBC Capital is projecting the March quarter to be stable, though growth remains slow. The analyst expects a primary focus on the forward-looking commentary, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created top-line and inflationary risks. While the current ceasefire is a welcome development, RBC expects lingering impacts, with commodity prices to remain higher than pre-war levels.
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is targeting an organic sales growth of 2% to 4% for FY 2026, while it expects its EPS to come in at $6.83 to $7.09 per share. The company also revealed its goal to return roughly $15 billion to shareholders during the year, with around $10 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases.
7. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 98
Next on our list of the Best Blue Chip Stocks is Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) announced on April 8 that it expects the ongoing Middle East conflict to cut its Q1 production by 6% compared to Q4 2025, when it produced 5 million boe/day. The company’s upstream assets in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for approximately 20% of its total global oil production in 2025, have been impacted by the disruptions amid the war.
That said, the conflict has lifted global crude oil prices by over 65% since the beginning of the year. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) expects the soaring prices to boost its Q1 earnings by up to $2.9 billion compared to the previous quarter. However, the oil giant’s downstream earnings could face a temporary reduction of around $5.3 billion due to the so-called timing effects connected to derivative contracts and cargoes that were not delivered due to the war.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is scheduled to announce its Q1 2026 results on May 1.
6. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 115
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) is an energy company that engages in the provision of various products and services that generate, transfer, orchestrate, convert, and store electricity in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
On April 9, Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino raised the firm’s price target on GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) from $820 to $1,080, while keeping a ‘Positive’ rating on the shares. The bumped target, which reflects an upside potential of almost 9% from the current share price, comes as the analyst firm revised its estimates and price targets in the alternative energy space ahead of the Q1 earnings season.
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) boasted a robust backlog of $150 billion at the end of 2025, with strong profitable order growth in Power and Electrification. The company updated its FY 2026 guidance in its last earnings call. It is now targeting a revenue of $44 billion to $45 billion for the year, up from its forecast of $41 billion to $42 billion. Similarly, GEV’s free cash flow guidance for 2026 was also increased to between $5 billion and $5.5 billion.
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) was also recently included in our list of the 15 Best Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Ray Dalio.
While we acknowledge the potential of GEV 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 GEV and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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