5 Best Stocks to Buy Before the Next Bull Run

​1. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Upside Potential: 34.22%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 150

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the Best Stocks to Buy Before the Next Bull Run. The stock is down more than 10% on a year-to-date basis, but the Street expects more than 34% upside from the current level.

​Recently, on May 1, Macquarie analyst Paul Golding lowered the price target on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) from $675 to $665, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. The firm noted that they still remain optimistic on the stock and that the price target reduction reflects the macroeconomic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The firm highlighted Mastercard’s FQ1 2026 earnings as encouraging, as it exceeded expectations. Macquarie noted that consumers remain solid, while AI, Crypto, and value-added services are key drivers of growth.

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted FQ1 2026 results on April 30. The company posted $8.4 billion in revenue, reflecting 15.83% year-over-year growth and topped the consensus by $142.6 million. Moreover, the GAAP EPS of $4.35 also exceeded the expectations by $0.06.

​Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) operates one of the world’s largest electronic payment networks, connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, governments, and businesses to facilitate digital transactions globally. Headquartered in Purchase, New York, the company’s origins date to the late 1960s, while Mastercard Incorporated was formally established in 1978.

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