In this article, we will take a look at the 5 Best Stocks to Buy Now for a $1 Million Portfolio. For deeper discussion and analysis, read 10 Best Stocks to Buy Now for a $1 Million Portfolio.
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5. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
On May 11, DA Davidson raised its price recommendation on Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) to $162 from $150. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst said Airbnb’s first-quarter results came in ahead of both the company’s guidance and Wall Street expectations on key financial metrics. The firm also noted that Airbnb delivered 9% growth in room nights, even as the conflict in the Middle East began to affect travel trends in March.
During the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, Airbnb Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman Brian Chesky said the company posted a strong start to 2026. Revenue increased 18% year over year to $2.7 billion. Chesky also said gross booking value rose 19% from the prior year, while Nights and Experiences Booked grew 9%. He added that the Middle East conflict had an estimated 100 basis point impact on growth during the quarter.
He pointed to several product initiatives that helped support conversions and booking trends. According to Chesky, nearly 20% of global gross booking value came from Reserve Now, Pay Later bookings. He also said Airbnb was seeing longer booking lead times and increased demand for larger, higher-priced homes. Improvements in listing relevance were also helping drive booking activity, he added.
Discussing Airbnb’s push beyond home rentals, Chesky said the company continued to expand its experiences business and was seeing more cross-selling among users. He noted that nearly one-quarter of new guests who booked an experience later booked a stay or service. About one in three experience customers also booked a stay within 90 days. Chesky added that Airbnb was continuing to expand its boutique and independent hotel pilot. He said roughly 55% of guests who booked a hotel through Airbnb later returned to book a home on the platform.
Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) operates a global platform for stays and experiences. Its marketplace connects hosts and guests through online and mobile platforms, allowing users to book accommodations and experiences around the world.
4. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82
On May 8, Wells Fargo downgraded NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) to Equal Weight from Overweight and lowered its price target to $45 from $55. The firm said Nike no longer fits with its view that clothing companies are likely to outperform over the next few years. Wells Fargo noted that the broader shift away from athletic apparel, along with what it described as “over-saturation” from rising competition, is creating fundamental challenges for the company. The analyst also said Nike’s global turnaround is taking longer than expected and added that disruption in international markets is likely to weigh on results in the near term.
Earlier, on April 27, Oppenheimer said Nike introduced a new Kobe collaboration called the “Kobe Siempre Hermanos” and “Siempre Mio.” According to the firm, channel checks showed the Kobe basketball shoes sold out within minutes. Oppenheimer added that the Air Force 1 collaboration remained available online only. The firm described the Kobe franchise launches as “another green shoot” for Nike. Oppenheimer also said the releases offered “yet another proof point, that where Nike is focused, consumers, are responding well.” The firm maintained an Outperform rating on Nike shares and said it remains positive on the company’s turnaround potential.
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) designs, markets, and distributes athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and related services for sports and fitness activities.
3. MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 113
On May 11, Morgan Stanley lowered its price recommendation on MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) to $2,450 from $2,600. It reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm said it had “again underestimated MELI’s investment scope,” though it also noted that GMV, credit growth, and the company’s capabilities had expanded beyond expectations. The analyst added that 2026 is “shaping up as a lost year for EBIT,” but said the company still appears positioned for outsized revenue growth and future margin recovery.
During MercadoLibre’s Q1 2026 earnings call, VP & CFO Martin de Los Santos pointed to accelerating commerce growth in Brazil and improving logistics efficiency. He said Brazil’s GMV increased 38% year over year, while growth in items sold accelerated to 56%. De Los Santos also noted that cost per shipment declined 17% year over year in local currency terms, adding that stronger demand was helping lower costs.
He also highlighted the scale of MercadoLibre’s fintech operations and continued expansion in its credit business. According to De Los Santos, Mercado Pago’s monthly active users rose 29% from a year earlier, while assets under management increased 77%. He further stated that the company’s credit portfolio nearly doubled to $14.6 billion. In addition, he said MercadoLibre issued 2.7 million credit cards during the quarter, while credit card TPV climbed 90% year over year.
Discussing profitability and investments, De Los Santos said the company generated $611 million in operating income, representing a 6.9% margin. He added that the margin compression reflected a deliberate decision to continue investing in strategic initiatives.
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) is a Uruguay-based e-commerce company with Argentine roots. Its platforms support retail and wholesale commerce through online services designed to help users complete commercial transactions more efficiently.
2. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
On May 13, Reuters reported that Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) eliminated 1,000 roles as the retailer continues simplifying its operating structure, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Under CEO John Furner and a reshaped leadership team, Walmart has been pushing further into a technology-focused strategy as it targets higher-income shoppers and expands its marketplace and delivery businesses. According to a company memo, Walmart spent the past year moving away from operating separate structures for Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, and its international markets. Instead, the retailer has been building a more unified system on a single shared platform. The company has also been accelerating its digital transformation efforts as it competes more aggressively with Amazon.com, Costco, and Aldi.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the development, said many affected employees were asked to relocate to Walmart’s offices in Bentonville or Northern California.
As of January 31, Walmart employed about 2.1 million people worldwide, according to its annual filing. The company remains the largest private employer in the United States, with roughly 1.6 million employees. About 92% of those workers are hourly employees.
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) operates as a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The company runs retail and wholesale stores, clubs, e-commerce websites, and mobile applications across the United States, Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, and Mexico.
1. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 147
On May 11, Fox Advisors analyst Steven Fox upgraded Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) to Outperform from Equal-Weight and set a $95 price target on the shares. The analyst said Uber’s heavier pace of investment over the past year appears “poised to more consistently contribute to profit growth.” Fox also said the company may have just “topped off” its strategy by expanding into hotel bookings, acquiring parking marketplace SpotHero, and taking other strategic steps to position its rideshare platform for what he described as a hybrid autonomous rideshare future.
During Uber’s Q1 2026 earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said gross bookings increased 21% year over year, while the company’s audience expanded 17%. He also noted that Mobility gross bookings accelerated to 20% and reached record margins during the quarter.
According to Khosrowshahi, Delivery revenue rose 23%, supported mainly by growth in grocery and retail. He added that Uber’s freight business returned to growth for the first time in nearly two years. Khosrowshahi further stated that non-GAAP EPS increased 44% from the prior year. He also said the company returned a record $3 billion to shareholders through share buybacks during the quarter. He highlighted Uber’s growing scale as well, noting that the company surpassed 50 million Uber One members and 10 million drivers and couriers worldwide.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) operates a technology platform designed to move people and goods from point A to point B. The company’s platform supports a range of services across its Mobility, Delivery, and Freight segments.
While we acknowledge the potential of UBER 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 UBER and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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