In this article, we will list the 5 Top Stocks Fund Managers Are Loading Up On in 2026. Please visit 10 Top Stocks Fund Managers Are Loading Up On in 2026 if you’d like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.
5. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 100
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is one of the 10 top stocks fund managers are loading up on in 2026.
On March 30, 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced positive Phase 3 CORALreef AddOn trial results for enlicitide decanoate, an investigational once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor. The study was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2026 Scientific Session, where Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) demonstrated that enlicitide reduced LDL-C by 64.6% from baseline when added to statins. The therapy performed higher than bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, with 78.2% of patients achieving a prespecified LDL-C goal of less than 55 mg/dL. Enlicitide also showed statistically significant reductions in apolipoprotein B and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. With the safety profile remaining consistent with previous trials, with no serious adverse events, the company is looking forward to launching what could be the first approved oral PCSK9 inhibitor.
In a prior development, on March 25, 2026, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) entered into a definitive agreement with Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage oncology company, to acquire the company for $6.7 billion. With this acquisition, the company aims to expand its hematology portfolio and further diversify and strengthen its position in oncology.
Founded in 1891, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. The company is based in New Jersey and focuses on multiple areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, infectious diseases, and respiration.
4. AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 108
AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is one of the 10 top stocks fund managers are loading up on in 2026.
On March 27, 2026, Oppenheimer reiterated its Outperform rating on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP), with a price target of $660. The firm’s analyst, Martin Yang, noted that the brand awareness of AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP)’s AXON remains nascent beyond mobile-native buyers.
In a separate event, on March 26, 2026, Piper Sandler maintained an Overweight rating on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) following discussions with an advertising monetization expert regarding the mobile gaming sector. Although recent market headlines were not favorable to the stock, the expert affirmed that the company’s dominant market position remains resilient. According to the firm’s analyst, while AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) continues to lead, there exists significant industry skepticism surrounding its CloudX platform. In particular, the analyst cited challenges to widespread adoption and general doubt about the practical use of AI in the company’s products.
CNN noted 84% of 32 analysts assigning a Buy rating on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP), with an average 1-year upside potential of 74.69%.
Founded in 2012, AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is a leading marketing technology company that provides a software platform for mobile app developers to market, monetize, and analyze their apps. Its headquarters is located in California.
3. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is one of the 10 top stocks fund managers are loading up on in 2026.
On March 25, 2026, Walmex, or Walmart de México y Centroamérica, the largest division of Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) outside the United States and the biggest retailer in Latin America, announced a $2.5 billion investment for 2026 during its annual Walmex Day – a 10% increase compared to the previous year. The capital allocation focuses on four pillars. This includes 42% on remodeling, which covers store renovations and omnichannel upgrades, 25% on new stores to support the opening of over 1,500 new locations through 2029, 24% on supply chain with a focus on opening new automated Distribution Centers in Guanajuato and Tlaxcala by 2027, and 8% on technology to optimize data management and digital shopping experiences.
In another development, on March 23, 2026, Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) together with VIZIO unveiled new advertising integrations and content-commerce initiatives at the 2026 IAB NewFronts. It involves the integration of retail data with CTV and features unified account logins and closed-loop measurement, allowing for brands like L’Oréal to link streaming ads directly to purchases.
Founded in 1962, Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is one of the world’s largest retailers. The Arkansas-based company operates a massive global network of hypermarkets, discount stores, and Sam’s Club warehouses.
2. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 118
ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is one of the 10 top stocks fund managers are loading up on in 2026.
On March 16, 2026, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) announced an expanded partnership with NVIDIA at GTC 2026 to govern the Autonomous Workforce. The collaboration combines the company’s AI Control Tower with the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory to operationalize and monitor AI agents across hybrid environments. These autonomous specialists utilize NVIDIA Blackwell infrastructure and Nemotron models to move beyond simple tasks and coordinate complex, governed enterprise workflows. In addition, the companies are launching a benchmarking framework for voice and multimodal AI.
In a separate event, on the same day, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) and Carahsoft expanded their partnership to distribute the ServiceNow AI Platform across 10,000+ resellers in the U.S. and Canada. Moving beyond its focus on government IT, Carahsoft is now bringing ServiceNow’s AI control tower into healthcare, financial services, and critical infrastructure sectors. With this expanded collaboration, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) bypasses traditional sales motions and reaches customers through trusted local partners.
Founded in 2004, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a leading American cloud-based software company that provides a global cloud computing platform to automate enterprise workflows across IT, HR, and customer service. The company’s headquarters is located in California.
1. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 146
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is one of the 10 top stocks fund managers are loading up on in 2026.
On March 30, 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is seeking to double its NFL package from two to four annual games. According to the WSJ article, the streaming giant targets the league’s new Thanksgiving Eve matchup and an international season opener to strengthen its advertising business and subscriber retention rate. The company is currently in the final year of a $75 million-per-game Christmas Day deal and faces competition from Google’s YouTube and Amazon for the available broadcast rights. The article further noted that the move coincides with the NFL’s efforts to renegotiate media contracts after the Paramount/Skydance merger triggered a change-of-ownership clause.
In a separate development, Citizens initiated coverage of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) with a Market Perform rating and no price target. The firm cited shifting consumer preferences and noted limited near-term catalysts that could positively impact the company’s results. It currently awaits a better entry point.
Founded in 1997, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is one of the world’s leading entertainment services companies. Based in California, the company provides its members with a vast library of films, series, and games across various genres in 190 countries.
While we acknowledge the potential of NFLX 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 NFLX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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