In this article, we will look at the 8 Best Beginner Stocks to Buy Right Now.
For beginner investors, the case for investing is less about chasing the hottest story and more about owning established businesses that are still expanding and better equipped to absorb market volatility. That is why this stock list leans toward established companies with strong earnings growth, favorable analyst views, and scale. Fidelity points to “best-in-class companies” with “deep competitive moats” that can “compound earnings over time.”
The institutional case also suggests that quality growth is not as overowned or overpriced as it may seem. J.P. Morgan Asset Management says “High quality stocks are now priced at a discount” and that, within U.S. markets, the quality factor is “more attractive than ever.” Franklin Templeton makes a similar point from a longer-cycle perspective, staying focused on “high-quality growth companies with durable competitive advantages” as markets shift back toward fundamentals. T. Rowe Price brings that down to the company level, looking for businesses with “sustainable double-digit earnings growth,” “high-quality earnings,” and “strong free cash flow growth.”
Against this backdrop, the most attractive beginner stocks are not necessarily the cheapest or the most exciting. They are the ones that remain capable of growing through different market environments. That brings us to the 8 Best Beginner Stocks to Buy Right Now.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify large-cap stocks that exhibited over 20% EPS annual growth over the last 5 years, forecasted to grow EPS annually by over 20% in the next 5 years, and viewed favorably by analysts. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite 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).
8. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
On April 15, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported topline results from the Phase 3 ACHIEVE-4 trial evaluating Foundayo against insulin glargine in adults with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese and at elevated cardiovascular risk. The study enrolled more than 2,700 participants across 15 countries and met its primary endpoint, demonstrating non-inferiority in major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, or hospitalization for unstable chest pain. Foundayo also delivered superior reductions in A1C and body weight at 52 weeks versus insulin glargine, with benefits sustained through 104 weeks. The treatment showed a 16% lower risk of major cardiovascular events and a 57% lower risk of all-cause death, though the latter was not adjusted for multiplicity.
Improvements were also observed across cardiovascular risk markers such as non-HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and hsCRP. The safety profile was consistent with prior studies and the GLP-1 class, with common side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and constipation. Discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in 10.6% of patients. Liver safety analyses showed no signal of drug-induced injury. Lilly said it plans to submit Foundayo for FDA approval in type 2 diabetes by the end of Q2 under the Commissioner’s National Priority Review Voucher.
On April 9, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Eli Lilly to $1,327 from $1,313 and maintained an Overweight rating, reflecting model updates across its biopharma coverage based on IQVIA trends and intra-quarter developments ahead of Q1 earnings.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) develops and markets pharmaceutical treatments globally.
7. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
On April 15, 2026, Deutsche Bank lowered its price target on ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) to $135 from $180 and maintained a Buy rating, noting ahead of Q1 results that the company is “controlling what it can” in a challenging environment.
Similarly, TD Cowen reduced its price target to $140 from $185 while keeping a Buy rating, citing constructive checks on overall growth trends, adoption of AI-related SKUs, large deal activity, and broader platform expansion. The firm also views recent pricing and packaging changes as a net positive.
Truist also lowered its price target to $125 from $175 and maintained a Buy rating ahead of earnings, expecting strong results with potential upside to consensus driven by the company’s platform value proposition and positioning as a beneficiary of vendor consolidation. Based on customer discussions, Truist said ServiceNow is increasingly seen as a partner in enterprise AI strategies, with its incumbency supporting continued development of agentic offerings.
Earlier in the month, ServiceNow announced that its full product portfolio will be AI-enabled, integrating AI, data connectivity, workflow execution, security, and governance across its platform. The company also introduced Context Engine, designed to connect relationships, policy, and decision history for AI agents, along with new Build Agent capabilities that allow developers to create and deploy workflows directly within the platform.
ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) provides cloud-based digital workflow solutions across multiple enterprise functions globally.
6. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)
On April 15, 2026, Deutsche Bank raised its price target on Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) to $72 from $58 and maintained a Buy rating, saying the company is on a recovery path heading into its Q1 report.
Similarly, Wells Fargo increased its price target to $77 from $64 while keeping an Overweight rating, reflecting higher copper price assumptions driven by mine disruptions and rising cost expectations. JPMorgan analyst Bill Peterson also raised his price target to $76 from $68 and reiterated an Overweight rating as part of a broader base metals preview. The firm noted that while aluminum stocks have outperformed since the start of the Middle East conflict, copper names have lagged amid inflation concerns, with near-term direction tied closely to geopolitical developments.
Earlier in the month, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Freeport-McMoRan with a Buy rating and a $70 price target, citing the company’s exposure to structural copper supply deficits along with added leverage to gold. The firm also pointed to supportive macro and geopolitical dynamics and said Freeport’s production profile appears to be at an inflection point, which could amplify earnings in a stronger pricing environment.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) is a global mining company focused on copper, gold, and other minerals.
While we acknowledge the potential of FCX 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 FCX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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