In this article, we will discuss the 8 Best Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Barry Rosenstein.
Activist investing is seeing a significant pressure through campaigns targeting underperforming companies. Activist investors are increasingly agitating for companies to pursue break ups, asset sales, and other changes in a bid to unlock underlying value.
While shareholder activism appears to have moderated in the first quarter of 2026, down 11% year on year, there was still sustained pressure on boards and management teams across sectors. Against a volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop, activist investors led by Jana Partners are increasingly emphasizing strategy, operations, and capital returns.
“M&A is a big theme these days and we are seeing activist investors trying to catalyze more mergers and acquisitions,” said Amy Lissauer, global head of activism and raid defense at Bank of America.
Founded by billionaire investor Barry Rosenstein, Jana Partners has established a diversified investment portfolio focused on unlocking value in undervalued assets while undertaking activist campaigns. While heavily invested in the technology sector, Rosenstein has also diversified holdings into financials, industrials, healthcare, and consumer defensive sectors.
Rosenstein’s portfolio is well-positioned to capitalize on a bounce back in the equity market amid optimism about the Middle East peace deal. Equities are also expected to regain ground on the back of a resilient economy that continues to strengthen investor sentiment.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best stocks to buy according to billionaire Barry Rosenstein.
Barry Rosenstein of JANA Partners
Our Methodology
For this list of the 8 best stocks to buy according to billionaire Barry Rosenstein, we began by scanning his Jana Partners’ portfolio as of Q1 2026. From there, we selected the hedge fund’s top 8 stock picks by equity value. We also reviewed the overall hedge fund sentiment around these stocks using Insider Monkey’s Q1 2026 database. Finally, the stocks were ranked in ascending order based on the value of Jana Partners’ stake in each company.
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. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).
Best Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Barry Rosenstein
8. Rapid7 Inc (NASDAQ:RPD)
Jana Partners’ Investment Stake: $37.2 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27
Rapid7 Inc (NASDAQ:RPD) is one of the best stocks to buy according to Billionaire Barry Rosenstein.
On June 2, Mizuho reaffirmed its Neutral rating on Rapid7 Inc (NASDAQ:RPD) stock with a price target of $8 on the shares. This call followed executive changes at Rapid7 Inc (NASDAQ:RPD). On June 1, Rapid7 named Wael Mohamed as its new CEO, effective immediately. Mohamed replaced Corey Thomas, who stepped down as CEO after nearly 13 years at the helm of the cybersecurity company.
Wael Mohamed is an insider who has served on Rapid7’s board since 2025. He brings 30 years of industry and operational experience to the job. His past roles include those at Forescout and Trend Micro Group. Mohamed also founded cybersecurity-focused investment firm Global Forward Capital.
As Mohamed stepped up to the top job, the outgoing CEO Thomas transitioned to the executive chairman role.
Mizuho noted that Rapid7 is well-positioned in the security operations market. In a show of confidence in its business model, the company reaffirmed its Q2 and full-year 2026 outlooks despite the executive transition.
For Q2, Rapid7 is expecting revenue in the range of $207 million to $209 million and adjusted EPS in the band of $0.33 and $0.36. For full-year 2026, the company anticipates revenue between $836 million and $842 million, and adjusted EPS between $1.52 and $1.60.
Rapid7 Inc (NASDAQ:RPD) provides AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. It’s a specialist in managed cybersecurity. It helps clients identify weaknesses in the systems before attackers exploit them, and to detect and shut down active attacks in real-time. Moreover, Rapid7 offers professionals a platform to test their defenses through real-time simulation.
7. Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE:FUN)
Jana Partners’ Investment Stake: $73.1 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE:FUN) is one of the best stocks to buy according to Billionaire Barry Rosenstein. The stock has soared more than 67% over the past six months, and analysts see more upside potential. Some 40 hedge funds are backing Six Flags stock.
On June 11, UBS raised its price target on Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE:FUN) shares to $30 from $27 while keeping a Buy rating on the stock. For this call, the brokerage cited traffic improvement for Six Flags. UBS also noted that right now investors are focused more on cost management at Six Flags than demand levels.
According to the brokerage, it is early in the season for forecasting demand trends. However, it continues to see compelling risk/reward for Six Flags shares.
Six Flags reported its Q1 2026 results on May 7, and the management cheered the strong start to the season. Revenue jumped 12% to $225.6 million, as attendance rose 4% to 2.9 million visits. At the same time, per capita spending increased 6%, helped by higher guest spending on food and drinks, improved ticket mix, and effective ticket pricing.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE:FUN) operates amusement parks and resorts in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Its portfolio features dozens of theme parks, water parks, and resorts. It offers food, merchandise, and live entertainment events.
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