In this article, we will discuss the 9 Best QQQ Stocks to Buy Now.
On April 8, Yung-Yu Ma of PNC joined ‘Fast Money’ on CNBC to discuss the current market environment and noted that worst-case scenarios are not yet priced into the VIX or oil futures curves. He defined a worst-case scenario as the destruction of energy infrastructure that could take production offline for a year or two, causing disruptions far greater than what the market currently anticipates. While he considered this a low-probability event, President Trump’s recent rhetoric about ending civilization makes such infrastructure destruction a possibility that cannot be entirely ruled out.
Yung-Yu Ma expressed slight surprise that more risk has not been priced in, given that the VIX remains at 26 rather than reaching levels like 36 or 46. He observed that the market has remained flat or even higher over the past week, and while he would like to see more nervousness and less impulsive buying on small tidbits of news (such as the late-day rally seen recently), he believes that the market is ultimately being rational. He attributed this to the wisdom-of-crowds, suggesting that investors are looking at underlying value pillars and are hesitant to reduce their long positions as they did in April of last year, when similar concerns turned out to be misplaced.
Our Methodology
We sifted through the Invesco QQQ exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings to find the top QQQ stocks and 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.
Note: All data was sourced on April 10.
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).
9 Best QQQ Stocks to Buy Now
9. Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS)
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On March 25, Cintas announced financial results for FQ3 2026, where the revenue stood at $2.84 billion, representing an 8.9% increase year-over-year. Gross margin reached an all-time high of 51%, or $1.45 billion, while operating income rose 8.2% to $659.9 million. Net income for the period was $502.5 million, resulting in diluted EPS of $1.24, which was a 9.7% increase.
During the first nine months of FY2026, Cintas returned $1.45 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, including a $180 million quarterly dividend paid on March 13. Additionally, the company agreed to acquire UniFirst Corporation on March 10, a move expected to create substantial value for customers and shareholders once the transaction is finalized.
Following these results, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) raised its full FY2026 financial guidance, projecting annual revenue between $11.21 and $11.24 billion. The company also increased its adjusted diluted EPS expectations to a range of $4.86 to $4.90, excluding non-recurring transaction expenses related to the pending UniFirst acquisition.
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) develops uniform programs using fabric. It serves businesses of various sizes, mainly across the US, as well as in Canada and Latin America. The company operates through two segments: Uniform Rental & Facility Services and First Aid & Safety Services.
8. Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS)
Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On March 16, Cadence announced an expanded collaboration with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) to launch a portfolio of agentic AI and physical AI-accelerated solutions. These next-gen tools automate complex workflows, generate designs, and debug errors through autonomous, physics-grounded agents. By integrating Cadence’s chip and system design solutions with Nvidia’s accelerated computing stack, the companies aim to help engineers solve large-scale challenges in AI infrastructure and semiconductor innovation.
The new offerings are optimized for Nvidia Grace CPUs and Blackwell GPUs, with several tools available as a turnkey deployment on the Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) Millennium M2000 Supercomputer. This setup provides up to 80X greater throughput and 20X lower power consumption compared to traditional CPU-based systems. Key software slated for 2026 includes the Innovus Implementation System for EDA, the Allegro X Design Platform for system design, and specialized AI-enabled virtual screening solutions like ROCS X for life sciences and drug discovery.
Industry leaders are already using these accelerated solutions to overcome previous design limitations. For example, Honda is using Fidelity CFD software on the Millennium M2000 to perform full turbofan engine simulations, while Micron is integrating agentic AI into its HBM memory design flow to reduce verification cycle times. These collaborations focus on delivering higher-quality, complex silicon and systems more efficiently to meet the demands of global AI infrastructure.
Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) is a leading provider of electronic design automation/EDA software, hardware, and IP used by semiconductor companies to design and verify advanced integrated circuits & systems.
7. Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR)
Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 7, Baker Hughes announced it secured a strategic order from San Matias Pipeline S.A. to provide gas compression tech for a major pipeline project in Argentina. The contract includes the delivery of three NovaLT16 gas turbines and three centrifugal compressors, along with commissioning services, spare parts, and remote diagnostic capabilities. This equipment will be situated at a compressor station near Allen, Río Negro, to facilitate the transport of natural gas from the Vaca Muerta formation to the Gulf of San Matias.
The infrastructure project is designed to provide feed gas to Southern Energy’s two floating LNG vessels, supporting Argentina’s expansion into global LNG export markets. This order represents the first time Baker Hughes has deployed its NovaLT gas turbine technology in South America. The platform was chosen for its performance, efficiency, and suitability for midstream gas compression applications, aligning with the regional demand for high-efficiency, low-emission turbomachinery.
By using the NovaLT16 platform, the project aims to establish reliable, scalable pathways for natural gas transportation. This initiative reinforces the strategic role of natural gas in the region’s energy system while expanding Baker Hughes Company’s (NASDAQ:BKR) industrial and energy technology footprint in a key growth market.
Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR) is an energy technology company that develops and delivers technologies for the entire hydrogen value chain. Its main products are hydrogen-enabled turbines, compressors, valves, centrifugal pumps, non-metallic pipes, sensors, and monitoring systems.
6. IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX)
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 01, IDEXX Laboratories announced the launch of the IDEXX Cancer Dx Panel in the UK, specifically for the early detection of lymphoma in at-risk dogs. This blood-based test is designed to integrate into both sick-pet diagnostics and routine wellness screenings, with results available to UK practices within 3 to 5 business days. The test aims to address a clinical need, as lymphoma accounts for ~25% of new canine cancer diagnoses, and early detection can occur up to 8 months before physical symptoms manifest.
The panel offers 79% sensitivity and 99% specificity, providing clinicians with reliable insights that can include B-cell and T-cell phenotype classification for positive results. Beyond initial detection, early data indicate the test can be used to monitor patients during chemotherapy treatments. Each result includes comprehensive support from IDEXX Medical Consultants, including board-certified oncologists, as well as educational resources to help veterinarians communicate findings and next steps to pet owners.
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) highlighted strong market demand for the product, noting that 71% of UK pet owners have expressed interest in cancer screening for their pets. Since its 2025 launch in North America, ~6,000 practices have already adopted the technology. Over the next 3 years, the company plans to expand the panel’s capabilities to cover the majority of canine cancer cases, further advancing its commitment to proactive veterinary cancer management and intervention.
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) develops and sells diagnostic products for animal veterinary, livestock, and poultry, and water microbiology testing. The company covers in-clinic chemistry, hematology, immunoassay, urinalysis, and coagulation analyzers.
5. Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX)
Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On March 25, Paychex reported its financial results for FQ3 2026, highlighting a 20% increase in total revenue to $1.8 billion. This growth was driven by the Management Solutions segment, which rose 23% to $1.4 billion, aided by the April 2025 acquisition of Paycor. Operating income for the quarter increased 14% to $792.0 million, while adjusted operating income grew 22% to $863.2 million. Diluted EPS reached $1.56, representing a 9% increase.
Total expenses rose 24% during the quarter to $1 billion, primarily due to compensation-related costs and the amortization of intangible assets following the Paycor acquisition. Despite these costs, the adjusted operating margin improved to 47.7% from 46.9% in the prior year. Fiscal year-to-date, Paychex has returned over $1.5 billion to shareholders through $1.2 billion in dividends and $361.6 million in share repurchases.
The company’s financial position remains robust, with $1.8 billion in cash and corporate investments against $5 billion in total borrowings as of February 28. Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) updated its full FY2026 outlook, specifically raising the anticipated interest on funds held for clients to a range of $200 to $210 million. All other guidance remains unchanged, though the company noted that its projections assume current market conditions and exclude ongoing acquisition-related costs.
Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) provides integrated human capital management/HCM solutions focused on payroll, HR, benefits, and insurance for small- to medium-sized businesses mainly in the US and Europe. It uses its SaaS platforms like Paychex Flex and SurePayroll to offer services.
4. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM)
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 07, Insmed announced that its Phase 2b CEDAR study evaluating brensocatib in adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa/HS failed to meet its primary or secondary efficacy endpoints. In both the 10 mg and 40 mg treatment arms, the drug did not show a significant advantage over the placebo in reducing the total count of abscesses and inflammatory nodules. Consequently, Insmed has decided to discontinue the development program for brensocatib in the treatment of HS.
The clinical data at Week 16 showed that patients in the 10 mg and 40 mg brensocatib groups experienced reductions in inflammatory counts of 45.5% and 40.3%, respectively, while the placebo group saw a higher reduction of 57.1%. Despite the lack of efficacy, the safety profile of the drug remained consistent with previous trials. No new safety signals were identified, even at the 40 mg dosage, which represented the highest dose studied by the company to date.
The CEDAR study involved 214 patients across 72 global sites in a randomized, double-blind format. Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) expressed gratitude to the study participants and investigators and plans to share the full data set at a future medical congress.
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ:INSM) is a global biopharmaceutical firm focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with rare and serious diseases, with key assets including brensocatib and Treprostinil Palmitil Inhalation Powder.
3. Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:TEAM)
Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:TEAM) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 08, Atlassian Corporation introduced new AI-powered capabilities in Confluence designed to convert text-based pages into dynamic visual artifacts. A key feature called Remix, currently in open beta, allows teams to instantly transform Confluence content into charts, infographics, scorecards, and presentation-ready summaries.
These visuals remain linked to the original document, ensuring that the organization’s single source of truth is maintained without the need for manual exports or external formatting tools. In addition to Remix, Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:TEAM) announced the launch of pre-built partner agents for Lovable, Replit, and Gamma, which will be available starting April 13.
These agents use the Model Context Protocol/MCP to securely transfer Confluence page data into partner applications, enabling the immediate creation of UI prototypes, starter applications, or polished presentations. This integration reduces friction between documentation and execution, allowing engineers and designers to move from a written specification to a functional asset with minimal manual effort. These innovations are powered by Atlassian Rovo and built on an open ecosystem, facilitating secure data flow between Confluence and third-party tools.
Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:TEAM) is a software-as-a-service company that focuses on team collaboration and productivity software such as Jira, Confluence, and Loom. The company is based in San Francisco, California, and was founded in October 2002.
2. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 02, Intel Corporation announced the appointment of Aparna Bawa as executive vice president and chief legal & people officer. Reporting directly to CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Bawa will lead Intel’s global legal, ethics, compliance, people, and culture organizations. This leadership addition is part of the company’s efforts to accelerate its transformation and execution agenda by integrating operational rigor with a focus on people-first leadership.
Bawa transitioned to Intel from Zoom, where she served as chief operating officer and managed critical legal and operational functions during a period of rapid global scaling. Her professional background includes various senior legal and leadership roles within the technology industry, through which she developed expertise in corporate governance, global compliance, and organizational transformation.
In her new capacity, Bawa will be responsible for advancing a high-performance culture and ensuring that Intel Corporation’s (NASDAQ:INTC) people strategy aligns with its long-term business priorities. She will also oversee the strengthening of the company’s legal foundation and governance as it enters its next phase of growth. Bawa is scheduled to officially join the company in May.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is a semiconductor company specializing in computing & related end products and services through its CCG, DCAI, and Intel Foundry segments.
1. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the best QQQ stocks to buy now. On April 09, Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) announced a multiyear collaboration aimed at advancing the next generation of AI and cloud infrastructure. The partnership focuses on the critical roles of Intel Xeon processors and custom-developed infrastructure processing units/IPUs in scaling modern, heterogeneous AI systems.
Under this agreement, Google Cloud will continue to deploy Xeon processors across its infrastructure to handle a variety of tasks, including AI training coordination, latency-sensitive inference, and general-purpose computing. A key component of the collaboration is the expanded co-development of custom ASIC-based IPUs. These specialized accelerators are designed to offload networking, storage, and security functions from the main CPUs, thereby improving system utilization and energy efficiency.
By combining the general-purpose compute power of Xeon CPUs with the dedicated acceleration of IPUs, the two companies aim to create a more balanced data center architecture that can scale more effectively as AI workloads become increasingly complex. This collaboration is intended to strengthen the foundation for future AI-driven cloud services, providing more efficient and scalable solutions for enterprises and developers worldwide.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a holding company that operates Google services such as search engines, ad platforms, Internet browsers, devices, mapping software, app stores, video streaming, and more. It also offers cloud infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services.
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