In this piece, we look at the 20 Best Stocks to Buy Right Now.
As 2026 unfolds, global markets stand at a crossroads. A dense mix of geopolitical risk, political uncertainty, and powerful structural tailwinds is a key feature of today’s environment, making stock selection more critical than ever for investors seeking the best stocks to buy right now. On January 6, 2026, Reuters reported that investors are navigating a backdrop marked by the U.S. midterm elections, a crucial change in Federal Reserve leadership, and divergent global monetary policies.
Meanwhile, equities in the U.S., Europe, and Japan are projected to climb in 2026, although gains are expected to be smaller compared to the previous year. Reuters’ November 2025 poll showed that over half of market participants expect a correction in 2026. Participants remain wary of stretched AI-driven valuations, which could face pressure as skepticism increases over returns on massive capital spending.
Meanwhile, appearing on Prof G Markets, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee issued a more constructive long-term view in the previous month, arguing that recent “black swan” events, including COVID-19, historic rate hikes, and geopolitical shocks, have hurt investor sentiment. According to him, these events have created a “wall of worry” that markets have historically climbed. Accordingly, he views skepticism, potential pullbacks, and even a “miniature bear market” as normal pauses rather than signs that the bull cycle is ending. Furthermore, he does not see the AI boom as economic destruction. Framing it as a response to a long-term labor shortage, he suggests that the AI sector can still drive overall gains, even if some stocks may underperform.
With this context in mind, we will move to our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
Our Methodology
To curate our list of the best stocks to buy right now, we picked out the top 40 hedge fund holdings, using Insider Monkey’s database, which tracks 978 stocks as of Q3 2025. Next, we assessed analyst sentiment on these stocks and selected those with the best upside. Finally, we ranked the list in ascending order based on the upside potential as of the market open on January 12, 2026.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
20. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 273
Upside Potential: 26.30%
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) saw Wells Fargo lower its price target from $802 to $795, while reiterating an ‘Overweight’ rating. The update comes as a valuation reset rather than a shift in fundamentals. The firm remains optimistic about Q4 earnings and the 2026 outlook, reiterating its confidence in $31- $32 EPS for 2026, TheFly reported. Furthermore, Wells Fargo believes Street CapEx estimates will likely go up as the company makes further progress in scaling AI infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the firm projects growth to accelerate with the next-generation Llama model release, expected in the first half of the year, and the rollout of associated AI-driven products. These factors will help offset the company’s short-term spending concerns, while re-anchoring its long-term growth expectations, according to Wells Fargo.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reinforced analyst confidence on January 9, 2026, disclosing 20-year power purchase agreements with Vistra for electricity from three U.S. nuclear plants. Including facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the deals reflect the translation of rising AI and data center demand into long-term duration, baseload power commitments.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) focuses on developing social media and immersive technologies through its Family of Apps and Reality Labs segments. The company operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and virtual and augmented reality platforms globally.
19. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 102
Upside Potential: 28.00%
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) shared an expansion update, announcing a definitive agreement to acquire Valencia Technologies. With this move, the company expands its Urology franchise into implantable tibial nerve stimulation (ITNS) with the FDA-approved eCoin System. The deal focuses on overactive bladder, a large and underpenetrated market, consisting of nearly 30 million U.S. adults over 40 experiencing bothersome symptoms. However, only 19% of those adults receive treatment beyond lifestyle adjustments.
eCoin features a coin-sized, minimally invasive implant, which broadens the company’s pelvic health continuum and complements existing neuromodulation and urology offerings. At the same time, it addresses patients who are refractory to or intolerant of conservative therapies. Meanwhile, clinical validation strengthens the case for Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX), with 68% of patients in the pivotal trial recording at least a 50% reduction in urge urinary incontinence episodes. Management remains confident due to the high-growth adjacency feature of ITNS, which reinforces the company’s organic growth potential rather than a short-term earnings boost.
Separately, on January 9, 2026, Goldman Sachs shared an update, lowering its price target on Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) from $124 to $112, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm expects investor attention to refocus on organic growth in 2026, as valuations and fundamentals normalize, according to TheFly.
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) is focused on developing and marketing interventional medical devices across the MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments.
18. MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 109
Upside Potential: 28.50%
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, over 90% of analysts are bullish on MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI), setting a consensus price target of $2,800. This translates into an upside potential of 28.50%.
On January 8, 2025, Cantor Fitzgerald issued a more constructive sector outlook, arguing that global internet stocks are stepping into a golden age of AI synergy over the next one to two years, with AI shifting from experimentation to monetization. In 2025, the sector outperformed the Nasdaq by roughly nine points. However, the firm noted that the group still trades roughly 20% below medium-term valuation ranges. Among large-cap internet stocks, Cantor Fitzgerald named MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) as one of the stocks that hold potential to accelerate revenue growth driven by tapping into AI-enabled efficiencies and platform scale.
Broader analyst commentaries remain supportive but selective. Another investment firm, Wedbush, reduced its price target on MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) from $2,800 to $2,700, while reiterating an ‘Outperform’ rating on December 19, 2025. The firm cited higher 2026 spending associated with logistics and marketing, while also keeping an eye on loan-book expansion. The firm also remains cautious on underlying demand trends and competition across core markets, according to TheFly.
MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) is known for running Latin America’s leading e-commerce and fintech ecosystem. It enables digital commerce, payments, logistics, and credit across multiple countries.
17. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 143
Upside Potential: 28.70%
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, Reuters reported that Jaylynn Dean filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER), placing the company on trial in Phoenix, Arizona. Dean alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a driver booked via the platform in 2023. Following over 3,000 federal lawsuits consolidated for similar claims and more than 500 additional cases in California state courts, this case comes out as the first “bellwether” trial. Thus, the trial’s outcome could significantly influence the company’s financial exposure and regulatory standing, with a negative outcome establishing a benchmark for settlement values in the remaining cases.
Dean claims that Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) failed to act on repeated reports of assaults and did not implement sufficient safety measures. Management, however, states that drivers are independent contractors. At the same time, management asserted that background checks and disclosures mitigate liability. Meanwhile, Uber highlighted its ongoing spending on rider safety, including in-app ride verification, audio/video ride recording, anomaly detection, and partnerships with advocacy groups.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) runs a global technology platform that connects consumers with mobility, delivery, and freight services.
16. Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 102
Upside Potential: 29.40%
Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 8, 2026, Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) announced its acquisition of Observe, a leader in AI-powered observability. The move marks a strategic expansion of the company’s AI Data Cloud, enabling enterprises to combine telemetry and business data and apply analytics and agentic AI to troubleshoot systems up to ten times faster. Observe helps companies detect anomalies early and fix production issues efficiently, thanks to its AI Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), which integrates logs, metrics, and traces into a unified context graph.
Furthermore, the platform is built on open standards like Apache Iceberg and OpenTelemetry. This feature allows the platform to support large-scale, cost-effective retention of telemetry data, addressing a growing need as AI-driven applications generate unprecedented data volumes. Management hailed the move, citing the $51.7 billion IT operations management market that it plans to address.
Meanwhile, analyst sentiment surrounding Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) remains mixed, with Barclays downgrading the stock to an ‘Equal Weight’ on January 12. The firm cited the 42% rally in 2025, describing the current valuation as stretched. On the other hand, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of the stock on January 12 with a ‘Buy’ rating and $286 price target, pointing out AI adoption and data platform modernization as key long-term growth catalysts.
Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW) is focused on providing cloud-native data warehousing through its Data Cloud. It enables secure, scalable AI, analytics, and data applications development across storage, compute, and cloud services globally.
15. DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
Upside Potential: 29.90%
DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 14, 2026, BNP Paribas analyst Nick Jones assumed coverage of DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH), assigning an ‘Outperform’ rating with a $280 price target.
Other analysts appear to mimic that confidence, with Cantor Fitzgerald raising the firm’s price target on DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) from $270 to $285, while reiterating an ‘Overweight’ rating on January 8, 2026. While acknowledging ongoing macroeconomic headwinds, the firm issued a more positive outlook for global internet stocks. The firm’s stance holds while AI enters a synergy phase, marked by accelerating revenue growth, improved value capture, and clearer long-term return on investment.
In contrast, on January 6, 2026, Wolfe Research reduced the firm’s price target on DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) from $275 to $270, while reiterating an ‘Outperform’ rating. The firm sees 2026 as yet another strong year for Internet stocks. However, the firm argues that outperformance in the prior three years may not be repeated amid current, elevated multiples for some of the stocks it covers. The firm’s positive outlook on the sector hinges on upside driven by AI developments, a relatively healthy macro environment, and successful capital allocation.
DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) designs, develops, and operates a food delivery and logistics platform.
14. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 312
Upside Potential: 31.40%
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, investors remain confident in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s growth outlook, with 95% of Wall Street analysts bullish. The consensus price target is $630.00, implying 31.40% upside.
The most recent commentary came from Barclays on January 12, 2026, as it reduced its price target on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) from $625 to $610, while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating. The update came as the investment firm adjusted its 2026 outlook for the software group, citing a positive setup for that space. The firm remains confident in the software sector for 2026, with macro and IT spending stabilizing and stock valuation levels remaining low. Furthermore, the firm sees the current opportunity as compelling, with investors staying underweight on software stocks.
Four days earlier, Wells Fargo also reduced its price target on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) from $700 to $665, while keeping its ‘Outperform’ rating. The firm remains bullish on AI growth, which it projects to continue in 2026. It named infrastructure providers, established incumbents, and innovation-led platforms as three key areas of interest, as secular tailwinds are projected to improve performance despite adoption concerns.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shared a crucial update on January 5, 2026, strengthening its AI ecosystem. The company acquired Osmos, an agentic AI data engineering platform that breaks down data workflows and converts raw information into AI-ready assets in OneLake, the core of Microsoft Fabric. This follows the multi-year partnership with Cognizant announced in mid-December, which involves embedding agentic AI and Copilot capabilities into enterprise workflows across healthcare, retail, life sciences, financial services, and manufacturing. With these developments, the company enhances its operational resilience, productivity, and analytics unification, cementing its position as a leader in enterprise AI solutions.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) focuses on developing and supporting software, cloud services, devices, and solutions.
13. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 130
Upside Potential: 31.50%
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) enjoys strong investor confidence, with 85% of Wall Street analysts bullish on the stock as of January 12, 2026. The consensus price target of $196.99 implies a 31.50% upside.
On January 5, 2026, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) unveiled its plans to offer AI-powered services for restaurants with its Amap app. With this offering, the company will enable businesses to generate 3D interior renderings by uploading videos or images. Using its visual WAN model, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) will provide this feature at no cost for a limited time. This strategy will allow the company to compete more directly with Meituan in China’s food and dining sector. With this move, the company aims to extend its ecosystem beyond traditional e-commerce amid ongoing AI and cloud innovation.
Surrounding this update are nuanced Wall Street commentaries. On January 8, 2026, Morgan Stanley reiterated its ‘Overweight’ rating and reduced its price target from $200 to $180, citing a weaker outlook for core e-commerce amid high-consumption levels in the first half of 2027. This comes despite the strong cloud growth supporting the company’s ambitions. On the same day, Jefferies reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating while lowering its price target from $231 to $225. The firm cited strong performance in Quick Commerce and accelerating cloud revenue driven by AI demand. Thus, both firms reaffirm the company’s position as a leading AI enabler in China despite short-term pressure on traditional retail segments.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) focuses on developing technology infrastructure and digital platforms spanning commerce, cloud computing, local services, logistics, and AI solutions.
12. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92
Upside Potential: 33.50%
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) holds a bullish stance from over 90% of analysts. The consensus price target sits at $164.00, implying roughly 33.50% upside.
On January 6, 2026, KeyBanc Capital disclosed its best investment ideas for 2026 in the Communications and IT Infrastructure sectors. While the list was topped by AT&T and Crown Castle, Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) was also cited with an ‘Overweight’ rating and a $170.00 price target. The firm’s stance came on the back of an accelerating AI infrastructure build cycle, which supports networking companies.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) received renewed investor confidence on January 4, 2026, when Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to ‘Overweight’ and raised its price target from $145 to $159. The firm identified 2026 as the “Year of Refresh,” citing increased exposure to hyperscalers, AI-related investments, and greater visibility into enterprise demand. Large enterprise accounts and lagged capex trends continue to benefit the company, reflecting its resilience despite potential headwinds, including whitebox adoption and capital expenditure cycles.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is focused on developing cloud networking solutions, including EOS software, Gigabit Ethernet switching, routing platforms, and network software services.
11. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 234
Upside Potential: 35.20%
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) announced a major expansion of its BioNeMo platform at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The platform, designed to accelerate AI-driven biology and drug discovery, integrates high-throughput data processing, model training, and deployment. With this, BioNeMo helps life sciences companies convert vast experimental datasets into actionable insights.
The platform now boasts new capabilities such as Clara RNAPro for RNA structure prediction, ReaSyn v2 for practical AI-designed drug synthesis, and nvMolKit, a GPU-accelerated cheminformatics tool. The outcomes of these tools enable continuous learning cycles while reducing R&D costs in an industry that currently spends roughly $300 billion annually.
On the same day, Reuters reported that NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Eli Lilly announced a $1 billion joint research lab in the San Francisco Bay Area over five years. By leveraging Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin AI chips, the lab will allow researchers from both firms to collaborate to generate new data to train biotech AI models, accelerating drug discovery. This move follows Lilly’s previous investment in a supercomputer using Nvidia Grace Blackwell chips.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) focuses on designing GPUs, AI accelerators, and computing platforms, and on providing hardware and software solutions for the gaming, enterprise, AI, robotics, and biotechnology markets.
10. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 183
Upside Potential: 35.80%
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 11, 2026, Mizuho revisited semiconductor stocks and shared its revised 2026 outlook. The firm expects continued demand for the sector, driven by artificial intelligence. It projects AI-related chips and equipment to continue to support the sector. However, it sees smaller gains in 2026 compared to the previous year. In this context, it named Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) as one of the three best picks, alongside Nvidia and Lumentum.
This bullish sentiment was echoed by Bernstein SocGen on January 9, 2026, when its analyst Stacy Rasgon reiterated an ‘Outperform’ rating with a $475.00 price target. The update followed the analyst’s meeting with Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) management. Following the meeting, the analyst shared an update, dismissing concerns surrounding rising AI competition and customer-owned tooling. The analyst cited the company’s unmatched technological innovation, execution of its XPU roadmap, and supply chain scale. The company’s technical advancements, represented by 3D chip stacking and 400G SerDes, reflect the company’s manufacturing capabilities. These capabilities, alongside packaging know-how, position the company well as a dominant player in AI ASIC. These positives fuel a resilient outlook for the company amid Nvidia’s continued growth.
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) focuses on designing and supplying semiconductors and infrastructure software solutions, including AI-focused chips, IP licensing, cybersecurity, storage, and networking.
9. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 115
Upside Potential: 38.60%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, 75% of analysts are bullish on Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD). The consensus price target of $281.50 implies a 38.60% upside. Recent analyst commentaries reinforce the positive trend, with Jefferies reiterating a ‘Buy’ on January 4, 2026, and Truist Financial maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating on December 19, 2025, with a $277 target.
Positive analyst sentiment reflects the company’s ongoing AI hardware push, which was unveiled at CES on January 5, 2026. The MI455 AI processors for data center server racks were presented, which are sold to key customers like OpenAI. Additionally, the MI440X, optimized for enterprise on-premise deployments, was also presented. The MI500, previewed for 2027, is expected to deliver 1,000x performance gains over the previous generation. This positions Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) for substantial growth in AI compute infrastructure. Furthermore, the company emphasized its partnership with Generative Bionics on the GENE.01 humanoid robot, scheduled for commercial production in H2 2026. This reflects the company’s growing capabilities in physical AI applications.
Despite its strengths, analysts warn investors that Nvidia’s dominance is unlikely to be dethroned by Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD). The analysts acknowledge that AMD’s OpenAI deal has the potential to generate billions in revenue, strengthening the company’s foothold in high-performance AI.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) focuses on developing CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, and embedded solutions across the Data Center, Client, Gaming, and Embedded segments.
8. Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 95
Upside Potential: 39.30%
Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 13, 2026, Truist reduced its price target on Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) from $280 to $260, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. While previewing 2026 for the U.S. gaming sector, the firm discussed the challenges from the previous year, including macroeconomic and prediction disruption fears. The firm said the recovery in the challenged Las Vegas remains uncertain.
Another recent analyst update came from Citizens on January 5, 2026, where the analyst Jordan Bender raised the firm’s price target on Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) from $311 to $313 while maintaining an ‘Outperform’ rating. The firm reflected on the sector’s performance over the past two years, noting volatility driven by regulation, competition, and game outcomes. However, the firm believes sector valuations are below historical averages, creating a compelling case for upside, particularly if earnings stabilize.
Meanwhile, in November, Reuters reported that Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT), which owns FanDuel, stated that its adjusted EBITDA will be hit by about $320 million in fiscal 2026 and $540 million in 2027 due to the government’s plans to raise online gaming taxes. This is before the company can do anything to mitigate the impact. Management responded to British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves’ statement that the tax rate on online gaming will rise from 21% to 40%, while the sports betting rate will increase from 15% to 25%.
Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) is focused on running an online betting and gaming business, operating through the following segments: UK and Ireland, Australia, International, and the U.S.
7. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 112
Upside Potential: 39.40%
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) saw renewed attention from analysts following its landmark Meta partnership. Analysts remain confident in the company’s growing role in long-duration, zero-carbon power supported by hyperscaler demand. Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel increased the firm’s price target on the stock from $287 to $293 and reiterated an ‘Outperform’ rating. The firm believes the company’s nuclear contract with Meta could position it strongly among U.S. independent power producers and has included the stock as its top utilities pick. On the same day, UBS analyst William Appicelli also raised the firm’s price target from $230 to $233 while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm’s bullish stance reflects solid execution despite a mixed outlook on IPPs.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) also drew BofA’s attention on the same day, with the analyst Ross Fowler lowering the firm’s price target from $231 to $218 while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm reflected on a reduced premium for gas as forward prices jumped. Looking ahead, the firm raised its FY26-FY27 EBITDA estimates after taking into account benefits from PJM PPAs, updated generation assumptions, and mark-to-market power and gas prices. The firm focused on improved earnings durability amid tightened valuation assumptions.
The renewed analyst attention followed the company’s January 9, 2026, announcement of 20-year PPAs with Meta for 2.6 GW of nuclear capacity. The deal boosts cash-flow visibility, supports license extensions, and positions the company well for future growth.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST), a diversified U.S. power producer and retailer, serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers with its significant nuclear, gas, and renewable generation.
6. Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 116
Upside Potential: 39.70%
Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
Analysts continue to stay confident in the company’s long-term outlook despite making adjustments to the short-term expectations. On January 14, 2026, Oppenheimer revisited Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT), lowering its price target from $825 to $750 while reiterating an ‘Outperform’ rating. The firm reduced its target due to a softer short-term outlook. However, it remains confident in the long-term fundamentals. Looking ahead, the firm believes Spotify boasts the largest user runway in large-cap Internet, alongside significant pricing power.
Another analyst update came from UBS on January 9, 2026, when it lowered its price target on Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) from $850 to $800, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. This followed Guggenheim’s January 8, 2026, update, where the firm lowered its price target on the stock from $800 to $750, while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm reduced the target due to modestly lower estimates, as it reduced its 2026 revenue and EBITDA growth forecasts by 1% and 2%, respectively. The firm’s estimates reflect a later-than-expected U.S. price increase rather than softening demand fundamentals.
Meanwhile, on January 8, 2026, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced its price target on Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) from $675 to $615, while reiterating a ‘Neutral’ rating. The firm sees a broader constructive setup for Global Internet stocks in 2026, with AI entering a synergy phase, which is expected to drive improved monetization and returns on capex. However, the firm remains cautious on Spotify specifically.
Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT) operates a global digital audio platform that offers music and podcasts through a subscription-based model.
5. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 154
Upside Potential: 45.30%
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, HSBC analyst Mohammed Khallouf assumed coverage on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), issuing a ‘Buy’ rating with a $107 price target amid a valuation reset and improving fundamentals. The firm pointed toward the stock’s valuation that remains 33% below its summer 2025 peak, despite expectations for increased monetization, growing profitability, and a significant international runway that offsets a maturing U.S. streaming market. Looking ahead, Khallouf sees the stock as the undisputed global streaming leader, thanks to its growing openness to acquisitions, which reflects strategic adaptation amid slowing industry growth.
Meanwhile, on January 8, 2026, Reuters reported that investors hold mixed views regarding Paramount Skydance’s $108.40 billion, $30-per-share bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. The bid competes with Warner Bros.’ finalized $27.75-per-share ($82.70 billion) deal with Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). With Warner Bros.’ board favoring Netflix’s proposal due to stronger financing and lower debt risk, several investors have pointed toward Paramount’s all-cash offer, calling it superior. This ongoing situation reflects Netflix’s financial credibility as a buyer, reinforcing its strategic position at a point where legacy media assets are coming to market amid a maturing streaming landscape.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), a global entertainment company, offers streaming video, gaming, and digital content across domestic and international markets.
4. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 122
Upside Potential: 46.80%
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, over 70% of analysts are bullish on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), setting a $291.34 price target, which translates into 46.80% upside.
The strong analyst sentiment was reflected in the January 12, 2026, analyst update, when Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $240 price target. Initiating coverage across 12 software names, the firm argued that AI adoption will drive the total addressable markets of software over the next decade. In this context, the firm sees Oracle as one stock that is well positioned to capture a higher market share in infrastructure-as-a-service, on the strength of its cloud scale, enterprise relationships, and expanding data center footprint.
A week earlier, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) received a more cautious analyst commentary, with UBS lowering its price target on the stock from $325 to $280, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm adjusted the price target following the company’s 41% decline from mid-September highs due to investor concerns surrounding the company’s outlook and increasing attention toward OpenAI-related stocks that pulled the shares down. At the same time, the firm remains confident, highlighting pending revenue growth, the ramp-up of Abilene data center capacity, and possible sentiment reversal around AI exposure in the first half of 2026. The firm noted that credit and financing risks are already incorporated.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), a global enterprise technology company, provides cloud applications, infrastructure, hardware, and services.
3. Sea Limited (NYSE:SE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 102
Upside Potential: 47.50%
Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, over 90% of analysts are bullish on Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), setting a consensus price target of $197.00. The consensus price target translates into a 51.70% upside.
On January 2, 2025, Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) was revisited by Maybank, which upgraded the stock from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’, while reiterating a $156 price target. Following a more than 36% stock price decline since the October 2025 peak, the firm now sees a more attractive risk-reward profile. The firm believes most of the short-term headwinds are already priced in amid the company’s aggressive investment push in Shopee’s VIP program and fulfillment network. The initiative is expected to strengthen the company’s competitive position across Southeast Asia, a region that accounts for roughly 75% of Shopee’s gross merchandise value (GMV).
Wedbush’s commentary in its December update was in contrast to Maybank’s update. The firm lowered its price target on Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) from $190 to $170, while reiterating its ‘Outperform’ rating. While acknowledging the internet sector’s strong 2025 performance, where it delivered average returns of 23% and outperformed the NASDAQ’s 19% gain, it sees greater dispersion in 2026. The firm predicts this as investors weigh AI monetization, agentic AI adoption, AV disruption, and ongoing investment cycles.
Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a Singapore-based consumer internet company, operates Shopee (e-commerce), Garena (digital entertainment), and SeaMoney (digital financial services) globally.
2. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104
Upside Potential: 58.00%
ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is one of the best stocks to buy right now.
On January 12, 2026, analyst confidence in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) appeared to be growing ahead of the company’s Q4 2025 earnings release, scheduled for January 28, 2026. The same day, Citi announced the opening of an “upside 30-day catalyst watch” on the stock, while reiterating its ‘Buy’ rating, alongside a $250.60 price target. The firm supported its stance with channel checks indicating a strong quarter-end close and a strengthened pipeline extending into fiscal 2026. The firm expects solid short-term execution, fueled by the potential year-end budget flush.
On the same day, Goldman Sachs revisited the stock with a similar, constructive tone. Assuming coverage of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $205 price target, the firm kept a longer-term industry view. It argued that the software’s total addressable market over the next decade should expand as AI adoption grows. In this context, the firm views ServiceNow as well-positioned for agent orchestration.
In contrast, on January 9, 2026, Stifel reduced its price target on ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) from $230 to $200, while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm cited slightly softer system integrator checks, expecting conservative Q1 organic current Remaining Performance Obligations (cRPO) guidance.
ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) offers a cloud-based workflow automation platform that integrates AI and machine learning. The platform enables enterprises to digitize, manage, and optimize processes across IT, employee, and customer operations.
1. Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 90
Upside Potential: 103.40%
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
As of January 12, 2026, over 70% of analysts are bullish on Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX), with a $149.00 price target, implying 103.40% upside.
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) is experiencing renewed investor confidence, with Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest making a purchase on January 6, 2026. The investment firm acquired 169,130 shares across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF for a combined $13.71 million. The raised stake in Roblox reflects optimism surrounding the company’s long-term platform economics, creator-driven ecosystem, and optionality associated with immersive digital experiences. The firm’s stance comes as valuation sensitivity remains heightened across high-growth internet stocks.
This bullish update followed a more balanced analyst update on the same day. Wolfe Research reduced its price target on Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) from $150 to $100, while reiterating an ‘Outperform’ rating. The investment firm’s target reduction reflects a broader internet-sector outlook. The firm expects 2026 to remain constructive, with upside remaining more selective following several years of strong multiple expansion. Looking ahead, the firm sees potential upside to estimates, driven by AI-related product catalysts, a slightly healthier macroeconomic environment, and disciplined capital allocation.
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) operates an online gaming and creation platform. The platform enables users and developers to build, publish, and monetize 3D digital experiences through its Client, Studio, and Cloud infrastructure.
While we acknowledge the potential of RBLX 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 RBLX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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