Investors hunting for the best stocks to buy now have a tailwind most years don’t offer: an earnings season that keeps beating expectations even as headlines stay noisy. The S&P 500 gained nearly 8% in the first half of 2026 despite geopolitical tensions, lingering inflation, and an energy supply shock — and S&P 500 companies have beaten consensus estimates by an average of 9.2% over the past four quarters, according to FactSet data.
Today’s Market Snapshot
Wall Street closed out last week under pressure, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow all sliding as mega-cap AI capex concerns and a Middle East-driven spike in oil prices rattled sentiment. Despite that near-term volatility, outlooks from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Charles Schwab have all pointed to the same underlying driver pushing stocks higher through year-end: earnings growth. That’s the backdrop for this month’s stock picks — large- and mid-cap names with standout 2026 earnings outlooks.
How These Best Stocks To Buy Now Were Selected
The screen behind this list applied seven filters to U.S.-traded stocks:
- Expected 2026 EPS growth of 30% or more
- Expected EPS growth over the next three years of 20% or more
- Expected 2026 revenue growth of 15% or more
- Free cash flow growth of 20% or more
- Forward P/E ratio below 30
- Market capitalization of $2 billion or more
- More than 10 covering analysts with a consensus buy or strong buy rating
The nine qualifying names span technology, energy, gold mining, and biotech — a reminder that the AI trade isn’t the only place to find growth this year, even if it touches nearly every stock on this list in some form.
1. Micron Technology (MU)
Latest News & Catalyst
Micron makes computer memory and data storage products used in AI data centers and a wide range of consumer devices. Analysts expect a 785% EPS gain for fiscal 2026 (ending August 31), after the company already posted 538% growth in the prior year.
Technicals & Fundamentals
- Stock price is up 630% over the past year
- Consensus price target still implies roughly 75% upside over the next 12 months
- Forward P/E of just 5.9 despite the growth rate — a notably cheap multiple relative to peers
Bull vs. Bear
CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has said the company is in the “early innings” of AI-driven demand, pointing to AI-capable smartphones, PCs, and ongoing data center demand as future growth drivers. The bear case: memory pricing is historically cyclical, and a stock already up over 600% carries elevated expectations that leave little room for a miss.
2. Kodiak Gas Services (KGS)
Latest News & Catalyst
Kodiak provides contract compression services to oil and gas producers and has expanded into data center power. Analysts project 99% EPS growth in 2026, supported by the 2026 acquisition of Distributed Power Solutions and a new multi-year partnership with Baker Hughes targeting AI power demand with 1.8 gigawatts of behind-the-meter capacity.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Free cash flow growth of 450% underpins the earnings story, with a forward P/E of 24.7 — pricier than some peers but reflecting the pivot into higher-growth digital infrastructure power supply.
Bull vs. Bear
The bull case rests on Kodiak’s unusual crossover between traditional energy infrastructure and AI data center power demand. The bear case: execution risk on integrating DPS and delivering on gigawatt-scale power commitments on schedule.
3. Nvidia (NVDA)
Latest News & Catalyst
Nvidia remains the dominant AI GPU supplier, with an estimated 80% share of the AI accelerator market by revenue. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027, analysts expect 88% EPS growth, building on 59% growth in fiscal 2026 and 130% in fiscal 2025.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Forward P/E of 20.3 remains reasonable relative to the company’s growth rate and free cash flow expansion of 65%.
Bull vs. Bear
Nvidia’s moat combines best-in-class hardware with its CUDA software ecosystem, which keeps customers locked in. The bear case, amplified by this week’s market action, centers on whether hyperscaler AI capex — which just triggered a nearly $800 billion selloff in Magnificent Seven stocks — can keep growing at the pace Nvidia’s guidance assumes.
4. Broadcom (AVGO)
Latest News & Catalyst
Broadcom has emerged as a preferred design partner for custom AI chips (ASICs), working with Google, Meta, and OpenAI. In March 2026, the company projected AI chip revenue would reach $56 billion this fiscal year, growing to $100 billion in fiscal 2027.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Consensus EPS growth estimate stands at 70% for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026, with a forward P/E of 23.6.
Bull vs. Bear
Custom silicon design wins with hyperscalers give Broadcom recurring, high-visibility revenue. The bear case: reliance on a handful of large customers concentrates risk if any one hyperscaler pulls back on AI infrastructure spending.
5. Celestica (CLS)
Latest News & Catalyst
Celestica builds AI hardware, cloud computing systems, and networking switches through its Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment. The company is projected to deliver 70% EPS growth in 2026, following 56% growth in 2025, driven by strong networking switch demand and a new AI program with a hyperscaler customer.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Celestica has beaten consensus estimates by at least 3.8% in each of the last four quarters, with free cash flow growth of 49% and a forward P/E of 26.8.
Bull vs. Bear
A consistent beat-and-raise track record supports confidence in guidance. The risk: Celestica’s hardware manufacturing model carries thinner margins than pure-play chip designers, making it more sensitive to input cost swings.
6. Alamos Gold (AGI)
Latest News & Catalyst
Alamos is a Canadian gold producer with long-life assets in Canada and Mexico. Analysts expect 61% EPS growth in 2026 — the fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains, which have ranged from 53% to 89% on acquisitions, organic growth, and margin expansion.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Mineral reserves have grown 64% net of depletions over the past seven years. Free cash flow growth of 84% and a forward P/E of just 10.7 make this the cheapest name on the list by that metric.
Bull vs. Bear
Alamos offers rare growth-plus-value exposure outside of tech. The bear case: the company’s 2026 production outlook was disrupted by seismic events at its Young-Davidson mine, and gold-linked equities remain sensitive to swings in bullion prices and the dollar.
7. Workiva (WK)
Latest News & Catalyst
Workiva’s enterprise software platform automates financial reporting, sustainability data tracking, and audit/risk workflows. The company is projected to grow 2026 EPS by 63%, following an 89% gain in 2025, marking its transition into sustained profitability.
Technicals & Fundamentals
The stock is down nearly 34% year-to-date on broader concerns about AI disrupting subscription software, despite free cash flow growth of 221% and a forward P/E of 19.4.
Bull vs. Bear
Gross retention of 97% as of Q1 2026 suggests customers still see clear value in the platform despite AI disruption fears. The bear case is exactly that disruption narrative — investors remain nervous that AI tools could erode demand for specialized reporting software over time.
8. Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX)
Latest News & Catalyst
Neurocrine develops treatments for neurological and neuroendocrine disorders, including Ingrezza and Crenessity. The company is expected to grow 2026 EPS by nearly 60%, driven by continued commercial strength in Ingrezza.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Free cash flow growth of 69% and a forward P/E of 16.9 make this one of the more reasonably priced growth names on the list.
Bull vs. Bear
The recent acquisition of Soleno Therapeutics adds Vykat XR to the pipeline, with patent protection into the mid-2040s — a long runway for the bull case. Biotech carries its usual regulatory and clinical-trial risk as the offsetting factor.
9. Applovin (APP)
Latest News & Catalyst
Applovin operates an AI-driven mobile advertising platform, having divested its game studio portfolio to become a pure-play ad tech company. 2026 EPS growth is projected at 56%, after EPS grew from $1.92 to $10.64 between 2023 and 2025.
Technicals & Fundamentals
Free cash flow margins above 70% stand out even among this list’s strong performers, with a forward P/E of 24.4.
Bull vs. Bear
Expansion into e-commerce advertising and a self-service ad platform rollout support continued growth. The bear case: digital ad spending is cyclical, and Applovin’s valuation already prices in a significant chunk of future growth.
Stocks to Watch: The Full Data Table
| Stock | Ticker | Price | 2026 EPS Growth | Forward P/E | FCF Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micron Technology | MU | $848.95 | 785% | 5.9 | 1,291% |
| Kodiak Gas Services | KGS | $65.19 | 99% | 24.7 | 450% |
| Nvidia | NVDA | $202.81 | 88% | 20.3 | 65% |
| Broadcom | AVGO | $370.83 | 70% | 23.6 | 44% |
| Celestica | CLS | $301.34 | 70% | 26.8 | 49% |
| Alamos Gold | AGI | $28.26 | 61% | 10.7 | 84% |
| Workiva | WK | $57.18 | 63% | 19.4 | 221% |
| Neurocrine Biosciences | NBIX | $170.88 | 60% | 16.9 | 69% |
| Applovin | APP | $424.54 | 56% | 24.4 | 72% |
Sector Sentiment Snapshot and Forecast
AI infrastructure spending remains the dominant theme across six of the nine names on this list — Micron, Nvidia, Broadcom, Celestica, and even energy-adjacent Kodiak Gas Services all derive meaningful upside from continued hyperscaler capex. That’s a double-edged sword given this week’s tech selloff, which was triggered by exactly the AI spending concerns these companies depend on to keep growing. Gold (Alamos), enterprise software (Workiva), and biotech (Neurocrine) offer diversification away from that single theme for investors who already have heavy AI exposure elsewhere in their portfolios.
Looking into August, the setup remains constructive on an earnings basis even with elevated near-term volatility. Match any of these picks to your own risk tolerance and time horizon — high-growth names with rich expectations, like Micron and Nvidia, can swing hard on both earnings beats and misses.
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Disclaimer: This publication is entirely for informational and journalistic purposes and does not constitute formal financial, investment, or legal advice. All market investments carry inherent risks of capital loss. Always complete independent due diligence prior to executing equity trades.
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