Best Stocks to Buy Now: Top 6 Picks for October 2026

Looking for the best stocks to buy now? If you’re building out your portfolio with individual stocks, finding strong investment opportunities is key — and knowing what to look for matters more than chasing whatever’s trending this week.

Each month, our team screens the S&P 500 for quality, growth and balance-sheet strength, applies a cap on thematic concentration and uses relative valuation as a ranking input — then verifies each remaining pick against its most recent SEC filing before it makes the list. See our full methodology below.

But remember, investing in the stock market involves risks. It’s important to do your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Our top 6 best stocks to buy now

Updated October 2026 — reviewed by Finder’s investment team

Figures are as reported in the SEC filings linked in the sources.

• Methodology: How we choose the best stocks

  Each month, we screen the S&P 500 for:

  • Durable quality — Return on Invested Capital above 15% in each of the last three completed fiscal years, calculated from SEC filings
  • Conservative leverage — debt-to-equity under 1
  • Real growth — 5-year sales growth above 5%
  • Street support — still Buy-rated or better on Wall Street consensus

  That’s a quality-and-growth filter, not a full valuation model — it tells us a business is efficient, growing and not out of favor with analysts, but it doesn’t by itself tell us the stock is cheap. To address that gap, we also apply two additional checks before a name makes the published list: a cap on thematic concentration and a valuation check.

  How we test it. We run the screen on current market data, then test every name that passes against its own SEC filings. Return on Invested Capital is after-tax operating income divided by debt plus equity less cash, measured on average capital, for each of the last three completed fiscal years. We calculate it from the income statements and balance sheets in each company’s annual reports. Every pick below cleared 15% in all three years. A name has to clear all four bars to stay in the running.

  Theme cap. We cap exposure to any single sector at two-to-three names, and separately cap exposure to AI-infrastructure-driven demand at three names — even when more than three candidates clear the quality bars. Within that cap, we spread the three seats across different points in the AI infrastructure chain rather than filling all three with names exposed to the same node.

  This month’s application: the screen returned 179 S&P 500 names on current data, but far fewer kept their return on invested capital above 15% in all three of the last completed fiscal years once we tested them against SEC filings. Several names that clear the trailing screen did not, including Micron, Valero, Newmont and Reddit.

  • Of the AI-infrastructure candidates we checked, six cleared every test: Nvidia, Vertiv, Comfort Systems USA, Applied Materials, Lam Research and Arista Networks.
  • Nvidia sells the GPUs, Vertiv sells the power and cooling equipment inside data centers and Comfort Systems USA does the construction and mechanical work that houses them. We chose those three so the seats sit at different points in the AI infrastructure chain, not the same bet three times over.
  • Applied Materials and Lam Research sell chipmaking equipment into the same semiconductor supply chain Nvidia sits in, and Arista sells data center networking gear. All three remain quality businesses by our screen — they were set aside here on theme-diversification grounds, not because of a valuation or quality shortfall.
  • Outside AI infrastructure, only three of the names we tested cleared every test: Netflix, First Solar and EOG Resources.
  • Only six names cleared every test, so the list has six picks this month instead of eight. We would rather publish a shorter list than add names that miss a bar.

  Valuation check. We compare candidates on price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) as a starting screen for cheapness relative to growth. This is an interim ranking input among names that already clear the quality bars and the theme cap — it isn’t a hard exclusion rule, and it didn’t decide which names made this month’s list. The one close call was the third AI seat: Comfort Systems USA and Applied Materials had the same PEG (about 0.77 on Finviz data as of October 5, 2026), and the diversification point above settled it.

  Even with these checks, three of this month’s six picks are tied to AI infrastructure buildout. That’s not an oversight: it’s currently where the market’s strongest combination of profitability and growth sits, even after applying the theme cap and valuation check above. Investors should be aware this creates real thematic concentration risk — several of these businesses would likely be hit together if AI infrastructure spending slows.

  Past performance and current screening criteria don’t guarantee future results. This list is a researched starting point, not personalized investment advice — always do your own research or consult a financial advisor before investing.

1. Nvidia (NVDA)

Nvidia builds the GPUs, networking and software that power AI data centers, alongside its original gaming graphics business. Fiscal 2026 revenue (year ended January 25, 2026) was $215.9 billion, up from $130.5 billion in fiscal 2025.⁽¹⁾ In the quarter ended July 26, 2026, revenue was $96.2 billion, up 106% from $46.7 billion a year earlier, and operating income was $63.7 billion against $28.4 billion.⁽²⁾ Long-term debt was $32.4 billion at July 26, 2026 against $7.5 billion at the end of fiscal 2026, and shareholders’ equity was $229.0 billion.⁽²⁾

Risk to know: Export controls are the biggest swing factor. Nvidia took a $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 for excess H20 inventory and purchase obligations and a $0.4 billion charge for excess H200 inventory in the first half of fiscal 2027, and as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2027 it was “effectively foreclosed from competing in China’s data center computing/compute market.”^(1),(2) Customers are concentrated too: in the first half of fiscal 2027, three direct customers represented 16%, 15% and 13% of total revenue.⁽²⁾ In August 2026 Nvidia also entered into guarantees capped at $105 billion to provide credit support for a data center buildout with SB Energy affiliates on behalf of an OpenAI affiliate.⁽²⁾ On September 2, 2026 it also agreed to acquire Hugging Face for about $11.9 billion, plus up to about $1.0 billion of retention equity for employees, with closing expected in the first half of 2027 subject to regulatory approvals.⁽⁹⁾

2. Vertiv Holdings (VRT)

Vertiv designs, manufactures and services the power, cooling and infrastructure equipment that data centers depend on. Net sales were $3.27 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2026 against $2.64 billion a year earlier, and $5.92 billion in the first half against $4.67 billion.⁽³⁾ For fiscal 2025 net sales were $10.2 billion against $8.0 billion in fiscal 2024 and $6.86 billion in fiscal 2023, and its estimated combined order backlog was $15.0 billion at December 31, 2025 against $7.2 billion a year earlier.⁽⁴⁾ Its latest 10-Q gives no newer backlog figure, and long-term debt was $2.94 billion against $4.76 billion of equity at June 30, 2026.⁽³⁾

Risk to know: Vertiv is spending to expand. On September 1, 2026 it agreed to buy Utility Innovation Holdings for about $1.45 billion in upfront cash plus up to $1.15 billion more if earnings targets are met, with closing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 and funding from existing resources.⁽¹⁰⁾ On September 24 it announced a second deal, for King Environmental Services.⁽¹¹⁾ Its $15.0 billion backlog is the company’s own estimate of future sales, not a guarantee of them.⁽⁴⁾

3. Comfort Systems USA (FIX)

Comfort Systems USA provides HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other mechanical and electrical contracting services across the US. Revenue was $3.27 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2026 against $2.17 billion a year earlier, and total debt was $54.1 million against $3.22 billion of stockholders’ equity.⁽⁵⁾ Fiscal 2025 revenue was $9.10 billion against $5.21 billion in fiscal 2023.⁽¹²⁾

Risk to know: Technology customers made up 58.7% of revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, up from 43.0% a year earlier, so a slowdown in technology construction spending would hit results hard.⁽⁵⁾

4. First Solar (FSLR)

First Solar makes thin-film solar modules and sells most of them to customers with projects in the US.⁽¹³⁾ Net sales were $1.06 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2026 against $1.10 billion a year earlier, and $2.10 billion in the first six months against $1.94 billion.⁽⁶⁾ Total debt was $37.6 million at June 30, 2026 against $498.6 million at December 31, 2025, with $10.3 billion of equity.⁽⁶⁾ Net sales were $5.22 billion in 2025 against $3.32 billion in 2023.⁽¹³⁾

Risk to know: Sales are concentrated. The latest 10-Q says “Our net sales are primarily concentrated among a limited number of customers,” and the 2025 10-K shows Silicon Ranch and NextEra each accounting for 10% or more of its modules business net sales, with the US making up 96% of 2025 net sales.^(6),(13) Trade policy and product quality are live issues too: the Supreme Court ruled the IEEPA tariffs unlawful in February 2026, and First Solar carried a $47 million warranty liability for identified Series 7 manufacturing issues at June 30, 2026, with a disclosed range of $40 million to $65 million.⁽⁶⁾

5. EOG Resources (EOG)

EOG is a US oil and gas exploration and production company. Its 2025 10-K describes development in the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Utica, Powder River and Williston basins plus the Dorado gas play, with a Utica position of about 1,100,000 net acres after its August 2025 acquisition of Encino Acquisition Partners. EOG says it evaluates rate of return, net present value, margins and payback period when assessing opportunities.⁽¹⁴⁾ Net income was $4.98 billion in 2025 against $6.40 billion in 2024.⁽¹⁴⁾ In the quarter ended June 30, 2026 net income was $2.72 billion against $1.35 billion a year earlier, and long-term debt was $7.9 billion against $31.9 billion of stockholders’ equity.⁽⁷⁾

Risk to know: EOG’s earnings swing with commodity prices. As of June 30, 2026, each $1.00 per barrel move in crude oil and NGL prices changes full-year 2026 net income by about $172 million, and each $0.10 per Mcf move in natural gas changes it by about $60 million.⁽⁷⁾ Two purchasers, both in crude oil refining, each accounted for more than 10% of its 2025 revenues, though EOG does not believe the loss of any single purchaser would have a material adverse effect.⁽¹⁴⁾

6. Netflix (NFLX)

Netflix runs a subscription streaming service for TV series and films. Revenue was $12.56 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2026 against $11.08 billion a year earlier, and at June 30, 2026 it had $11.83 billion of long-term debt, $2.48 billion of short-term debt and $30.2 billion of stockholders’ equity.⁽⁸⁾ Fiscal 2025 revenue was $45.2 billion against $39.0 billion in fiscal 2024.⁽¹⁵⁾

Risk to know: Costs are hard to flex if growth slows. The 10-K warns that “given, in particular, that our content costs are largely fixed in nature, we may not be able to adjust our expenditures or increase our revenues, including by adjusting membership pricing, commensurate with the lowered growth rate such that our margins, liquidity and results of operations may be adversely impacted.”⁽¹⁵⁾ It also warns: “If our efforts to attract and retain members are not successful, our business will be adversely affected.”⁽¹⁵⁾

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How to find the best stocks to buy today

You effectively want to find the stocks that have been mis-priced, before the market realizes that it’s mis-priced. There are a few ways to get an idea of which top stocks to buy are undervalued, which ones are overvalued and which ones are just right. Here are some of the strategies:

Strategy 1: Keep an eye on the trends

You’re in a good position to find the best stocks to buy if you’ve got a good idea of which stocks are trending, what some of the experts are saying and which sectors are doing well (or not doing well). As well as Finder, there are some good financial news sites such as Bloomberg and the Financial Times. These can help you stay on top of the latest trends and expert views.

Social media and forums, like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) have been a good source of financial insight — but you should ensure that you trust the accounts you’re following. Look out for people with knowledge and experience in the subject.

Strategy 2: Look at the news

Once you know which stocks are trending, find out why. There’s almost always a reason behind why people are talking about a specific stock — sometimes it’s really obvious, for example every time Apple releases a new product, something happens to its stock price. Other times, the answer might take a little digging.

Looking at news sites can be really helpful here. You can set news alerts or actively search for company names to find out what’s going on. Many stock trading apps offer stock watchlists and price alerts to help you find the stocks you want.

Traders who keep an eye on the news might be classed as “momentum investors” – people who like to capitalize on the continuance of a trend.

Strategy 3: Look into analysis

There are a couple of different types of analysis available for you to try, and in some cases, someone else can do it for you.

Both technical and fundamental analysts are hoping to find a stock which is underpriced by the wider market. If they’re confident in their assessment, they can find what they believe is a cheap stock to buy, and make a gain as the price rises.

But you don’t need to be a professional analyst to try it out. The GameStop frenzy in early 2021 showed that even the retail investor can give the institutional investors a run for their money. If you’re new to investing or trading and want to give it a shot – go for it.

Remember the golden rules: don’t invest more than you can afford to lose, and remember that your investments can go down as well as up.

New to investing?

If you’re just getting started or investing with a smaller amount of capital, see our dedicated guide: the best stocks for beginners with little money — beginner-friendly picks, categorized by risk level, plus tips to start investing with as little as $1.

Top performing stocks year-to-date

The stocks below have posted the largest price gains in the S&P 500 so far this year. This is a record of what’s already moved — not a recommendation. A stock that’s already up sharply can have less room to run than one that hasn’t yet, so treat this table as market context, not a buy list.

How is the stock market performing?

Take a look at the 10-year historical performance of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 is a stock market index comprising 500 leading US companies, and it’s widely regarded as an essential benchmark for the US stock market.

Bottom line

There’s no single “best stock” for everyone — the right pick depends on your goals, timeline and risk tolerance. Our screen is designed to surface quality, growing businesses — not to predict which one will perform best next quarter. Use this list as a well-researched starting point for your own due diligence, not a substitute for it.

Frequently asked questions

• How often is this list of the best stocks to buy updated?

  We re-run our screen monthly, checking each pick's fundamentals and three-year return on invested capital, re-applying our thematic concentration cap and reviewing recent SEC filings for material changes. Stocks that no longer clear our criteria — or that get set aside to keep the list from concentrating too heavily in one theme — are replaced, and the list gets shorter when fewer names qualify.

• What makes a stock a good buy?

  There's no single definition. Most investors look at a mix of factors including consistent earnings or revenue growth, healthy profit margins, manageable debt and solid P/E ratio. Analyst consensus ratings can offer a useful starting point, but they're opinions, not guarantees. Strong companies can still see their share prices fall, and unloved stocks can rebound.

• Are the best-performing stocks always the best stocks to buy?

  Not necessarily. A stock that has been on the move may leave less upside and more downside if results disappoint. Past performance is not a reliable predictor of future returns, which is why most screens also look at fundamentals, analyst outlook and valuation rather than year-to-date returns alone.

• How many stocks should I own?

  There's no magic number, but most experts suggest holding enough different, across different sectors, to avoid having your portfolio's fate tied to any single company. For investors who don't want to manage a long list of individual positions, ETFs and index funds can deliver broad diversification in a single trade.

• What's the difference between fundamental and technical analysis?

  Fundamental analysis looks at a company's underlying business: earnings, revenue, margins, debt, competitive position. This will allow you to estimate what its shares are really worth. Technical analysis ignores the business and focuses on price charts, volume and patterns to identify trends and entry points. Many investors use a combination of both.

• Are individual stocks or ETFs better for beginners?

  ETFs are generally considered a safer starting point because they spread your money across many companies in a single fund, which reduces the impact of any one stock performing badly. Individual stocks can offer bigger gains but also bigger losses. A common approach is to build a core portfolio of low-cost index ETFs and then add individual stocks once you're comfortable researching companies on your own. See our guide to the best stocks for beginners with little money.

• What are blue chip stocks?

  Blue chip stocks are shares in large, well-established companies with a long track record of stable earnings and, often, regular dividend payments. They tend to be less volatile than smaller or newer companies, which is why they're frequently recommended for beginners and long-term investors. Learn more in our guide to blue chip stocks.

• Do analyst ratings actually predict stock performance?

  Analyst ratings reflect the consensus view of professionals who follow a company closely, so they can be a useful input. But analysts can be wrong, ratings tend to lag price moves and a "Buy" rating is not a guarantee of gains. Treat them as one data point among many rather than a recommendation to act.

• When is the best time to buy stocks?

  Trying to time the market is notoriously difficult, even for professionals. Many long-term investors use dollar-cost averaging, investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule, to smooth out the highs and lows rather than waiting for the "right" moment. The longer your time horizon, the less individual entry points tend to matter.

• How much money do I need to start buying stocks?

  Less than ever. Most major brokerages have no account minimum, charge no commission on US stock trades and offer fractional shares, which let you buy a portion of a share for as little as a few dollars. That means you can start building a portfolio without needing the full price of a single share.

• What are the main risks of buying individual stocks?

  Individual stocks carry company-specific risk: bad earnings, management changes, lawsuits or product failures can sink a single stock even when the broader market is rising. They're also exposed to market risk, sector risk and, for international companies, currency risk. Diversifying across companies and sectors and only investing money you can afford to lose for the long term helps manage these risks.

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Written by

Matt Miczulski

Investments editor and market analyst

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Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

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