We screen the S&P 500 every month for capital efficiency, growth and balance-sheet strength, then verify each finalist against its latest SEC filing — here are our top 8 picks for September 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 8 best stocks to buy now
Updated September 2026 — reviewed by Finder’s investment team
Durable quality — Return on Invested Capital above 15%, sustained over multiple years
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.
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: five candidates — Micron, Nvidia, Broadcom, Comfort Systems USA and Vertiv — cleared the quality screen with AI infrastructure as a disclosed, material demand driver.
Micron and Nvidia sit at different points of chip supply (memory and GPUs/systems, respectively) and both cleared comfortably.
For the third seat, Broadcom, Comfort Systems USA and Vertiv were all reasonable candidates. Broadcom sells chips and networking gear, the same corner of the AI buildout as Micron and Nvidia — picking it would have meant three names all riding the same hyperscaler chip-spending trend. Vertiv sells something different: the power and cooling equipment inside data centers. We chose Vertiv so the list captures a second, distinct way to be exposed to AI infrastructure spending, not the same bet three times over.
Broadcom and Comfort Systems USA both remain quality businesses by our screen — they were set aside here on theme-diversification grounds, not because of a valuation or quality shortfall.
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 wasn’t the deciding factor behind this month’s theme-cap swap above.
Even with these checks, a meaningful share of this month’s 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. Micron Technology (MU)
Micron designs and manufactures memory and storage semiconductors — DRAM, NAND and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — sold to data center, mobile and automotive customers. Revenue grew from $25.1B to $37.4B in fiscal 2025, driven largely by AI-related demand for HBM in data centers.(1) The stock clears our screen on capital efficiency and balance-sheet strength.
Risk to know: Micron discloses real customer concentration — one customer accounted for 17% of fiscal 2025 revenue, and the top 10 customers together made up over half of total revenue. About half of Micron’s revenue is tied to the data center end market specifically.(1) Separately, China’s Cyberspace Administration has barred critical-infrastructure operators there from buying Micron products, an ongoing headwind.
2. Nvidia (NVDA)
Nvidia builds the GPUs, networking and software that power AI data centers, alongside its original gaming graphics business. Fiscal 2026 revenue hit a record $215.9 billion, up 65% year-over-year, with the Compute & Networking (data center/AI) segment now dominating the business — though gross and operating margins actually declined from the prior year as the business scaled.(2)
Risk to know: Two direct customers accounted for 36% of Nvidia’s total fiscal 2026 revenue (22% and 14% individually) — real concentration in a small number of large buyers.(2) Export controls are the other major swing factor: shifting US government licensing rules led to a $4.5 billion inventory charge tied to China restrictions in fiscal 2026, and Nvidia has effectively been foreclosed from China’s data center market as of fiscal year-end.
3. Vertiv Holdings (VRT)
Vertiv designs and services the power and cooling infrastructure that data centers depend on, with net sales up nearly 28% to $10.2 billion in fiscal 2025 and a record $15 billion order backlog.(3)
Risk to know: Vertiv discloses customer concentration as a qualitative risk rather than a specific percentage — its 10-K states that large, hyperscale data center customers “comprise a material portion” of its customer base, and that losing a major customer “could have an outsized impact” given how concentrated the data center market has become.(3)
4. First Solar (FSLR)
First Solar is the largest US-headquartered solar panel manufacturer and the world’s largest thin-film (CdTe) module maker — a technology that doesn’t rely on the Chinese crystalline-silicon supply chains most competitors use. Fiscal 2025 was a record year: 17.5 GW sold, $5.2B in net sales and a $15 billion contracted order backlog at year-end 2025.(4)
Risk to know: Two customers, Silicon Ranch and NextEra, each accounted for 10% or more of 2025 net sales, and 96% of sales were US-based — real geographic concentration.(4) First Solar also carries live tariff exposure — a February 2026 Supreme Court ruling struck down one set of tariffs it had been subject to, and trade-policy risk remains — plus an active product-quality issue: a $50 million liability tied to premature power loss in Series 7 modules built in 2023-2024.
5. Valero Energy (VLO)
Valero is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners in North America, with 15 refineries plus renewable diesel and ethanol operations.(5) The stock trades at a low forward valuation relative to earnings, reflecting the market’s usual discount on cyclical refining margins.
Risk to know: Valero’s most current 10-K states no single customer accounts for 10% or more of revenue.(5) The larger recent development is a $1.1 billion impairment recorded in 2025 tied to Valero’s plan to idle its Benicia, California refinery by the end of April 2026 and write down its Wilmington, California refinery — a reminder that refining margins and asset decisions can shift quickly.
6. Reddit (RDDT)
Reddit operates over 100,000 topic-based online communities and monetizes primarily through advertising, with a growing data-licensing business selling access to its content for AI model training. Average daily active uniques reached 121.4 million in Q4 2025.(6)
Risk to know: No single advertiser exceeds 10% of revenue, but Reddit’s top 10 advertisers together made up about 21% of fiscal 2025 revenue.(6) More notably, Reddit is currently facing a securities class-action lawsuit (filed June 2025) alleging the company misled investors about how Google’s AI Overviews search feature is affecting traffic to Reddit — a real, disclosed risk to how the business is found and monetized going forward.
7. Newmont (NEM)
Newmont is the world’s largest gold producer, with a diversified portfolio spanning Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America and Papua New Guinea, plus meaningful copper and silver production.(7)
Risk to know: Newmont’s business is inherently tied to commodity prices rather than any single customer — gold sells into a global market. Per the company’s own reserves disclosures, a $100/oz increase in the gold price would increase reserves by roughly 5%; a $100/oz decrease would cut them by about 2%.(7) Newmont’s 2025 reserve price assumption rose to $2,000/oz, up 18% from the prior year.
8. EOG Resources (EOG)
EOG is one of the largest US oil and gas exploration and production companies, operating across the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford and other major basins with a stated strategy of prioritizing rate of return and balance-sheet discipline over volume growth.(8)
Risk to know: EOG’s exposure is commodity price sensitivity, not customer concentration — the company states that losing either of its two purchasers representing more than 10% of revenue would not be material. Per its own disclosure, each $1/barrel move in oil price swings net income by roughly $174 million, and each $0.10/Mcf move in natural gas swings it by about $64 million.(8)
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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We re-run our screen monthly, checking each pick's fundamentals, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Moomoo pays up to $600 to switch, but Fidelity charges nothing to leave. See how these two very different brokers compare on fees, IRAs, crypto access and safety in 2026.
Moomoo and Webull both target active traders with free charting and cheap options — but only Webull offers retirement accounts. We compare fees, features, safety and switching costs to help you decide.
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.
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