Bank of America’s top stock picks for 2026
Bank of America named a host of stocks it says are too hot to ignore as 2026 approaches. The Wall Street investment bank says companies like Nvidia are its best ideas with more room to run. Other buy-rated names screened by CNBC Pro include: UBS, Estee Lauder, Bruker and Ametek. Bruker The life sciences biotech company is a key focus stock heading into next year, the bank says. Analyst Michael Ryskin recently came away from meeting with management feeling more bullish on an “anticipated 2026 recovery,” he says. In particular, Ryskin sees end-market conditions improving. “BRKR sees headwinds fading in most key end markets, and cited encouraging trends in 3Q,” the analyst added. Ryskin also raised his price target to $60 per share from $43. “More confidence in ’26,” he said. Shares are up 7% over the past month. Estee Lauder The beauty company is firing on all cylinders, according to the bank. A team led by analyst Ashley Wallace recently added the cosmetics maker to Bank of America’s prestigious US1 top picks list, writing that beauty is well positioned for a big 2026. Wallace sees more growth in Estee Lauder’s oversees business as the company executes a turnaround. “Estee Lauder is most leveraged to the parts of beauty demand which are improving in 2026,” she wrote. The bank also raised its per-share price target to $130 from $120. “We think success can be had in speeding up [the] innovation cycle, entering new channels and redeploying cost savings back into consumer facing investment,” she said. The stock is up 44% this year with plenty more room to run, Bank of America said. UBS The largest bank in Switzerland, which also trades on the New York Stock Exchange, is a best idea in 2026, analyst Antonio Reale wrote recently. Reale also upgraded the bank to buy from neutral and added it Bank of America’s list of 25 stocks for 2026. UBS is also on the bank’s European US1 top picks list. “UBS is a highly attractive proposition, and the equity story combines the potential for more lenient capital requirements with areas of strong growth in wealth and capital markets,” he wrote. Reale also said UBS’ earnings per share growth is faster than any other global bank. Meanwhile, shares are up 32% this year. “Time to buy,” Reale said. Bruker “More confidence in ’26,. … .We came away more encouraged by the anticipated 2026 recovery, both for the broader LS [life sciences] Tools market and BRKR specifically. … .BRKR sees headwinds fading in most key end markets, and cited encouraging trends in 3Q.” Ametek “Ametek manufactures highly engineered components for niche markets. This gives the company strong pricing power, but a lower mix of recurring revenues versus other multi-industrials. In 2025, equipment customers engaged in significant destocking. The company has now lapped this destocking. Organic orders rose +7% y/y in 3Q25, the fastest growth since 3Q22.” Nvidia “Mid-age blues in AI investments, but we forecast another year of solid 50%+ YoY growth in AI semis driven by strong data center utilization, tight supply, enterprise adoption and race between LLM-builders, hyperscale and sovereign customers. Leader NVDA trading at compelling 24x/18x CY26/27E PE, half of its growth-rate, with solid pipeline and catalysts.” Read more. UBS “Time to buy. … .The end-result UBS is a highly attractive proposition, and the equity story combines the potential for more lenient capital requirements with areas of strong growth in wealth and capital markets. EPS is set to grow sequentially at the fastest pace of any bank globally.” Estee Lauder “Estee Lauder is most leveraged to the parts of beauty demand which are improving in 2026. … .We think success can be had in speeding up innovation cycle, entering new channels and redeploying cost savings back into consumer facing investment.”
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