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Best Stocks to Buy Now for January 2026
5 Best Stocks to Buy Today
| Company (Ticker) | 12 Week Price Change | Forward PE | Price | Proj EPS Growth (1 Year) | Projected Sales Growth (1Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mistras Group (MG) | 38.91% | 13.48 | $13.07 | 18.67% | 2.45% |
| Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC) | 32.70% | 4.31 | $24.53 | 323.19% | 45.35% |
| Ternium (TX) | 8.77% | 6.20 | $40.56 | 114.86% | 11.10% |
| Core & Main (CNM) | 7.49% | 18.96 | $54.79 | 37.79% | 2.98% |
| Coeur Mining (CDE) | -6.48% | 12.24 | $18.93 | 112.36% | 30.18% |
*Updated on January 7, 2026.
Mistras Group (MG)
$13.07 USD -0.21 (-1.58%)
3-Year Stock Price Performance
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- Zacks Rank
Hold 3
- Style Scores
A Value B Growth A Momentum A VGM
- Market Cap:$407.60 M (Small Cap)
- Projected EPS Growth:15.28%
- Last Quarter EPS Growth:142.11%
- Last EPS Surprise:76.92%
- Next EPS Report date:March 4, 2026
Our Take:
MISTRAS Group provides technology-enabled asset protection and non-destructive testing for energy, aerospace/defense, power, and other industrial infrastructure. MG holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with Style Scores of B for Value and Momentum, and C for Growth, suggesting reasonable valuation and improving price action, while the top rank reflects positive estimate revisions, a pattern that often precedes near-term outperformance.
Operationally, execution has strengthened. 2025 featured record quarterly adjusted EBITDA, driven by margin expansion and pruning lower-return work. Management also advanced a higher-margin, data-centric mix by launching the MISTRAS Data Solutions brand and continuing to scale the OneSuite software ecosystem. In November, MISTRAS raised full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance above 2024’s level.
The Price, Consensus & EPS Surprise chart shows shares trending higher while 2025–2026 EPS estimates, after earlier cuts, stabilize and turn up. That alignment between estimate momentum and price strength supports a constructive near-term risk-reward.
Allied Gold Corporation (AAUC)
$24.53 USD -0.63 (-2.50%)
3-Year Stock Price Performance
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- Zacks Rank
- Hold 3
- Style Scores
B Value A Growth A Momentum A VGM
- Market Cap:$2.88 B (Mid Cap)
- Projected EPS Growth:885.71%
- Last Quarter EPS Growth:107.14%
- Last EPS Surprise:-38.30%
- Next EPS Report date:March 30, 2026
Our Take:
Allied Gold Corporation is a Canada-based gold producer with operating mines and growth projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Ethiopia. AAUC holds a Zacks Rank #1 with Style Scores of B for Value and Growth, and A for Momentum, signaling rising estimate momentum alongside supportive valuation and strong price action, an attractive near-term setup for a cyclical miner.
Fundamentals back the signal. Q3 2025 production of about 87,000 ounces and lower AISC showed improving execution, with management indicating a stronger Q4 and reaffirming an annual outlook near the top of its range. Sadiola’s Phase 1 expansion, now processing fresh ore, should lift volumes and improve unit costs into early 2026. Kurmuk’s recent exploration update adds medium-term growth optionality.
The chart shows a sharp breakout with 2026–2027 EPS estimates trending higher. That alignment of rising estimates and price strength, on top of tangible project catalysts, supports a constructive near-term outlook.
Ternium (TX)
$40.56 USD +1.10 (2.79%)
3-Year Stock Price Performance
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- Zacks Rank
Strong Buy 1
- Style Scores
A Value F Growth C Momentum B VGM
- Market Cap:$7.84 B (Mid Cap)
- Projected EPS Growth:83.85%
- Last Quarter EPS Growth:-92.19%
- Last EPS Surprise:-87.18%
- Next EPS Report date:Feb. 17, 2026
Our Take:
Ternium S.A. is a leading flat-steel producer in the Americas, anchored in Mexico with an integrated platform that also includes Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S. TX holds a Zacks Rank #1 with Style Scores of A for Value, F for Growth, and B for Momentum, pointing to discounted valuation and improving price action even as near-term growth looks uneven.
Fundamentals support the case. Q3 2025 results showed resilient profitability, and management guided Q4 EBITDA margin roughly in line with Q3 as softer pricing is offset by lower cost per ton, helped by raw-material relief and ongoing cost optimization. Strategically, Ternium also sought to consolidate its control at Usiminas in Brazil, thereby strengthening its regional footprint amid shifting trade dynamics under the USMCA.
The chart shows shares rebounding as longer-dated 2027 EPS estimates inflect higher after prior cuts. That alignment of value, estimate stabilization, and catalysts underpins a constructive near-term outlook for TX.
Core & Main (CNM)
$54.79 USD -0.86 (-1.55%)
3-Year Stock Price Performance
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- Zacks Rank
- Strong Buy 1
- Style Scores
C Value C Growth B Momentum B VGM
- Market Cap:$10.44 B (Large Cap)
- Projected EPS Growth:38.03%
- Last Quarter EPS Growth:-17.24%
- Last EPS Surprise:0.00%
- Next EPS Report date:March 24, 2026
Our Take:
Core & Main is a leading distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire-protection products serving municipalities and contractors across North America. CNM holds a Zacks Rank #1 with Style Scores of C for Value and Growth and A for Momentum. That mix argues the shares aren’t the cheapest on traditional metrics but enjoy strong price action and positive estimate revisions, often a constructive setup for distributors levered to multi-year infrastructure needs.
Fundamentals support the momentum. Fiscal Q3 2025 results showed modest top-line growth with gross-margin expansion and disciplined cost control. The purchase of Canada Waterworks extends the footprint and adds product depth in a contiguous market.
The chart shows a steady uptrend from 2024 into 2025, while the 2026–2027 EPS consensus has largely leveled after prior increases. That alignment, rising price with stable forward estimates, suggests investors are rewarding execution and network expansion, leaving CNM well-positioned as municipal and nonresidential projects progress.
Coeur Mining (CDE)
$18.93 USD -0.70 (-3.57%)
3-Year Stock Price Performance
Premium Research for CDE
- Zacks Rank
- Strong Buy 1
- Style Scores
D Value A Growth A Momentum B VGM
- Market Cap:$11.27 B (Large Cap)
- Projected EPS Growth:322.22%
- Last Quarter EPS Growth:15.00%
- Last EPS Surprise:-8.00%
- Next EPS Report date:Feb. 18, 2026
Our Take:
Coeur Mining is a U.S.-based precious-metals producer with five wholly owned operations, Rochester (NV), Palmarejo (MX), Kensington (AK), Wharf (SD) and Las Chispas (MX), and the Silvertip polymetallic project in British Columbia. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #1 with Style Scores of D for Value, and A for Growth and Momentum. That mix signals a richer valuation offset by powerful estimate and price momentum, typical of an upswing as assets ramp and costs improve.
Rochester achieved commercial production and continued to ramp, while Coeur posted record Q3 2025 results with robust revenue, operating cash flow, and margin expansion. Exploration and pipeline updates add durability. Palmarejo’s 2025 campaign, its largest since 2012, extended near-mine resources and identified new mineralization, and Silvertip’s recent work expanded high-priority targets.
On the chart, shares broke out in late 2025 as 2026–2027 EPS consensus trended higher, aligning estimate momentum with price strength, supporting a constructive near-term setup.
Best Stocks to Buy Now: How to Use This List
It’s important to understand what this list is, and what it isn’t.
For decades, the Zacks Rank has been a proven system that has helped investors identify stocks most likely to outperform. Instead of relying on hunches or hype, it’s grounded in earnings estimate revisions — a factor strongly correlated with stock price movement. When combined with additional fundamental metrics, the approach becomes even more powerful.
Still, it’s important to understand these basics:
- While the list offers exposure across several industries, it is not a fully diversified portfolio. You should think of it as a starting point, not a complete investing strategy.
- Even though these stocks are backed by a proven system, nothing protects you from short-term downside. Depending on market conditions, most — or even all — could decline in the near term.
- The Zacks Rank works because it captures trends in earnings momentum. That power plays out over weeks and months, not days. Investors with patience and discipline are more likely to benefit.
- Before buying any single stock, check how it aligns with your goals, risk tolerance, and broader portfolio.
Methodology
The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that uses trends in earnings estimate revisions and earnings-per-share (EPS) surprises to classify stocks into five groups: #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy), #3 (Hold), #4 (Sell) and #5 (Strong Sell). The Zacks Rank is calculated through four primary factors related to earnings estimates: analysts' consensus on earnings estimate revisions, the magnitude of revision change, the upside potential and estimate surprise (or the degree in which earnings per share deviated from the previous quarter).
Zacks builds the data from 3,000 analysts at over 150 different brokerage firms. The average yearly gain for Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks is +23.62% per year from January, 1988, through June 2, 2025.
For this list, only companies in the top 50% of industries that have average daily trading volumes of 100,000 shares or more were considered. Stocks with a share value of $5 or less were excluded. These companies earned Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) between Dec. 22, 2025 and Jan. 03, 2026. All information is current as of market open, Jan. 05, 2026.
Common Questions of New Investors
Where to Buy Stocks
To invest in stocks, you must open a brokerage account, fund the account and purchase stocks through your selected brokerage. Investors may also purchase stocks through a financial advisor or an automated robo advisor. Some publicly traded companies also offer a direct stock purchase plan, where you can purchase shares directly from the company.
Alternative Ways to Invest in Stocks
You can also invest in stock funds, such as mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds, where the fund managers select the pool of stocks that follow an investing strategy. These funds may broadly cover an entire index, such as the S&P 500, or specific types of stocks, such as industries like technology and energy companies, company size such as small cap companies, or location like international companies.
How to Start Investing in Stocks Today
It’s easy to start investing by opening an online brokerage account. Opening a standard brokerage account takes about 20 minutes and you’ll need to have some personal information ready, such as your social security number and your bank details to fund your account.
You’ll need to decide whether to open a taxable account (most common), a tax-deferred retirement account such as a traditional IRA or a tax-free retirement account such as a Roth IRA, which is funded with after-tax dollars, but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. A margin account allows for borrowing to purchase stocks and is best for experienced traders.
Set goals before you begin investing – determine how much you can afford to invest and your tolerance for risk.
What to Look for When You Buy Stocks?
The goal in all equities investment is to buy low and sell high, growing your wealth over time. Researching the companies to invest in is key – what kind of product or service do they offer? How do they compare with competitors? How fast are they growing? Does the stock pay regular dividends to shareholders? Does the stock help diversify your portfolio by giving you exposure to a market segment you currently don’t hold?
Understanding fundamental analysis can help determine whether the stock has the potential for growth at its current purchase price. Factors that can help determine that include earnings per share (EPS), price-to-earnings ratio and PE growth. Technical analysis is used looking at statistical patterns to potentially predict future price moves. Some investors may look for a growth and income strategy, looking for stocks with solid revenues that pay good dividends, or a value strategy, looking if a current stock price is below what their revenue, EPS and other factors suggest.
Analysts also often look for the momentum of a stock by looking at moving averages of a stock's closing price over a 50-day, 100-day or 12-month trailing time period to determine signals whether to buy or sell a stock.
