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Welcome to Episode #481 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.
Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds, and ETFs and how it impacts your life.
This week, Tracey went solo to look at finding top stocks to buy right now. Even if you’re not a premium member of Zacks, the website provides a lot of free information for investors.
Using the Zacks Website to Find Top Stocks
The Zacks Rank is an easy way to find top stocks that have rising earnings estimates. The #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks are a rare breed. It’s the top Zacks Rank. At any given time, there may only be between 200 and 250 stocks that are Strong Buys. Currently, there are just 203 #1 Rank stocks.
Remember, the Zacks Rank can change daily as it’s based on analyst earnings estimate revisions.
You don’t have to be a Zacks Premium member to get access to some of the Strong Buy stocks. On Zacks.com, it will list the most recent 5 additions to the Zacks #1 Rank list right on the home page.
It’s a place to start to find top stocks.
These are the 5 most recent stocks that became Strong Buys as of the time of the recording of the podcast, on Apr 7, 2026.
Occidental Petroleum produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas. On Jan 2, 2026, Oxy sold its OxyChem division, so it’s focus is solely on oil and natural gas. Occidental Petroleum produces in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. Exposure in the Middle East is in Dubai and Oman.
Shares of Occidental are up 45.4% year-to-date as oil has soared over $100 a barrel. Analysts have been revising 2026 estimates higher in the last month. 1 estimate is higher in the last week and 5 were revised higher in the last 30 days.
It has pushed up the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $3.10 from $1.28 in the last month. That’s earnings growth of 40.3% as Occidental Petroleum earned just $2.21 last year.
Is it time to buy a big cap oil and natural gas producer like Occidental Petroleum?
Archer Daniels Midland is a global agricultural supply chain manager and processor. It has the industry’s broadest portfolio of ingredients. ADM’s old tag line used to be “supermarket to the world.”
Shares of Archer Daniels Midland are up 25% year-to-date. After three years of declining earnings, analysts are finally bullish in 2026. 2 estimates are higher in the last 30 days, which has pushed up the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $4.32 from $3.95. That’s earnings growth of 26% as ADM made $3.43 last year.
Should you put Archer Daniels Midland on your short list in 2026?
3. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR - Free Report)
Innovative Industrial Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the ownership and management of cannabis facilities. As of Dec 31, 2025, it owned 111 properties in the United States.
The cannabis industry is struggling. Shares of Innovative Industrial Properties are down 74.5% in the last 5 years but have gained 4.1% in 2026.
Two estimates are higher for 2026 in the last 60 days, and one is lower. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has risen to $7.52 from $7.33 during that time. That’s earnings growth of 3.9% as IIPR made $7.24 last year.
As a REIT, Innovative Industrial Properties pays a dividend. It’s currently $7.60 annually, which is yielding 15.2%.
Is the worst over for Innovative Industrial Properties?
Magnolia Oil & Gas is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in South Texas. It is a junior producer with a market cap of $6 billion.
Shares of Magnolia Oil & Gas are up 36.4% year-to-date as oil has soared over $100 a barrel. The analysts have gotten bullish about Magnolia in the last month. 2 estimates are higher in the last 7 days with 5 higher in the last month.
The Zacks Consensus has jumped to $2.44 from $1.53 in the last 30 days. That’s earnings growth of 36.3% because it made $1.79 last year. And some analysts are even more bullish as the most accurate estimate is calling for $3.00 for 2026.
Magnolia Oil & Gas was a Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) when the podcast was recorded on Apr 7, 2026, but the Rank can change daily. Magnolia has subsequently dropped to a #2 (Buy) stock.
With uncertainty in the Middle East, and big swings in oil, should you have Magnolia Oil & Gas on your short list?
Malibu Boats is a manufacturer and marketer of a diverse range of recreational powerboats and marine services. On Mar 2, 2026, Malibu Boats announced it had acquired Saxdor Yachts, a European manufacturer of premium adventure dayboats for $175 million.
It’s been a tough market for boats since 2022 when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Shares of Malibu Boats are down 70% over the last 5 years and have fallen another 11.7% in 2026.
For both fiscal 2026 and 2027, one estimate is higher in the last month. The 2026 Zacks Consensus Estimate has risen to $1.31 from $1.26 in that period. That’s still an earnings decline of 17.1%, however.
But analysts believe that could be the bottom in earnings as the fiscal 2027 Zacks Consensus Estimate has jumped to $2.05 from $1.96 in the last month. That’s earnings growth of 56.5%.
With shares sinking to new 5-year lows this year, is it too soon to dive into Malibu Boats?
What Else Should You Know About Finding Top Stocks Right Now?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out how to find Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks.
[In full disclosure, Tracey owns MGY in the Value Investor portfolio and her own personal portfolio.]
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How to Find Top Stocks to Buy Right Now
Key Takeaways
Welcome to Episode #481 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.
Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds, and ETFs and how it impacts your life.
This week, Tracey went solo to look at finding top stocks to buy right now. Even if you’re not a premium member of Zacks, the website provides a lot of free information for investors.
Using the Zacks Website to Find Top Stocks
The Zacks Rank is an easy way to find top stocks that have rising earnings estimates. The #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks are a rare breed. It’s the top Zacks Rank. At any given time, there may only be between 200 and 250 stocks that are Strong Buys. Currently, there are just 203 #1 Rank stocks.
Remember, the Zacks Rank can change daily as it’s based on analyst earnings estimate revisions.
You don’t have to be a Zacks Premium member to get access to some of the Strong Buy stocks. On Zacks.com, it will list the most recent 5 additions to the Zacks #1 Rank list right on the home page.
It’s a place to start to find top stocks.
These are the 5 most recent stocks that became Strong Buys as of the time of the recording of the podcast, on Apr 7, 2026.
5 Zacks Strong Buy Stocks for Your Short List
1. Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY - Free Report)
Occidental Petroleum produces, markets and transports oil and natural gas. On Jan 2, 2026, Oxy sold its OxyChem division, so it’s focus is solely on oil and natural gas. Occidental Petroleum produces in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. Exposure in the Middle East is in Dubai and Oman.
Shares of Occidental are up 45.4% year-to-date as oil has soared over $100 a barrel. Analysts have been revising 2026 estimates higher in the last month. 1 estimate is higher in the last week and 5 were revised higher in the last 30 days.
It has pushed up the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $3.10 from $1.28 in the last month. That’s earnings growth of 40.3% as Occidental Petroleum earned just $2.21 last year.
Is it time to buy a big cap oil and natural gas producer like Occidental Petroleum?
2. Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM - Free Report)
Archer Daniels Midland is a global agricultural supply chain manager and processor. It has the industry’s broadest portfolio of ingredients. ADM’s old tag line used to be “supermarket to the world.”
Shares of Archer Daniels Midland are up 25% year-to-date. After three years of declining earnings, analysts are finally bullish in 2026. 2 estimates are higher in the last 30 days, which has pushed up the Zacks Consensus Estimate to $4.32 from $3.95. That’s earnings growth of 26% as ADM made $3.43 last year.
Should you put Archer Daniels Midland on your short list in 2026?
3. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR - Free Report)
Innovative Industrial Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the ownership and management of cannabis facilities. As of Dec 31, 2025, it owned 111 properties in the United States.
The cannabis industry is struggling. Shares of Innovative Industrial Properties are down 74.5% in the last 5 years but have gained 4.1% in 2026.
Two estimates are higher for 2026 in the last 60 days, and one is lower. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has risen to $7.52 from $7.33 during that time. That’s earnings growth of 3.9% as IIPR made $7.24 last year.
As a REIT, Innovative Industrial Properties pays a dividend. It’s currently $7.60 annually, which is yielding 15.2%.
Is the worst over for Innovative Industrial Properties?
4. Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp. (MGY - Free Report)
Magnolia Oil & Gas is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in South Texas. It is a junior producer with a market cap of $6 billion.
Shares of Magnolia Oil & Gas are up 36.4% year-to-date as oil has soared over $100 a barrel. The analysts have gotten bullish about Magnolia in the last month. 2 estimates are higher in the last 7 days with 5 higher in the last month.
The Zacks Consensus has jumped to $2.44 from $1.53 in the last 30 days. That’s earnings growth of 36.3% because it made $1.79 last year. And some analysts are even more bullish as the most accurate estimate is calling for $3.00 for 2026.
Magnolia Oil & Gas was a Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) when the podcast was recorded on Apr 7, 2026, but the Rank can change daily. Magnolia has subsequently dropped to a #2 (Buy) stock.
With uncertainty in the Middle East, and big swings in oil, should you have Magnolia Oil & Gas on your short list?
5. Malibu Boats, Inc. (MBUU - Free Report)
Malibu Boats is a manufacturer and marketer of a diverse range of recreational powerboats and marine services. On Mar 2, 2026, Malibu Boats announced it had acquired Saxdor Yachts, a European manufacturer of premium adventure dayboats for $175 million.
It’s been a tough market for boats since 2022 when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Shares of Malibu Boats are down 70% over the last 5 years and have fallen another 11.7% in 2026.
For both fiscal 2026 and 2027, one estimate is higher in the last month. The 2026 Zacks Consensus Estimate has risen to $1.31 from $1.26 in that period. That’s still an earnings decline of 17.1%, however.
But analysts believe that could be the bottom in earnings as the fiscal 2027 Zacks Consensus Estimate has jumped to $2.05 from $1.96 in the last month. That’s earnings growth of 56.5%.
With shares sinking to new 5-year lows this year, is it too soon to dive into Malibu Boats?
What Else Should You Know About Finding Top Stocks Right Now?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out how to find Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks.
[In full disclosure, Tracey owns MGY in the Value Investor portfolio and her own personal portfolio.]