We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Welcome to Episode #483 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.
With the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ busting out to new record highs again in Apr 2026, it’s time to look for some top growth stocks.
What industries are hot right now?
AI Infrastructure and Energy are in the Spotlight
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the AI infrastructure stocks have big-time growth. But energy companies, including oil producers and refiners, are seeing a surge in earnings as oil prices have spiked during the Iran War.
Analysts are racing to catch up in both industries. That’s why there are many earnings estimates being revised higher, even before the companies release their first quarter earnings.
Screening for Top Growth Stocks
You don’t have to get fancy when screening for top growth stocks. Tracey used a Zacks Premium Screen called “Zacks #1 Rank Growth Stocks.”
Sounds simple enough. This screen looks for stocks that are Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buys, which is the highest Zacks Rank. Currently, there are only 212 Zacks Rank #1 stocks, out of over 4,000 stocks that Zacks covers with the Rank. This is an exclusive group.
The company must also have a minimum 20% historical growth EPS rate and a 20% or more projected growth rate.
This screen returned 44 stocks.
There were some AI infrastructure stocks, oil producers, oil refiners, fertilizers, semiconductors, and retailers.
Credo Technology provides high speed connectivity at scale through fast, reliable, and energy-efficient system solutions. This is an AI infrastructure stock. In the fiscal third quarter 2026, Credo Technology had record results, with revenue rising 201.5% year-over-year.
Shares of Credo Technology have soared 303% in the last year. But earnings growth has been stellar as well. Earnings are expected to grow 371% in fiscal 2026 and another 42.1% in fiscal 2027.
Credo Technology is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock.
Should Credo Technology be on your growth stock short list?
Sterling Infrastructure is a leader in E-Infrastructure, Transportation, and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands.
This is an AI infrastructure winner. Sterling grew earnings by 78.4% in 2025 and is expected to grow them another 26.5% in 2026. Shares of Sterling Infrastructure are up 244.7% over the last year.
Sterling Infrastructure is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) but it hasn’t even reported first quarter earnings yet. It’s expected to report earnings on May 4, 2026.
Should Sterling Infrastructure be on your short list?
Vertiv is up 1,267% over the last 5 years and is hitting new all-time highs this week.
Valero is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. It operates 14 oil refineries located in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom with a combined capacity of about 3 million barrels a day. Valero is also a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which produces low-carbon fuels including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Valero reported first quarter 2026 results on Apr 30, 2026, and beat the Zacks Consensus by $1.15, reporting $4.22 per share versus the consensus of $3.07.
Earnings jumped 25.1% in 2025 and are expected to climb another 117.2% in 2026.
Shares of Valero were already on the move higher before oil prices spiked in the Iran War. It has gained 117.6% in the last year.
Valero is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock.
If you’re looking for a growth stock outside of the AI infrastructure plays, should Valero Energy be on your short list?
What Else Should You Know About Screening for Top Growth Stocks?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out more.
[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of STRL in Zacks Value Investor and her own personal portfolio.]
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
3 Hot Growth Stocks to Buy Now
Key Takeaways
Welcome to Episode #483 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.
With the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ busting out to new record highs again in Apr 2026, it’s time to look for some top growth stocks.
What industries are hot right now?
AI Infrastructure and Energy are in the Spotlight
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the AI infrastructure stocks have big-time growth. But energy companies, including oil producers and refiners, are seeing a surge in earnings as oil prices have spiked during the Iran War.
Analysts are racing to catch up in both industries. That’s why there are many earnings estimates being revised higher, even before the companies release their first quarter earnings.
Screening for Top Growth Stocks
You don’t have to get fancy when screening for top growth stocks. Tracey used a Zacks Premium Screen called “Zacks #1 Rank Growth Stocks.”
Sounds simple enough. This screen looks for stocks that are Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buys, which is the highest Zacks Rank. Currently, there are only 212 Zacks Rank #1 stocks, out of over 4,000 stocks that Zacks covers with the Rank. This is an exclusive group.
The company must also have a minimum 20% historical growth EPS rate and a 20% or more projected growth rate.
This screen returned 44 stocks.
There were some AI infrastructure stocks, oil producers, oil refiners, fertilizers, semiconductors, and retailers.
3 Hot Growth Stocks to Buy Now
1. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO - Free Report)
Credo Technology provides high speed connectivity at scale through fast, reliable, and energy-efficient system solutions. This is an AI infrastructure stock. In the fiscal third quarter 2026, Credo Technology had record results, with revenue rising 201.5% year-over-year.
Shares of Credo Technology have soared 303% in the last year. But earnings growth has been stellar as well. Earnings are expected to grow 371% in fiscal 2026 and another 42.1% in fiscal 2027.
Credo Technology is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock.
Should Credo Technology be on your growth stock short list?
2. Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report)
Sterling Infrastructure is a leader in E-Infrastructure, Transportation, and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands.
This is an AI infrastructure winner. Sterling grew earnings by 78.4% in 2025 and is expected to grow them another 26.5% in 2026. Shares of Sterling Infrastructure are up 244.7% over the last year.
Sterling Infrastructure is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) but it hasn’t even reported first quarter earnings yet. It’s expected to report earnings on May 4, 2026.
Should Sterling Infrastructure be on your short list?
Vertiv is up 1,267% over the last 5 years and is hitting new all-time highs this week.
Could Vertiv be the Cisco of this decade?
3. Valero Energy Corp. (VLO - Free Report)
Valero is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. It operates 14 oil refineries located in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom with a combined capacity of about 3 million barrels a day. Valero is also a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which produces low-carbon fuels including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Valero reported first quarter 2026 results on Apr 30, 2026, and beat the Zacks Consensus by $1.15, reporting $4.22 per share versus the consensus of $3.07.
Earnings jumped 25.1% in 2025 and are expected to climb another 117.2% in 2026.
Shares of Valero were already on the move higher before oil prices spiked in the Iran War. It has gained 117.6% in the last year.
Valero is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock.
If you’re looking for a growth stock outside of the AI infrastructure plays, should Valero Energy be on your short list?
What Else Should You Know About Screening for Top Growth Stocks?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out more.
[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of STRL in Zacks Value Investor and her own personal portfolio.]