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Best Health & Fitness Stocks to Buy as Wellness Demand Grows

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An updated edition of the August 3, 2026 article.

Health and fitness is increasingly becoming part of everyday consumer behavior rather than a stand-alone lifestyle category. From exercise and nutrition to preventive care and digital monitoring, people are taking a more active role in managing their physical and mental well-being. This shift has broadened the industry's reach across fitness centers, nutrition products, healthcare services, wellness programs and technology-driven solutions.

Digital tools are accelerating this transition. Wearables and health applications allow users to track activity, sleep and other wellness metrics, while virtual coaching and connected platforms make personalized guidance easier to access. Growing concern about obesity, chronic illnesses and mental health is also encouraging consumers to focus more on prevention and consistent lifestyle improvements instead of relying only on treatment after health problems develop.

Large technology companies are expanding their presence in this space. Apple ((AAPL - Free Report) uses the Apple Watch and Fitness+ to connect health monitoring with workouts and fitness content. Amazon ((AMZN - Free Report) ), through One Medical, is building a broader healthcare platform supported by virtual services and AI-enabled tools. Such offerings illustrate how the boundaries between fitness, healthcare and consumer technology are becoming increasingly blurred.

The long-term market opportunity remains substantial. The global health and wellness market is projected to reach $7.76 trillion by 2035, a CAGR of 4.94% from 2026. Preventive healthcare programs, employee wellness initiatives and supportive public policies are expected to contribute to this growth.

Consumer preferences are also becoming more specialized. Boutique fitness studios, premium wellness clubs, personalized nutrition services and connected health devices are gaining attention as people seek solutions tailored to their individual goals. These trends can create opportunities for companies, such as The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) , Garmin Ltd. (GRMN - Free Report) and Herbalife Ltd. (HLF - Free Report) , which participate in different areas of the broader health and fitness ecosystem.

From an investment perspective, the theme is supported by a structural shift toward healthier lifestyles, greater use of digital health technology and stronger interest in preventive care. The Health & Fitness Screenbrings together companies exposed to these trends, giving investors a way to explore businesses positioned across the expanding wellness economy.

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3 Health & Fitness Stocks to Buy Now

The Vita Coco Company has built its health-and-fitness exposure around a portfolio of functional, plant-based beverages. Its core offering is Vita Coco coconut water, supported by products such as Vita Coco Extra Coconut, Coconut Juice, Farmers Organic, Coconut MLK and Vita Coco Treats. The Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company also sells coconut oil and supplies private-label coconut water and coconut oil to retailers. Its most directly fitness-focused product is PWR LIFT, a protein-infused sports drink formulated with electrolytes, BCAAs and no sugar for post-workout hydration and recovery. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here

The business has gradually moved beyond its original coconut-water focus. Vita Coco entered the U.S. market in 2004 and helped establish packaged coconut water as a lifestyle beverage. Over time, the brand expanded from mostly pure coconut water into a wider group of coconut-based drinks and plant-based alternatives. In 2021, the company launched PWR LIFT to address fitness and recovery occasions, giving it a more direct presence in sports nutrition. While the product has gained traction online, Vita Coco was still refining its long-term retail strategy and planned to continue online sales while reworking its approach to the protein-drink category in 2026.

This evolution fits the company’s broader position in functional beverages. Management sees rising interest in hydration, lower added sugar, fewer artificial ingredients and products that provide added functional benefits. Vita Coco therefore competes with not only coconut-water brands but also sports drinks, enhanced waters, energy drinks and other functional beverages. Its innovation efforts focus on natural, functional ingredients, with development aimed at adding new benefits, improving taste and creating products for different occasions and consumer needs. The company also distributes through fitness clubs alongside traditional retail and e-commerce channels, extending its reach into settings closely connected with active lifestyles.

Garmin has broadened its role in health and fitness well beyond its roots in GPS technology, creating a connected portfolio that combines wearables, training equipment, health-monitoring devices and digital services. Its fitness lineup includes Forerunner running watches, cycling computers, Tacx indoor trainers and smartwatches sold under brands such as Venu, vívoactive, vívomove, Lily, vívosmart and Bounce. The range also covers heart rate monitors, smart scales, blood pressure monitors and sleep-monitoring products. Supporting this hardware is Garmin Connect, which lets users track exercise, review health and wellness information, join challenges and training groups, and study performance trends. Garmin Connect+ adds premium dashboards and insights, while the Connect IQ platform enables outside developers to build apps, widgets and watch faces. This combination has gradually shifted Garmin toward a more integrated fitness and wellness ecosystem rather than a business centered mainly on standalone devices.

The #1 Ranked company has also widened the types of users and training needs it can address. Garmin's products support runners, cyclists, multisport athletes and consumers focused on everyday wellness, with capabilities ranging from continuous health and heart rate monitoring to ECG features, music storage, Garmin Pay and more advanced training functions. Its MYLAPS operations add another dimension by supplying timing and performance-analysis technology to athletes, clubs, event organizers and sports federations. Garmin further expanded its training presence through the acquisitions of TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic, adding platforms focused on endurance and strength coaching. These businesses can link workout information generated by Garmin devices with coaches who evaluate performance and provide more individualized guidance, strengthening the connection between wearable technology and structured training.

Garmin continues to build on this model through new devices, software and services designed to keep users engaged for longer. In the latest reported quarter, it launched the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170 running smartwatches and unveiled the CIRQA Smart Band, a screen-free wearable that provides health and wellness insights without a subscription requirement. Management also highlighted healthy demand for higher-end wearables and growth across fitness product categories, while expecting fitness to remain Garmin's largest growth contributor in 2026. With hardware increasingly supported by coaching platforms, connected software, subscription offerings and health-monitoring capabilities, Garmin's fitness business is evolving toward a broader platform covering exercise, recovery, wellness and ongoing performance management.

Herbalife has developed its health and fitness business around science-backed nutrition products, personalized coaching and community support. Its portfolio spans weight management, targeted nutrition, energy, sports and fitness, and outer nutrition products across 95 markets. Key offerings include Formula 1 Healthy Meal, Herbal Tea Concentrate, Protein Drink Mix, Personalized Protein Powder and the Herbalife24 sports nutrition line. Energy, sports and fitness products are specifically designed to support active lifestyles, while weight-management products include meal replacements, protein shakes, snacks and supplements. Formula 1 remains the company’s largest product line.

Over its 46-year history, Herbalife has broadened from selling nutrition products to supporting wider health, fitness and lifestyle goals. Its direct-selling model places independent Members at the center of the experience, providing customers with product education, coaching and encouragement. Members have also developed programs that make health and fitness more interactive. These include Nutrition Clubs, Weight Loss Challenges, Fit Camps and Wellness Evaluations, which encourage regular product use while creating social support around nutrition and physical activity. Herbalife says growing interest in fitness, healthier living and nutrition has helped shape the business over time.

Product development has increasingly widened Herbalife’s reach beyond its traditional shake and supplement base. The Zacks Rank #1 company continues to invest in nutrition and botanical science, using internal research teams, outside experts and global advisory boards covering nutrition, dietetics, fitness and outer nutrition. Recent expansion has included Protein Gelato as a healthier snack option, MultiBurn for metabolic health and weight-loss support, and Life I/O, a healthy-lifespan brand whose first product, Baseline, was designed to support cellular health. This evolution shows Herbalife moving toward a broader wellness platform that combines nutrition, fitness support, product innovation and personalized guidance.

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