I Beat the S&P 500 Again. Here Are the 10 Stocks I’m Betting on for 2026.

2026, January 1 - 2026

Happy New Year to you all!

This is a very quick post to recap how my 2025 portfolio ended the year and to introduce my 2026 picks. Ready? Let’s go!

My 2025 Picks

(my original post one year ago is here)

My 10 picks for 2025 returned +36.1%, versus +16.4% for the S&P 500. Below is how the full portfolio ended the year.

MU was the best performer, with an outstanding +239% in a single year, followed by ARQT at +108% and CELH at +73%.

It was a very difficult year, especially during the tariff-related craziness between March and April 2025. That period pushed the market close to bear-market territory and sent some stocks in the portfolio down almost -70%. Not for every stomach out there!

Yet the portfolio—made up largely of small and mid caps—managed to outperform the index by more than 2x.

Here is the track record since I started this tradition of sharing a portfolio at the beginning of every year, with the goal of outperforming the S&P 500.

YEAR — PERFORMANCE (%) vs. S&P 500

2023: +54% vs. +26%
2024: +138% vs. +25%
2025: +36.1% vs. +16.4%

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Now, on to my 2026 picks and the rationale behind each one. Ready? Let’s go.

1. Blackstone (BX)

Blackstone is a pillar of this portfolio. With a market cap around $188 billion, it runs money across private equity, credit, real estate, and infrastructure. When liquidity improves, firms like BX tend to benefit first. It combines scale with discipline. Uniform ROA is 38%, margins are an exceptional 74%, and revenue is expected to grow 18% annually. This is quality, not hype.

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2. Evercore (EVR)

Evercore (MC 14B) is a reminder that simple models can be powerful. It advises on deals and does not need heavy assets to do so. If confidence returns and M&A activity picks up, earnings can rebound fast. Uniform ROA is a striking 516%, margins sit at 26%, and forward growth is 22%. High efficiency, high operating leverage.

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3. Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO)

Halozyme (MC 7.8B) is how you own biotech without losing sleep. Instead of betting on a single drug, it collects royalties from many partners using its drug-delivery technology. That means cash flow, not clinical drama. Uniform ROA is 58%, margins are 61%, and revenue growth is forecast at 26%. This is a quality business wearing a biotech label.

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4. Global-e Online (GLBE)

Global-e (MC 6.7B) quietly sits at the center of cross-border e-commerce. It handles the hard stuff so merchants can sell globally. As international online trade grows, Global-e scales with it. Uniform ROA is 100%, margins reach 37%, and revenue growth is 27%. This is what a strong software platform looks like.

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5. Clear Secure (YOU)

Clear Secure (MC 4.7B) is best known for airports, but its real value lies in digital identity. That market is only getting bigger. Even in choppy markets, security spending tends to hold up. Uniform ROA is 97%, margins are 22%, and revenue is growing at 33%. A defensive growth story with real economics.

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6. dLocal (DLO)

dLocal (MC 4.2B) helps global companies accept payments in emerging markets. It is volatile, but the business model is extremely efficient. Uniform ROA stands at an eye-catching 672%, margins are 21%, and revenue growth is 29%. If sentiment toward emerging markets improves, this one can move fast.

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7. Zeta Global (ZETA)

Zeta (MC 5B) operates where data meets marketing. As companies push for better returns on ad spend, platforms like Zeta matter more. The business is still scaling, but profitability is improving. Uniform ROA is 47%, margins are 18%, and forward growth sits at 33%. High upside, with some cycle sensitivity.

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8. Harrow Health (HROW)

Harrow Health (MC 1.8B) is small, but growing fast. It focuses on eye-care drugs and executes through acquisitions and launches. It is the most aggressive growth name in the portfolio. Uniform ROA is 69%, margins are 36%, and revenue growth is projected at 44%. Higher risk, but also higher potential.

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9. Viper Energy Partners (VNOM)

Viper (MC 13.9B) is here for balance. It owns energy royalties and turns production directly into cash. If inflation sticks around or energy prices surprise to the upside, VNOM helps. Uniform ROA is 16%, margins are 45%, and revenue growth is 29%. Less exciting, but strategically important.

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10. First Solar (FSLR)

First Solar (MC 28B) adds industrial and policy exposure to the mix. It builds utility-scale solar modules in a market backed by long-term incentives. Returns are lower than software names, but diversification matters. Uniform ROA is 10%, margins are 37%, and revenue growth is 23%. A stabilizer with upside.

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Closing thought

This portfolio is not about chasing the hottest story. It’s about owning real businesses with real returns, strong growth, fair to undervalued valuations and enough diversification to survive 2026 without giving up the chance to beat the index.

Here is what the portfolio looks like today, along with the link to follow it in real time, anytime. Link

Let’s see what 2026 will bring—and whether I’ll manage to beat the market four years in a row. Best of luck to you all!

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Important: This is not investment advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Disclosure: The content has been reviewed using artificial intelligence to enhance readability and ensure grammatical accuracy.