Wall Street analysts pick top S&P 500 stocks for H2 2026

Oracle, Intuit, CoStar Group, Nvidia and Micron are the five S&P 500 stocks that met CNBC’s FactSet screen for a buy rating from at least 60% of analysts and an expected upside of 40% or more for the second half of 2026 [2].

Analyst consensus on upside

CNBC’s FactSet‑based screen identified the five names after a strong first half, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 each rose about 10% and the Nasdaq climbed roughly 15% [2]. Oracle leads the list, with analysts averaging an 80% price target increase despite a 26% year‑to‑date decline tied to AI‑spending concerns [2]. Piper Sandler highlighted Oracle’s AI‑benefit narrative, noting its potential to protect OCI margins against rising component costs [2].

Intuit follows closely, with a 76% upside expectation even though the fintech firm is down 57% YTD, making it the most under‑performed S&P 500 component [2]. Wolfe Research reaffirmed its outperform rating, supporting the view that a rebound is plausible [2].

CoStar Group, down 55% YTD, carries a 62% upside projection. Benchmark Equity Research initiated coverage with a buy rating, citing a bottomed‑out residential segment and high subscription renewal rates [2].

Among technology stocks, Nvidia and Micron are the only non‑financials on the list. Nvidia, up just 3% YTD, still enjoys an 83% buy rating and a 60% upside target, driven by its position in parallel‑processing and IoT computing, according to Evercore ISI [2]. Micron, which has surged more than 200% YTD, is expected to add another 57% on top of its gains, with UBS pointing to strong earnings, supply agreements and a longer‑duration cycle as catalysts [2].

Market backdrop

The optimism around these picks sits on a broader market rally: the S&P 500’s year‑to‑date gain of roughly 10% and the Nasdaq’s 15% advance have been powered by AI‑related earnings growth and a relatively stable macro environment [2]. However, the rally is not uniform; the highlighted stocks have underperformed the index, creating a valuation gap that analysts believe will close as earnings improve and sentiment normalizes [2].

What to watch

• Q3 earnings releases for Oracle (Oct 2026) and Intuit (Oct 2026) – earnings surprises could validate the upside forecasts.
• AI spending trends reported in corporate guidance – a shift in AI capex could affect Oracle’s margin outlook and Nvidia’s growth narrative.
• Macro data such as the Fed’s post‑June rate decision and inflation reports – tighter monetary policy could pressure equity valuations despite the sector‑specific upside cases.

The five stocks illustrate where Wall Street sees the greatest upside potential: companies that have lagged the market but possess earnings catalysts—particularly AI adoption and strong balance‑sheet dynamics—that could drive a catch‑up rally in the second half of 2026. The real test will be whether earnings and macro conditions align with the optimistic price targets.