2020’s top stocks typically were tied to companies that benefited from new and accelerated trends. However, many of the best stocks for 2021 are largely expected to benefit from a “return to normalcy” and a healing economy. Exactly when during 2021 you can expect to see these gains is another story altogether. That hinges on issues such as when and if the government will produce a stimulus bill, and how long it will take vaccines to be distributed, among others.
Here, then, are the 9 best stocks to buy for 2021. A few of these stocks have been bulldozers for a long time and simply look primed to continue their success for yet another year. Many more of these stocks are clear “recovery” plays that took it on the chin for much of 2020, but are largely expected to turn things around in 2021.
1. PayPal Holdings
- Industry: Credit services
- Market value: $247.0 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
His recent performance has not been spotless. The fund, with $125 billion in assets, has failed to beat its large-company benchmark in two of the past five years. His long-term record is what counts, and it is brilliant. Personal Finance and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute – is not counting Danoff out. For example, Danoff bought PayPal Holdings (PYPL, $210.80), the digital payment company, in 2015, the year it was spun off from eBay.
2. Castle Biosciences
- Industry: Diagnostics and research
- Market value: $1.2 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Castle Biosciences, Inc., a commercial-stage dermatological cancer company, focuses to provide diagnostic and prognostic solutions for dermatological cancers.
Wasatch is making a big bet on health care, at more than a third of the fund’s assets right now. Glassman also has been looking closely at the portfolio of Wasatch Ultra Growth (WAMCX), a fund bucking the trend by returning an incredible annual average of 26.6% over the past five years. Castle shares began trading only a year and a half ago and have since shot up 262% from their initial public offering (IPO) price of $16.
3. IEC Electronics
- Industry: Electronic components
- Market value: $121.9 million
- Dividend yield: N/A
The company was founded by Roger E. Main in 1966 and is headquartered in Newark, NY. IEC Electronics Corp. provides electronic manufacturing services to technology companies that produce products for the medical, industrial, aerospace and defense sectors. It delivers technical solutions for the custom manufacturing, product configuration, and verification testing of engineered products.
4. Hilton Worldwide Holdings
- Industry: Lodging
- Market value: $29.6 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Founded by Conrad Hilton in May 1919, the corporation is now led by Christopher J. Nassetta. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., formerly Hilton Hotels Corporation, is an American multinational hospitality company that manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts.
Hilton is headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, U.S. As of June 30, 2020, its portfolio includes 6,215 properties (including timeshare properties) with 983,465 rooms in 118 countries and territories, including 690 that are managed and 5,405 that are franchised, with the combined managed and franchised properties having a total of 953,946 rooms, in addition to 65 that are owned or leased including 57 that are wholly owned or leased, one owned by a consolidated non-wholly owned entity, two that are leased by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) and five that are owned or leased by unconsolidated affiliates.
5. Alibaba Group
- Industry: Internet retail
- Market value: $713.7 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Glassman is interested in the big, new stake that Matthews China (MCHFX) took in global e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (BABA, $263.80). Alibaba is booming: Revenues have more than tripled in three years. The stock is booming, too, but its continued upside potential makes it one of the best stocks to buy for 2021.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, also known as Alibaba Group and as Alibaba.com, is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology.
6. Pinterest
- Industry: Social media
- Market value: $42.3 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Pinterest (PINS, $68.47) is a social-networking app that allows users to share images grouped by keywords. Generally speaking, the user experience is about finding and providing inspiration.
Pinterest is not a social media experience like Facebook, Snap (SNAP) and Twitter (TWTR). It’s considered more of a personal experience. When users come to Pinterest, often they are trying to find or accomplish something.
7. Twilio
- Industry: Internet content and information
- Market value: $50.2 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Twilio (TWLO, $312.54) enables businesses to integrate text, chat, email, voice and video into products that boost customer engagement – automatic text notifications for appointments, say, or communication between Instacart shoppers and hungry families.
Twilio allows software developers to programmatically make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and perform other communication functions using its web service APIs. Twilio is an American cloud communications platform as a service company based in San Francisco, California.
8. Upland Software
- Industry: Application software
- Market value: $1.3 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
His 2020 choice, Okta (OKTA), has more than doubled through early December. Glassman’s annual selections from Tillman’s Buy recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 now for nine years in a row. Once again, Terry Tillman, an analyst with Truist Securities (formerly SunTrust Robinson Humphrey), came through big-time.
They’re not into the latest buzzwords, giving TED Talks, or selling you on our brand. Their products speak for themselves, delivering the kind of value that makes an immediate impact and grows with your business over time.
9. Wayfair
- Industry: Internet retail
- Market value: $23.9 billion
- Dividend yield: N/A
Internet home goods retailer Wayfair (W, $240.60) beat expectations for results in the most recent quarter by almost any measure.
Wayfair Inc. is an American e-commerce company that sells furniture and home-goods. Formerly known as CSN Stores, the company was founded in 2002. Their digital platform offers 14 million items from more than 11,000 global suppliers.