Strong Buy Candidates: Where to Deploy $1,000 in Today's Market

Key Insights

• Broadcom’s custom AI chip partnerships are reshaping the semiconductor landscape
• Alphabet and Amazon’s core operations continue to exceed expectations
• MercadoLibre trades at a discount despite its growth trajectory
• Market timing research suggests deploying capital now outweighs the risks

Why Now Is the Right Moment to Invest

The case for deploying capital into equities is compelling. Historical evidence demonstrates that the market’s upward bias over time means waiting for the “perfect entry” often proves more costly than buying into short-term volatility. Even if valuations appear stretched by conventional metrics, the opportunity cost of sitting on the sidelines typically exceeds temporary drawdowns for long-term investors. The following picks represent the best shares to buy now, each positioned for substantial performance throughout 2026.

Broadcom: The Custom Chip Revolution

Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) has positioned itself as a pivotal player in the custom semiconductor space. Rather than relying solely on established chip providers, leading AI companies—including major names like Alphabet and OpenAI—are collaborating with Broadcom to design proprietary chips tailored to their specific needs. While established competitors maintain their advantages, this diversification signals the maturation of the AI infrastructure market.

The financial projections underscore why this is one of the best shares to buy now. Revenue growth is anticipated to accelerate dramatically: 50% year-over-year for fiscal 2026, followed by 36% growth in FY 2027—a marked acceleration from the 24% growth recorded in FY 2025. This trajectory reflects genuine business momentum rather than speculative enthusiasm, making Broadcom an attractive entry point for investors positioning for the coming years.

Amazon: The Undervalued Performer

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) presents a classic opportunity for astute investors—a company delivering exceptional operational results that the market has yet to fully appreciate. The fundamentals across all segments point to sustained strength:

• Core retail business: Online sales grew 10% year-over-year, while third-party seller services expanded 12%—both representing recent performance highs
• AWS (cloud computing division): Q3 revenue advanced 20%, marking its strongest quarter in several periods
• Advertising services: Generated 24% revenue growth, similarly its best recent result

What makes Amazon particularly compelling as a best shares to buy now candidate is the disconnect between business execution and stock performance. While Amazon’s operations accelerated throughout 2025, its equity appreciated only 6%—substantially trailing broader market gains. This divergence historically signals mean reversion ahead. The company’s demonstrated ability to expand market share in competitive segments suggests the stock may finally catch up to operational reality in 2026.

Alphabet: From Skeptic’s Play to Market Leader

Alphabet’s AI narrative has shifted dramatically. Once dismissed by critics who believed generative AI would disrupt its core search business, the company has defied skepticism through both competitive innovation and fortress-like fundamentals:

• Google Search: Delivered 15% year-over-year growth in Q3, proving resilience despite predictions of AI-driven disruption
• Google Cloud: Achieved 33% revenue growth with operating margins expanding from 17% to 24%—demonstrating the division has crossed from investment phase to scaled profitability

Gemini’s emergence as a competitive generative AI platform, combined with these operational achievements, positions Alphabet as a durable holding. The convergence of renewed AI credibility and proven business resilience makes this among the best shares to buy now for investors seeking both growth and stability.

MercadoLibre: Latin America’s E-Commerce Juggernaut

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) remains underappreciated by mainstream investors despite its exceptional execution. By importing Amazon’s marketplace model to Latin America and augmenting it with a fintech payment platform—addressing the region’s historical lack of digital payment infrastructure—MercadoLibre has engineered consistent, exceptional growth.

The current valuation presents an opportunity. Trading approximately 25% below all-time highs, MercadoLibre offers an attractive entry for investors who recognize that nothing in the company’s competitive positioning or market dynamics suggests slowing growth is imminent. For those seeking exposure to emerging market e-commerce and fintech, this remains among the best shares to buy now.

The Investment Thesis for 2026

Each of these holdings shares a common theme: fundamental strength that equities markets have either undervalued or overlooked. Whether through custom chip adoption at Broadcom, Amazon’s market-share expansion, Alphabet’s AI redemption, or MercadoLibre’s regional dominance, the next twelve months present a genuine opportunity to capitalize on companies positioned for meaningful growth.