Introduction

Fears surrounding the artificial intelligence trade and rising oil prices are casting a shadow over global markets. However, even in turbulent times, certain stocks present investors with compelling growth prospects. By focusing on the recommendations of seasoned Wall Street analysts, investors with a long-term perspective can navigate current market fluctuations and identify attractive opportunities.

According to TipRanks, a platform that evaluates analysts based on their historical performance, here are three stocks currently favored by some of the industry's top professionals:

UnitedHealth (UNH)

Health insurance giant UnitedHealth has demonstrated strong performance, exceeding expectations with its third-quarter results and raising its full-year earnings outlook. This positive trajectory is attributed to the ongoing progress in its turnaround plan.

Following the Q3 announcement, Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright reaffirmed a 'buy' rating on UNH stock, setting a price target of $529. Wright noted that UnitedHealth's performance, characterized by a 'beat and raise,' reinforces its turnaround momentum. Improvements in Medicare Advantage and Optum Health are supporting a higher baseline for 2026 earnings per share (EPS) and offering upside to 2027 consensus estimates.

The five-star analyst further highlighted that better-than-expected results from the UnitedHealthcare and Optum Health divisions led to an upward revision of the company's 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to at least $20.50. Notably, UnitedHealth raised its earnings guidance despite planned incremental investments in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Wright also pointed out that management views the consensus 2027 EPS of $22.63 as conservative. Achieving even the lower end of the company's long-term EPS growth target of 13% to 16% would suggest an EPS of $23.17.

Further adjustments saw Wright increase her 2026 EPS estimate to $20.65 from $19.82 and her 2027 EPS projection to $23.24 from $22.54. These revisions reflect recent upside and an improved medical loss ratio for 2026, projected at 87.4% compared to the previous 88.1%. Overall, Wright expresses increased confidence in UnitedHealth's operational performance, its UHC strategy, and the execution of the Optum Health turnaround.

Erin Wright is ranked No. 264 out of over 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Her ratings have a 64% success rate, yielding an average return of 15%.

Meta Platforms (META)

Social media behemoth Meta Platforms has captured significant attention following the launch of its Muse AI agent, which is reportedly experiencing strong user adoption. Investors are keenly awaiting further updates on the company's AI strategy during its third-quarter earnings announcement on October 21.

Ahead of its Q3 earnings report, Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris maintained a 'buy' rating on Meta stock and raised his price target to $850 from $700. This adjustment reflects higher estimates for 2027. Morris anticipates that the momentum of Muse usage and engagement levels will significantly influence investor sentiment leading up to the Q3 earnings call.

Morris cited data from Apptopia indicating that Muse reached 1.3 million daily active users within five weeks of its launch, a substantial increase from the 300,000 users in its first week. Given that Muse's current adoption represents less than 0.05% of Meta's massive 3.6 billion daily active user base, the analyst expects the company to prioritize boosting usage over immediate monetization efforts.

"Over time, we believe Muse monetizes primarily through businesses paying to reach consumers through their agents, consistent with the economics of Meta's core advertising business, rather than consumer wallets," Morris stated. He further noted that the integration with Shopify and PayPal supports this monetization framework.

Despite concerns that competitors might surpass Muse or the recently launched Muse Wonder, potentially leading to prolonged periods of overinvestment for Meta, Morris remains optimistic. He bases his bullish stance on the company's proven track record in scaling platforms like WhatsApp and effectively competing with TikTok through its Reels feature, all while offering free distribution to an extensive user base.

Michael Morris ranks No. 629 among over 12,500 analysts monitored by TipRanks. His ratings have achieved a 57% success rate, delivering an average return of 13.2%.

Marvell Technology (MRVL)

Marvell Technology, a key player in the semiconductor industry, recently hosted its Investor Day, where it boosted its total addressable market estimate to $400 billion by 2030. This upward revision is driven by robust demand tailwinds, particularly from the artificial intelligence sector.

Following a non-deal roadshow with Marvell's senior management post-Investor Day, Stifel analyst Tore Svanberg reiterated a 'buy' rating on the stock, setting a price target of $370. Svanberg's roadshow discussions primarily focused on the XPU and XPU Attach mix, as Marvell's Custom business aims for its fiscal year 2031 revenue target of $30 billion. Management indicated expectations for a balanced mix between XPU and XPU Attach revenue in FY31, with the potential for either segment to grow rapidly enough to shift the mix towards 60/40 or 40/60.

While XPU was the primary driver of nearly $1.5 billion in Custom revenue for FY26, Svanberg anticipates substantial growth in Marvell's XPU Attach business through the end of the decade, leading to a more balanced revenue mix. The company elevated its FY29 Custom target from over $10 billion to more than $12 billion at the Investor Day event, largely propelled by strength in the XPU Attach business.

A critical topic during the roadshow was Marvell's capacity to meet its revised targets. Management confirmed meeting with suppliers prior to Investor Day, sharing its five-year goals and securing commitments to support these projections. Svanberg believes these supply chain commitments provide Marvell with a competitive advantage, positioning it as a reliable partner for customers undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects.

Tore Svanberg ranks No. 91 among more than 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have proven profitable 58% of the time, generating an average return of 31.8%.