Top 10 Stocks for 2025: Expert Analysis & Free Stock List

Successful investing requires the ability to identify opportunities that blend growth with stability. ProPicks AI has done just that, highlighting ten stocks to keep an eye on in 2025. These stocks have been carefully selected for their growth potential.

In the webinar below, Jesse Cohen, Thomas Monteiro, and Lon Juricic from Investing.com break down InvestingPro’s stock predictions for 2025, offering insights into the key factors that will shape the market. From the potential for further AI-driven growth to the looming threat of higher interest rates, these factors will undoubtedly influence stock performance throughout the year.

The consensus among Investing.com experts is that while the market appears overvalued, there are still ample opportunities for investors. Here’s a breakdown of what each expert had to say:

1. Thomas Monteiro believes that despite the market’s high valuations, short-term gains are still possible. Earnings remain strong, and analysts are revising projections for the S&P 500’s earnings growth upward. However, Monteiro warns that historically, when valuations are high, long-term returns tend to be lower. A potential market correction could add an element of volatility, but he remains optimistic that the S&P 500 will push toward new highs.
   
2. Lon Juricic, on the other hand, focuses on companies leveraging AI to drive efficiencies. Rather than chasing AI stocks themselves, Lon is looking at firms using AI to cut costs and boost profits. This trend could provide significant upside as long as valuation multiples stay stable. He also notes that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions will be key—if rates rise too much, stocks could face competition from safer investments like bonds.
   
3. Jesse Cohen ties everything together by emphasising the importance of stock picking in navigating 2025. With market volatility expected, identifying undervalued opportunities and companies with solid earnings growth will be essential for investors looking to make the most of 2025.

With these expert insights in mind, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Stock Picks for 2025, as identified by ProPicks AI.

These stocks offer a mix of stability, growth, and opportunities in key sectors like semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, and more.

ProPicks AI has sifted through the market to identify the top 10 stocks poised for growth in 2025. Here’s a rundown of five of its picks and why these stocks stand out:

Intel (INTC) had a difficult 2024, posting a significant decline of 60%. However, despite its underperformance, experts believe Intel still holds potential for a rebound and is already showing signs of recovery. Intel is pushing into the ultra-cheap AI chip market, a space that could deliver significant growth in an “iPhone moment” if the company can capitalize on its efforts. Additionally, partnerships like AWS and the support of the CHIPS Act could help Intel turn the corner.

Expert Insights

According to Thomas Monteiro, Intel has been undervalued for years but struggled to deliver returns due to stiff competition, especially from Nvidia. On the bright side, he sees a modest 10% upside potential with limited downside risk. In addition, Intel’s cost structure has improved, and recent partnerships (such as with AWS) and the CHIPS Act could provide upside potential.

Lon Juricic is more cautious, calling Intel a “dog with fleas” but recognizing its potential as a short-term trade. If takeover rumors materialize or Intel sees a sudden surge, investors might see some quick gains.

KLA Corporation (KLAC) is a semiconductor leader that has de-risked its exposure to China, making it a safer bet compared to other chip manufacturers. Over the past six months, the stock is down by 6%, leaving room for a potential rebound. KLA’s leadership in the semiconductor market, coupled with its defensive nature, makes it a strong candidate for steady growth in 2025.

Expert Insights

Lon Juricic sees KLA as a strong, defensive play within the semiconductor sector thanks to its de-risked exposure to the China markets. Thomas Monteiro highlights that, unlike Intel, KLA doesn’t have to fight for market share—it’s already an established leader with strong upside potential.

IDEX Corporation (IEX) is a specialty industrials company. The industrials sector has recently seen growth as investors pivot away from overvalued tech stocks, and is expected to continue at a modest 3-4% growth in 2025. IDEX’s stability and role as a “flight to quality” play make it a solid choice for more conservative investors looking for steady returns.

Expert Insights

Monteiro believes IDEX has the potential to outperform its peers, especially as investors shift away from overvalued tech stocks in search of more stable investments. Juricic sees it as a solid “flight to quality” play, though it’s unlikely to deliver the same explosive returns as some of the high-growth tech stocks.

As a leader in cybersecurity, Fortinet (FTNT) is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for robust security solutions, particularly with the rise of AI-driven cyber threats. A growing firewall upgrade cycle in 2025 should provide Fortinet with an additional tailwind, boosting demand for its solutions.

Expert Insights

Juricic is bullish on Fortinet, noting that there’s an ongoing firewall upgrade cycle that should drive demand. Monteiro agrees, highlighting cybersecurity as one of the few high-growth sectors with strong tailwinds.

LPL Financial (LPLA), one of the largest independent brokers in the U.S., benefits from a sweet spot in the financial sector thanks to its strong fundamentals.

Expert Insights

Monteiro explains that high interest rates are boosting margins, but they aren’t high enough to stifle growth, making LPL a sweet spot for investors, and very well-positioned to benefit. Juricic initially doubted LPL’s potential but admits that its cheap valuation and strong market positioning make it an attractive pick for 2025.

To find out the top 5 picks for 2025, take a look at the rest of the webinar, or keep reading:

Lockheed Martin (LMT) continues to be a solid pick for investors, with its strong position in the defense and aerospace sectors. Even with the potential setback thanks to the new administration’s focus on cost efficiency, it’s unlikely that defense spending will decrease in the areas that will more heavily affect this stock.

Global tensions are highly unlikely to abate any time in 2025, which makes Lockheed Martin’s portfolio of defense contracts a safe bet for investors seeking stability and growth.

HCA Holdings (HCA) is one of the biggest private hospital operators in the United States. The stock has sold off 16% since the election, and while it could probably sell off more, thanks to an aging population and an increase in elective surgery performance, InvestingPro has picked HCA to outperform in 2025 after an 11% gain in 2024.

Analysts are particularly bullish, with a growth anticipation of 30% over the course of the next 12 months.

JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) hails from the industrial sector of transportation and logistics and is one of the biggest names in that space. Their current EBITDA margins are in double digits, and they boast a dividend growth rate of about 12% over the last five years. And it’s a strong buy consensus among analysts despite industry headwinds. 

The stock has been on a downtrend under the previous presidential administration, largely due to all of the environmental oversight that has been preying on the industry’s margins. However, the industry is poised for more unpredictability over the short to medium term thanks to Trump’s tariff plays, so this is a stock for investors to keep on their radar to monitor the performance.

As one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing equipment suppliers, with a market cap of $145 billion, Applied Materials (AMAT) stands to benefit from the increasing demand for chipmaking equipment. Despite its size and competitive edge, this stock has still got an attractive PE ratio of 21.4%, alongside strong buy rating amongst analysts. However, the stock didn’t really go anywhere last year, gaining only 1% (although arguably this was thanks to a 27% selloff in December, so it has plenty of space to rebound). 

It’s also been on the ProPicks list several times over the course of last year, except for December when the selloff occurred. There are plenty of bullish drivers thanks to its AI positioning and the current market price.

Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR) is another semiconductor company which designs and manufactures power electronic solutions. Its current market capitalization sits at $30 billion, while its dividend has been growing by 27% over the last five years. 

Investing.com experts see this as a perfect example of a great niche AI player that’s not competing against anyone, but rather is just “surfing the wave” as part of Intel chips and Blackwall GPUs, which are both central parts of the AI revolution. The automotive industry offers another strong tailwind.

Its current price sits at around 50% of its all time high, which means that it’s undervalued and ripe for savvy investors to spot the bargain. The experts do suggest that MPWR holds portfolio space as a more long-term investment due to its more volatile nature, but with large room to grow in almost every aspect of its product lineup (automotive, 5G, AI, and data centers).

As we look ahead to 2025, it’s clear that certain sectors, particularly AI, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, will continue to drive growth in the stock market. The stocks highlighted in this list provide a mix of stability and high growth potential, positioning them as top picks for investors looking to capitalize on these trends.

While the market remains volatile, stock picking remains a crucial strategy. Investors should focus on undervalued opportunities and companies leveraging AI to improve efficiency and profitability.

If you’re looking for more tools to enhance your investment strategy, check out Investing Pro’s Warren AI, a game-changing research assistant that compiles real-time financial data.

The year ahead promises both challenges and opportunities across most sectors, especially as Trump takes office. By focusing on key trends like AI, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, investors can position themselves for success. Stay informed, stay tactical, and happy investing as we head into 2025!