5 Stocks to Buy NOW | January 2026

Key Concepts

• 2025 Performance Review: The speaker’s public investment account grew to over $3.7 million, with underperformance attributed to Meta’s stock.
• Five Stock Picks for 2026: Nike, Celsius Holdings, AMD, ELF Beauty, and PayPal are highlighted as potential investment opportunities.
• Business-Focused Investing: Emphasis on understanding underlying business models, identifying catalysts, and conducting thorough financial analysis.
• Valuation & Growth Scenarios: Bull, base, and bear case scenarios are presented for each stock, outlining potential revenue, earnings, and price targets.
• Catalysts for Growth: Specific events and developments expected to drive stock performance, such as CEO changes, acquisitions, and regulatory shifts.

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Portfolio Performance & 2026 Outlook

In 2025, the speaker’s public investment account experienced growth, increasing from just under $3 million to over $3.7 million. While successful, this performance was not as strong as in 2023/2024, primarily due to the relatively modest 11% increase in Meta’s stock price, given its significant weighting in the portfolio. The speaker maintains long-term confidence in Meta. He aims to match or exceed market performance and is focused on growing his channel to 1 million subscribers in 2026. He also promotes his private investment group, “thousandx.com,” which offers exclusive content, course access, and trade alerts, currently operating on a waitlist.

Stock Analysis – Nike (NKE)

Nike’s success is attributed to its sports-specific focus, dominance in athletic disciplines, and ability to create customer exclusivity. Strategic athlete sponsorships, evolving from individual endorsements to league-wide partnerships, are central to its brand building. The appointment of Elliot Hill as CEO is viewed as a positive catalyst, evidenced by consistent earnings and revenue beats. Currently trading at a “generational discount” – a 50% discount with a price-to-sales ratio comparable to 2013 levels – Nike presents a compelling investment opportunity.

Stock Analysis – Celsius Holdings (CELH)

Celsius differentiates itself by targeting the fitness community, unlike traditional energy drink brands. The acquisition of Alani Nu, focused on female consumers, is a key growth driver. The company’s marketing strategy excels across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and even Roblox. Potential catalysts include the acquisition of Rockstar Energy from Pepsi and the potential overruling of Trump’s tariffs. Bold and base case scenarios project significant revenue and earnings growth, with potential price targets ranging from $78 to $280 by 2029. The speaker holds a substantial personal position in the stock.

Stock Analysis – AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)

AMD’s success is driven by its data center segment (MI450 chip), client/gaming segment, and embedded segment. The MI450 chip is considered the “biggest product in the history of AMD,” poised to drive significant revenue and margin expansion. CEO Lisa Su is credited with the company’s turnaround. Bold and base case scenarios project substantial revenue and earnings growth, with potential price targets ranging from $672 to $1100 by 2029, supported by the speaker’s significant personal investment.

Stock Analysis – ELF Beauty (ELF)

ELF focuses on affordable cosmetics with strong retail presence, bolstered by acquisitions of Notorium and Road (Haley Bieber’s brand). The company’s innovative marketing strategies are praised. A recent $1 price increase and the potential overruling of Trump’s tariffs are identified as catalysts. Despite modest 9% year-over-year growth in revenue and net income in 2026, ELF is considered an attractive investment, potentially delivering S&P 500-level returns at current prices (around $70/share).

Stock Analysis – PayPal (PYPL)

Despite being a “hated stock,” PayPal demonstrates strong fundamentals. Recent performance shows positive trends: 8% year-over-year growth in Total Payment Volume (TPV), 9% growth in operating income (GAAP basis), 24% growth in net income, and 32% growth in Earnings Per Share (EPS). PayPal is applying to become a full-fledged bank, aiming to reduce outsourcing and potentially offer lending services. The speaker argues limited downside risk due to its already low valuation. Projections range from a bear case of 11-16% CAGR to a bull case of 28-35% CAGR by 2029, with share buybacks expected to boost EPS. The speaker anticipates a turnaround ("turns into Funpal") in 2026-2027.

Financial Terms & Metrics

Throughout the analysis, several key terms are utilized: TPV (Total Payment Volume), Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S), Earnings Per Share (EPS), Net Income Margin, Kaggar (compounded annual growth rate), GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), Bull Case, Base Case, Bear Case, CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate), and Non-GAAP financial measures.

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Conclusion

The speaker’s 2026 investment outlook centers on five stocks – Nike, Celsius Holdings, AMD, ELF Beauty, and PayPal – each selected based on a thorough understanding of their business models, growth potential, and key catalysts. The analysis emphasizes a long-term, business-focused approach, utilizing both optimistic and conservative scenarios to assess potential returns. Despite market sentiment, the speaker identifies opportunities in undervalued companies with strong fundamentals, positioning these selections as potential outperformers in the coming years.