Everyone's asking the same thing. You see it on every finance sub and hear it at every awkward dinner party. People want to know what are good stocks to buy today like there’s some secret list hidden in a vault at the NYSE.
Honestly? Most people are chasing last year’s ghost.
The market has shifted. It is now January 17, 2026, and the "easy money" phase of the AI hype cycle has morphed into something much more technical and, frankly, a bit more stressful. If you’re just now buying the big names because they were up 40% in 2025, you’re likely late to the party.
But there is real opportunity if you look at the plumbing of the economy instead of just the flashy faucets.
The Reality of the 2026 Market Landscape
Goldman Sachs recently dropped a note forecasting a 12% total return for the S&P 500 this year. That’s solid. It's not the face-melting 25% we saw a couple of years ago, but it’s a healthy, fundamental-driven move.
The interesting part? They expect earnings to grow by about 12% too. This means the market isn’t just getting "expensive" because of vibes; companies are actually making more money.
However, there’s a catch.
Volatility is creeping back. Similarweb data shows Alphabet’s Gemini has clawed its way to a 21% market share in the AI space, up from almost nothing, while ChatGPT's dominance is slipping. This kind of shift creates winners and losers overnight. If you're looking for what are good stocks to buy today, you have to weigh these hardware-versus-software shifts carefully.
📖 Related: Oil Market News Today: Why Prices Are Crashing Despite Middle East Chaos
The Big Tech "Rotation" and What It Means for You
Nvidia ($NVDA) is still the 800-pound gorilla. As of yesterday, it was trading around $186. Analysts are still screaming "buy," with some price targets hitting $253 or higher.
Why? Because of Rubin.
Everyone was obsessed with Blackwell in 2025, but the Rubin architecture is the new driver. Nvidia’s CFO, Colette Kress, mentioned that their order book for these next-gen chips is essentially overflowing. But don't just blindly buy.
You've got to look at the "fringe" of tech too.
- Broadcom ($AVGO): They are crushing it by building custom AI accelerators. Instead of a general-purpose chip, they build specialized ones for companies like Google. Their AI revenue grew 74% recently.
- Taiwan Semiconductor ($TSM): They make the actual chips. Whether Nvidia or AMD wins, TSM gets paid. It’s the ultimate "toll booth" stock.
- Apple ($AAPL): Currently sitting around $257. It underperformed the S&P 500 last year because it was slow to the AI party. But with the iPhone 17 cycle and new "Smart Glasses" rumors for late 2026, it's becoming a value play in a growth world.
Dividend Stocks: The Boring Way to Get Rich
Let’s talk about the "grandpa" stocks.
High-yield savings accounts are still hovering around 4% to 4.3%, which is nice, but it's not wealth-building. If you want to know what are good stocks to buy today for actual income, look at the yielders that the market has temporarily forgotten.
Pfizer ($PFE) is currently yielding a massive 6.81%.
👉 See also: Cuanto son 100 dolares en quetzales: Why the Bank Rate Isn't What You Actually Get
The market hates Pfizer right now because COVID-19 revenue vanished. But they have a P/E ratio of about 8.5. That is objectively cheap compared to its history. They are also betting big on a GLP-1 weight-loss pill. If that hits, the 6.8% dividend you’re collecting now will look like a genius move.
Then there’s Verizon ($VZ).
It’s yielding nearly 7%. It’s a cash cow. They have 146 million wireless accounts and basically own the infrastructure of American communication. It’s not going to triple in price, but it pays you to wait.
Energy and the "Quiet" Winners
Energy is weird right now.
We are seeing a massive push for "Electrification." GE Vernova ($GEV) is a name that keeps popping up in institutional portfolios. They handle everything from wind turbines to grid storage. As AI data centers demand more power, companies that manage the grid become incredibly valuable.
Don't ignore the old-school players either.
Exxon Mobil ($XOM) remains a staple for a reason. While everyone talks about green energy, global demand for traditional fuel hasn't peaked yet. They have the balance sheet to pivot whenever they want.
✨ Don't miss: Dealing With the IRS San Diego CA Office Without Losing Your Mind
Avoid the "Value Trap" and the "Hype Bubble"
So, how do you actually decide?
A lot of people think a "cheap" stock is a "good" stock. That’s often wrong.
A stock can be cheap because the company is dying. Take United Parcel Service ($UPS). It’s yielding 6.1%, which looks great on paper. But they’re losing volume because Amazon is delivering its own packages. That’s a fundamental problem. You have to decide if you believe in their automation turnaround before you jump in.
On the flip side, don't buy the hype.
If a stock is up 100% in three months and you can't explain what they actually sell, stay away. The 2026 market is rewarding "Quality" and "Free Cash Flow."
Actionable Steps for Your Portfolio
If you are looking to put money to work today, here is the blueprint:
- Check your Tech weight: If 80% of your portfolio is in the "Magnificent Seven," you are at risk. Consider diversifying into the "Foundry" layer (like TSM) or the "Custom" layer (like Broadcom).
- Lock in Yield: Look for companies with a 5%+ dividend yield and a P/E ratio below 12. Pfizer and Verizon are the current standout examples for January 2026.
- Watch the Fed: Goldman expects the Fed to keep easing. This generally helps small-cap stocks and companies with debt. Keep an eye on the Russell 2000 for a potential breakout if rates keep sliding.
- Rebalance into Energy: Data centers are power-hungry. Look at Constellation Energy ($CEG) or GE Vernova to capture the "hidden" AI trade—the electricity that runs the chips.
The market isn't a vending machine. You don't just press a button and get a 10% return. But by moving away from the crowded "momentum" trades and looking at where the actual cash is flowing, you position yourself to actually beat the index this year.
Investing is about being where the money is going, not where it's already been.
Stay skeptical. Stay diversified.