5 Best Momentum Stocks to Buy for More Upside in 2027
These high-flyers have outperformed this year and look set for more gains next year, too. Here are the best momentum stocks to buy right now.
The stock market has given investors plenty to think about in 2026. On one side there's significant concern and uncertainty about inflation and interest rates.
On the other hand, undeniable momentum is reflected in the fact that the stock market is up about 14% so far this year, with many tech stocks and energy stocks up significantly more.
There's always risk on Wall Street. At the same time, the best momentum stocks to buy balance higher risk with higher rewards.
A strong momentum investing strategy seeks to capitalize on this strength by identifying stocks on the rise as investors recognize improving business prospects, accelerating earnings or expanding market share.
While past performance never guarantees future results, sustained momentum can reflect powerful underlying trends that create wealth.
The following stocks are all decent in size, with more than $10 billion in market cap demonstrating a measure of stability.
What really makes them worth a look are their year-to-date returns of more than 100%. That's what establishes them as some of the best momentum stocks to buy right now.
Data is as of October 21.
Bloom Energy
- Market value: $70.0 billion
- Sector: Industrials
- Year-to-date total return: 174.5%
You might not think an industrial stock would be a strong momentum investment. But Bloom Energy (BE) has emerged as a major beneficiary of growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers thanks to its innovative model that is disrupting traditional utility stocks.
Bloom Energy makes on-site power systems using solid-oxide fuel cells, allowing businesses to generate electricity without relying entirely on the local utility grid.
Bloom's growth has accelerated dramatically, as revenue reached $1.8 billion in the first half of 2026, up roughly 150% from a year earlier.
And a partnership with Oracle (ORCL) to supply on-site power for data centers also gives Bloom exposure to a powerful long-term technology trend as it supports the AI infrastructure build-out.
The company is expanding manufacturing capacity to meet demand, and is not without risk in an environment where borrowing costs are rising and valuation concerns exist generally for any AI-related plays.
That said, shares have spiked since January 1, so there's clear upward momentum in this next-gen energy stock.
Sponsored Content
DigitalOcean Holdings
- Market value: $10.7 billion
- Sector: Technology
- Year-to-date total return: 110.9%
DigitalOcean Holdings (DOCN) is a tech name with a lower profile than some of the high-flying semiconductor stocks that have dominated Wall Street lately. That said, its total return of about 111% this year makes it one of the strongest momentum plays out there.
DOCN is carving out a niche in cloud computing by serving developers, startups and smaller businesses that need affordable digital infrastructure.
Unlike larger cloud providers that chase billion-dollar contracts with the likes of Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META) and Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), DigitalOcean emphasizes simplicity and flexibility. That makes it a better fit for "regular" businesses that simply want to harness their high-tech opportunities.
Revenue is set to jump 30% this year and top $1.1 billion before accelerating another 50% next fiscal year, according to Wall Street forecasts.
What's more, recurring revenue from AI customers is more than tripling based on recent earnings reports, suggesting those sales will be sticky and not just one-time bumps.
While certainly sensitive to the business cycle, as long as spending continues to rise for its target customers, there's a good chance DigitalOcean could continue to offer a compelling growth story into 2027 and beyond.
Sponsored Content
Marathon Petroleum
- Market value: $132.4 billion
- Sector: Energy
- Year-to-date total return: 191.1%
A beneficiary of the prolonged war in Iran and continued supply chain disruptions for oil, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) offers a different kind of momentum investment.
Its exposure to refining, fuel distribution and energy infrastructure plus integrated midstream transportation operations make it an ideal beneficiary of the current inflationary environment for petrochemicals.
The company's second-quarter results bear this out as net income jumped more than 4X to $5.14 billion.
But what's interesting about Marathon is that it’s paying that success forward by committing significant capital to shareholder returns. That includes a $5 billion stock buyback authorization approved in May.
At the same time its midstream affiliate, MPLX, increased its annual growth capital budget to $2.9 billion to expand Gulf Coast export facilities and reinvest in the future. These developments support the case for continued earnings and cash-flow potential.
Although refining is a cyclical business and geopolitical unrest definitely comes into play, MPC is a dominant force in the sector. With no end in sight to persistent conflicts in the Middle East and Russia, momentum investors could do worse than rely on this refining leader right now.
Sponsored Content
Micron Technology
- Market value: $1.0 trillion
- Sector: Technology
- Year-to-date total return: 220.4%
Representative of a family of red-hot chipmakers, Micron Technology (MU) is one of the clearest ways to invest in the growing demand for chips powering the AI boom.
Its key products include dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM, which helps computers process information, and NAND flash memory, which stores data. As AI systems require increasingly powerful processors and larger volumes of data, these devices are natural winners.
It's not just hype for Micron, however, as the momentum stock's latest financial results underscore the real profits to be had. Current year revenues are set to double over the prior year, and shares are up about 250% as a result.
The company is expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint, including a leading-edge facility in upstate New York, and has secured federal support for domestic production.
Additionally, the Micron board has authorized a $33 billion stock repurchase extension to help shareholders benefit in the from the recent windfall.
While memory chip demand can wax and wane, strong demand and limited supply has produced exceptional profits lately for this momentum stock, with no sign of slowing down.
Sponsored Content
Moderna
- Market value: $98.1 billion
- Sector: Healthcare
- Year-to-date total return: 733.5%
Up more than 700% this year, Moderna (MRNA) has delivered one of the most dramatic stock rallies of 2026, as investors increasingly focus on the potential of its messenger RNA technology.
The biotechnology's innovative medicines use genetic instructions to help the body produce proteins that can prevent or treat disease.
Its research pipeline includes a wide array of respiratory vaccines, treatments for rare conditions and experimental cancer therapies that are delivering impressive healthcare outcomes for patients as well as impressive profits for investors.
One major catalyst has been Moderna's personalized cancer vaccine program, developed in partnership with Dow Jones stock Merck (MRK).
Phase 3 trial results announced in August showed that the combination of an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine and Merck's Keytruda immunotherapy had a significant impact on recovery.
Naturally, the companies are working toward potential regulatory approval. And investors are watching closely both for clinical data that could unlock broad commercialization potential.
The opportunity is substantial here. But more important is the validation of Moderna's research-intensive business, which continues to push boundaries for healthcare stocks.
Investors betting on the company's current pipeline have been granted tremendous returns this year. But the momentum may very well continue if Moderna produces other next-gen treatments with similar success.
Related content
Sponsored Content
