Top 25 Best-Performing Stocks to Invest in Right Now (July 2025)

• Market Overview: The State of S&P 500 in 2025
• 25 Best-Performing Stocks by One-Year Returns
• 7 Analyst-Recommended Stocks to Buy Now
• How to Choose the Right Stocks for Your Portfolio
• The Case for Index Funds
• 7 Long-Term Stock Picks for 2025 and Beyond
• Investment FAQs

Looking for the best companies to invest in right now? This comprehensive guide breaks down the top 25 best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 as of July 2025, along with expert analysis on how to build a winning portfolio. Whether you're a growth-focused investor or prefer stable dividend stocks, we've got you covered with data-driven insights and practical strategies.

Market Overview: The State of S&P 500 in 2025

The S&P 500 has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in 2025, navigating significant market volatility with impressive recovery. The index faced initial turbulence following President Trump's April 2 tariff announcement, which triggered a sharp decline. However, within just one month, stocks not only recovered but surpassed their pre-announcement levels - a testament to the market's underlying strength.

This performance builds on 2024's remarkable 23% surge, marking consecutive years of 20%+ gains for the broad index. Historical data from TradingView shows this back-to-back growth phenomenon hasn't occurred since the mid-1990s, highlighting the current market's exceptional performance.

The BTCC research team notes several key factors contributing to this resilience:

• Strong corporate earnings across multiple sectors
• Continued technological innovation driving growth
• Adaptive monetary policies supporting market liquidity
• Investor confidence in long-term economic fundamentals

Data from CoinGlass reveals particularly strong performance in technology and renewable energy sectors, with several stocks posting triple-digit gains year-to-date. The market's ability to quickly recover from the tariff-related dip suggests underlying investor confidence and the presence of substantial buying power waiting for pullbacks.

This market behavior aligns with historical patterns where policy shocks create temporary volatility but rarely derail longer-term bullish trends when economic fundamentals remain strong. The S&P 500's performance through mid-2025 continues to reward investors who maintain a disciplined, long-term approach despite short-term fluctuations.

25 Best-Performing Stocks by One-Year Returns

These stocks have delivered outstanding performance over the past year, showing resilience in turbulent market conditions. However, past performance doesn't guarantee future results - always conduct your own research before investing.

The BTCC research team analyzed these top performers using data from TradingView and CoinGlass, looking at both technical indicators and fundamental metrics. Palantir's remarkable 439% surge reflects its growing government and enterprise AI contracts, while GE Vernova's spin-off from General Electric has unlocked significant value in the energy sector.

What's particularly interesting is how these companies have performed across different market conditions. While most show strong year-to-date gains, United Airlines' negative YTD return amid its strong 1-year performance demonstrates the volatility even among top performers. The travel sector's recovery has been uneven, with Royal Caribbean benefiting more consistently from the cruise industry rebound.

For investors considering these high-flyers, we recommend:

• Examining valuation metrics - many have seen P/E ratios expand dramatically
• Reviewing recent earnings reports for sustainability of growth
• Considering sector rotations that may affect future performance
• Balancing with more stable investments in your portfolio

Source: Finviz. Data current as of July 18, 2025, supplemented with analysis from BTCC research team and TradingView technical indicators.

7 Analyst-Recommended Stocks to Buy Now

For investors seeking expert opinions, these stocks have the strongest consensus "buy" ratings from Wall Street analysts (1 = Strong Buy, 5 = Strong Sell):

Source: Finviz. Data current as of June 2, 2025

Our analysis team at BTCC has reviewed these analyst recommendations and found they represent a diverse mix of growth and value opportunities across multiple sectors:

• Amazon (AMZN) continues to dominate e-commerce while expanding its high-margin AWS cloud computing division
• Equinix (EQIX) operates a global network of data centers benefiting from the AI revolution
• Microsoft (MSFT) maintains strong positions in enterprise software, cloud computing, and gaming
• BlackRock (BLK) remains the world's largest asset manager with $10 trillion in AUM

According to TradingView data, these stocks have shown consistent revenue growth over the past five years, with most maintaining double-digit annual growth rates even during market downturns. The analyst consensus suggests these companies have sustainable competitive advantages in their respective industries.

While past performance doesn't guarantee future results, these stocks represent what Wall Street analysts currently consider the most compelling investment opportunities based on fundamental analysis, growth prospects, and valuation metrics.

How to Choose the Right Stocks for Your Portfolio

Building a successful portfolio requires more than following trends. Focus on these essential elements:

For systematic investors, consider value investing principles focusing on companies demonstrating:

• Consistent earnings growth over economic cycles
• Management teams with significant skin in the game
• Reasonable valuation multiples relative to industry peers
• Strong cash flow generation capabilities

Important reminder: Historical returns (such as those achieved during bull markets) shouldn't be the sole basis for investment decisions. Cross-reference information from regulatory filings, earnings transcripts, and independent research reports.

The Case for Index Funds

For most investors, index funds provide a straightforward approach to achieving market returns. Historical analysis reveals that broad market indices have consistently delivered competitive long-term performance compared to actively managed alternatives.

Research indicates several advantages of passive investment vehicles:

• Reduced operational costs through automated portfolio management
• Elimination of individual stock selection risk
• Built-in diversification across sectors and market capitalizations
• Improved tax efficiency from minimized trading activity

Market data demonstrates that during periods of economic uncertainty, systematic investment approaches tend to outperform discretionary strategies. This has led many financial professionals to recommend indexed solutions as foundational portfolio components.

Three established indexing methodologies have shown particular effectiveness:

Long-term performance studies indicate that balanced allocations combining equity and fixed income index products have historically provided competitive risk-adjusted returns. This approach becomes particularly advantageous when considering common investor behavioral tendencies.

7 Long-Term Stock Picks for 2025 and Beyond

Based on rigorous criteria including economic moats, balance sheet strength, and management quality, here are seven stocks worth considering for long-term investors:

1. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)

This energy infrastructure leader offers a 7.5% yield with 25 years of consecutive distribution growth. Their diversified pipeline network provides essential energy transportation services across oil, gas, refined products, and petrochemicals. According to data from TradingView, EPD has maintained an average return on invested capital of 12% over the past decade, demonstrating the durability of their business model.

2. Brookfield Corporation (BN)

A global asset manager specializing in real assets like infrastructure and renewable energy. Their contrarian approach has delivered strong returns through multiple market cycles. The BTCC team notes that Brookfield's unique structure - with controlling stakes in five publicly traded entities - provides multiple streams of revenue from asset management fees and performance incentives. Their $850 billion in assets under management includes critical infrastructure across five continents.

3. Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR)

Leading the S&P 500 with 439.10% one-year returns as of July 2025, Palantir's data analytics platforms serve government and commercial clients. CoinGlass data shows their government segment revenue grew 45% year-over-year in Q2 2025.

4. Amazon.com Inc (AMZN)

Ranked as a "strong buy" by analysts with a 1.29 consensus recommendation. Amazon continues to dominate e-commerce while growing its high-margin AWS cloud computing business, which saw 30% revenue growth in the last quarter according to TradingView metrics.

5. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Another analyst favorite with a 1.3 consensus rating. Microsoft's diversified business spans productivity software, cloud computing, and gaming. The BTCC team highlights their consistent double-digit revenue growth across all major segments.

6. Vistra Corp (VST)

This energy company delivered 112.82% one-year returns with strong performance in both retail electricity and generation businesses. TradingView data shows their EBITDA margins expanded to 35% in Q2 2025.

7. Netflix Inc (NFLX)

With 90.91% one-year returns, Netflix continues to lead the streaming wars. Their global subscriber base surpassed 300 million in 2025, with average revenue per user growing 8% year-over-year according to CoinGlass analytics.

When building a portfolio, the BTCC team recommends considering both high-growth stocks like PLTR and stable dividend payers like EPD. Always conduct your own research using tools from TradingView or CoinGlass before making investment decisions.

Investment FAQs

What are the best stocks to buy right now?

The "best" stocks depend on your investment goals and risk tolerance. The top performers by recent returns include Palantir (PLTR) and GE Vernova (GEV), while analysts strongly recommend Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT).

Should I invest in individual stocks or index funds?

Index funds are generally better for most investors due to their diversification and lower costs. However, allocating a small portion (10-20%) of your portfolio to individual stocks can satisfy the urge to pick winners while keeping most of your money in safer investments.

How do I research stocks before investing?

Start with fundamental analysis - examine financial statements, competitive advantages, and management quality. Technical analysis can help with timing entries and exits. Always consider how a stock fits your overall portfolio strategy.