Bank of America highlighted several stocks that investors can source to boost returns as the third quarter begins. That includes streaming play, which has the potential for double-digit increases. The stock market ended the second quarter of 2026 on a strong note. The S&P 500 ended the period up nearly 15%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 21.4%, marking its best quarterly performance since 2020. To help investors prepare for the third quarter, Bank of America shared a list of stocks for the period. This group includes names from a variety of sectors, including retail, consumer goods, technology, and payments. See the list below for some of the chosen names. Bank of America said the share of music and podcast streaming platform Spotify could rise in the short term due to a combination of factors, including new products and the price range of its subscription services. Analyst Jessica Lief Ehrlich said in a recent note to clients that Spotify “has laid out an impressive and compelling product roadmap and attractive financial targets, and the focus now turns to execution.” “We now see continued earnings and (free cash flow) growth even more evident, including price increases, new tiers… (and) greater penetration of incremental services such as podcasting, audiobooks, and fitness.” Bank of America said Spotify’s artificial intelligence-powered tools that allow users to legally create and distribute remixes of songs from its licensed catalog could further increase the value of its stock. Ehrlich rates Spotify a “buy.” He has a price target of $685, implying an upside of about 41% from Thursday’s closing price. The stock price has fallen more than 16% since the beginning of the year. Visa Visa is offering investors a way to transition from cash to electronic payments, and the company’s stock could rise in the third quarter, Bank of America said. “Visa is our best vehicle for achieving a long-term cash-to-electronic transition; a durable double-digit revenue/teens (earnings per share) conglomerate with broad debit and credit moats, a fast-growing value-added services engine (approximately 30% of net revenue), and $33 billion in share buyback firepower,” analyst Matthew O’Neill said in a client note. “Visa remains a highly defensible, high-quality franchise in a time of rich catalysts.” The payments giant’s shares hit a new 52-week high on Thursday, and the stock is on track to rise more than 3% in 2026. O’Neill rates Visa a buy, and his $410 price target suggests a 13% upside from Thursday’s closing price. Walmart Bank of America says Walmart’s efforts to attract more affluent consumers are starting to pay off, and its superstores have plenty of inventory. “We continue to believe that the current backdrop of high-income consumer strength and some caution from value-seeking consumers will lead to accelerated appreciation in Walmart’s stock price,” analyst Christopher Nardone said in a note to clients. The analyst rates Walmart stock a “buy” and has a price target of $144, implying an upside of nearly 29% from Thursday’s closing price. Nardone added that Walmart has two main advantages that make its online and brick-and-mortar stores attractive to customers of all income levels: “price and speed.” In 2026, the stock price will be almost flat. Other names on the list include IBM, JPMorgan Chase, and Snowflake.
