BTIG expects some of the bullish markets of the past six months to continue to rise, while others improve as it looks to pick top stocks for the second half of 2026. While tech stocks led the rebound from the U.S.-Iran war lows in late March, sectors such as health care, financials and industrials have been gaining momentum since mid-May and should continue to do so, Jonathan Krinsky, chief market technician at BTIG, said in a note Wednesday. “We are seeing evidence that expansion may continue. Financials remain strong across banks, REITs and insurance. Biotech is also performing well as IBB moves out of its five-year norm,” he said. “We have seen a rapid reversal in the Mag7 and, although there is likely a chance of stabilization, we continue to believe that the semi/AI trade is vulnerable to a more meaningful unwinding downside.” In the same note, the firm named 55 large- and small-cap stocks as top stocks for the second half of the year. Shares of Swiss sneaker maker On Holding are down more than 20% in 2026, but analyst Janine Stichter has a $70 price target, predicting a 90% rise from Thursday’s closing price. Stichter said in a research note that athleisure companies are one of the best growth stories in retail. “While the bear case assumes slower growth, we see a balanced and sustainable growth profile with opportunities across both lifestyle and running, distribution channels, product categories and geography,” she wrote. Palo Alto Networks is also on the list. The cybersecurity company’s stock is up nearly 90% so far in 2026, and analyst Gray Powell sees more room to run with a $380 price target. It was up 9% from Thursday’s closing price. Powell said in the memo that Palo Alto offers the broadest range of cybersecurity services and believes the company can maintain mid-teens revenue growth over the next few years. Finally, Capital One Financial also made the list. The financial services company is down more than 15% in 2026, making it one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P Financials sector. Analyst Vincent Kaintic has a price target of $259, expecting the stock to rise 26% from Thursday’s closing price. He thinks investors are concerned about Capital One’s spending, but that’s not a concern for him either. “Our bullish view is that COF stock will do well if it only executes on its planned integrations and saves revenue and expenses,” Kaintic wrote in a research note, referring to the Discover and Brex acquisitions. “Although expenditures do appear to be increasing, we expect these investments to deliver further revenue growth, increased productivity, and higher margins.” COF YTD Mountain Capital One Financial Year to Date.
