As the new year begins, Evercore ISI has some ideas for what customers should buy. In a memo dated Jan. 2, the firm listed more than 20 stocks that could rise to prominence in 2026. That includes Delta Air Lines and CVS Health. The memo also highlights companies in the telecommunications services, retail, and financial services industries. Evercore ISI has created a list of analysts’ favorite stocks with an investment horizon of 12 months or more. Delta Air Lines Evercore says Delta Air Lines is poised for growth as it works to improve margins, especially amid strong travel trends. “We continue to believe that maximizing margins is Delta’s primary focus given its rational capacity allocation, premium high-end brand position, and strong loyalty relationship with AmEx,” the analysts said. They noted that U.S. airlines have improved pricing consistency and impending demand, which should boost overall industry share. It added that business travel is the segment most likely to improve as policy uncertainty continues to decline. Evercore ISI has a higher rating than Delta. It also has a price target of $75, which would imply an upside of 4.7% from Wednesday’s closing price. The stock price has increased about 17% over the past 12 months. CVS Health pharmacy operator and health insurer has room to operate due to strong long-term fundamentals, despite plans to exit Medicare Advantage offerings. “There is upside potential in a variety of areas, including above-market Medicare Advantage growth, new pharmacy reimbursement models, growth in the healthcare delivery business, and additional growth investments,” Evercore wrote. Analysts also noted that CVS’s valuation is cheap compared to its peers. The expected P/E ratio for the company’s stock is approximately 11 times, while United Health’s multiple is 19 times. In addition to CVS Health’s Outperform rating, Evercore ISI has a $95 price target, implying a 19% upside from Wednesday’s closing price. The stock price has increased 75% in the past 12 months.
