3 New Strong Buy Ratings from Top-Rated Analysts: 03/17/2026

Here’s a peek at the latest picks from our Strong Buy Stocks from Top Wall Street Analysts screener:

• Adeia (ADEA) — Record earnings and AMD deal fuel massive upside 
• Guardian Pharmacy Services (GRDN) — Pharmacy powerhouse with 43% return on equity  
• Valero Energy (VLO) — Refining giant quietly winning with elite analyst backing  

P.S. Want more great stock picks? Check out our latest video featuring 7 stocks that are better than NVDA.

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1. Guardian Pharmacy Services (NASDAQ: GRDN)

Guardian Pharmacy Services is crushing it with a 43.79% return on equity that towers over industry averages — and top-rated Wall Street analysts are now rushing in with bullish ratings as the company's latest strategic moves start paying off.

Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $32.59 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $38.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: While coverage is limited, GRDN enjoys 2 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Buy rating from the 3 Wall Street analysts we follow that rank the stock. See the ratings
• Truist Securities' David S Macdonald (a top 10% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $38 price target, reflecting confidence in the company's growth trajectory.
• Stephens & Co. analyst Scott Fidel (a top 12% rated analyst) maintains a Strong Buy rating with a $36 price target, highlighting the company's competitive position in the healthcare services sector.
• The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with earnings per share expected to grow 33.63% in the next year to $1.06, and revenue forecasted to reach $1.5B with steady growth projected at 11.2% over two years.
• Guardian's return on equity of 43.79% significantly outpaces the industry average, demonstrating exceptional capital efficiency and profitability in its specialized pharmacy niche.
• GRDN earns an overall Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), meaning that after a rigorous 115-factor review, it ranks in the top 5% of the 4600+ stocks we track based on fundamentals.
• Among the Component Grades that shape the overall rating, GRDN shines with As for FInancials and Sentiment, indicating a stock that is financially stable and has a big thumbs-up from the Smart Money crowd. See the Component Grades here

2. Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO)

While the market chases AI and tech, refiners are quietly dominating 2026 — and Valero Energy is leading the charge with Wall Street's elite analysts lining up behind this fuel giant as favorable market dynamics create a perfect setup for outsized returns.

Zen Rating: B (Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $230.59 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $237.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: VLO enjoys strong institutional backing with 8 Strong Buy ratings and 5 Hold ratings across 13 analysts covering the stock, reflecting a Strong Buy consensus. See the ratings
• Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta (a top 6% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $237 price target. This isn’t a lot higher than the current price — to see further updates, add VLO to your Watchlist to see when new price targets are added. 
• Piper Sandler's Ryan Todd (a top 4% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $220 price target, demonstrating continued confidence in the refining sector's favorable dynamics. 
• Industry ranking context: VLO is currently the 5th highest-rated stock in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: Buy (B) stocks average +19.88%/yr — Valero has passed our dozens of checks to land in the top 20% of all stocks we track. 
• Digging into the Component Grades to see where VLO has particular strength, it has above-average Bs in several categories, including Financials, Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment. A strong scorecard indeed. See all 7 Component Grades here.

3. Adeia (NASDAQ: ADEA)

Adeia Inc just posted record Q4 2025 earnings and locked in a multi-year IP licensing deal with AMD — and now Wall Street's top-rated analysts are taking notice of this under-the-radar entertainment tech play with serious upside potential.

Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $22.79 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $40.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Only a few analysts we follow rate ADEA, but their coverage is decidedly bullish: 2 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Buy rating across 3 analysts tracking the stock. See the ratings
• Rosenblatt researcher Kevin Cassidy (a top 1% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $40 price target following strong earnings performance and the company's potential market growth trajectory.
• BWS Financial analyst Hamed Khorsand (a top 2% rated analyst) maintained his Buy rating with a $30 price target, noting the company's solid fundamentals and competitive positioning as new partnerships are being finalized.
• Industry ranking context: ADEA is currently the 8th highest-rated stock in the App industry, which has an Industry Rating of B. See more highly-rated App stocks here. 
• Zen Rating highlights: Strong Buy (A) stocks represent the top 5% of equities we track based on fundamentals. These stocks have historically averaged +32.52%/yr.
• Component Grades: The company demonstrates balanced strength with a Financials grade of A and a Sentiment grade of B, reflecting strong financial fundamentals and positive market perception. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

What to Do Next?

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