5 Stocks to Watch: Week of 5/4/2026

Happy weekend! Gear up for the week ahead with a high-conviction list of stocks to watch, including:

• Kontoor Brands (NYSE: KTB) — Wrangler and Lee owner boasts 74% return on equity
• Gilead Sciences (GILD) — HIV breakthrough and Arcellx deal fuel upside
• Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) — Biosimilars boom drives 339% EPS growth
• Levi Strauss (LEVI) — DTC transformation delivers double-digit revenue growth
• Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: NBIX) — Citi sees 89% upside on this biotech breakout

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1- Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: GILD)

Gilead Sciences is riding powerful momentum after the FDA granted priority review to its once-daily HIV treatment combining bictegravir and lenacapavir, while its newly completed Arcellx acquisition sets the stage for anito-cel's commercial launch. Ranked #1 in the General Drug Manufacturer industry, this biopharmaceutical leader continues delivering standout execution across its HIV and oncology franchises.

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

Recent Price: $131.64 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $180.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Strong Wall Street backing with 9 Strong Buy ratings, 2 Buy ratings, and 2 Hold ratings out of 13 analysts covering the stock. See the ratings
• For example, Needham researcher Joseph Stringer (a top 1% rated analyst) recently reiterated his Buy rating with a $170 price target following the company's strategic portfolio expansion. His target suggests over 30% potential upside in the coming year. 
• Industry ranking context: GILD is currently the #1 highest-rated stock in the General Drug Manufacturer industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: GILD earns an overall Zen Rating of A, putting it in a class of stocks that have historically returned over 30% annually to investors. 
• Component Grades: The stock excels with A grades in Value and Financials, indicating strong fundamentals and attractive valuation metrics, while maintaining a B grade in Safety and Artificial Intelligence exposure. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here)

2- Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: NBIX)

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leader in pharmaceuticals targeting neurological, endocrine, and psychiatric disorders, anchored by its blockbuster tardive dyskinesia franchise. Fresh two-year CRENESSITY data — showing sustained glucocorticoid dose reductions while maintaining androgen control in adults with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia — is supercharging the bull case heading into Q1 earnings.

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

Recent Price: $134.00 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $242.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Strong conviction from Wall Street with 8 Strong Buy ratings, 6 Buy ratings, and 3 Hold ratings among 17 analysts covering the stock. See the ratings
• Let’s look at a few of the ratings. For one, Needham's Ami Fadia (a top 1% rated analyst) reiterated a Buy rating with a $185 price target, representing +40.97% upside potential.
• Citigroup's Yigal Nochomovitz (a top 9% rated analyst) maintains the highest price target at $242, representing an impressive +84.41% upside potential.
• Industry ranking context: NBIX is currently the 8th highest-rated stock in the Pharmaceutical industry, which has an Industry Rating of A. (See what ranks higher here.)
• Zen Rating highlights: TEVA earns an overall A or Strong Buy rating, indicating that it has a higher chance of outperformance than 95% of the stocks in our system.
• Component Grades: NBIX demonstrates outstanding fundamentals with top-tier A grades in both Value and Financials, supported by solid B grades in Growth and AI — positioning it as a high-quality, deeply undervalued pharmaceutical growth story, though investors should note softer Momentum, Sentiment, and Safety scores. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

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3- Kontoor Brands (NYSE: KTB)

Kontoor Brands is the apparel giant behind the iconic Wrangler and Lee labels, distributing across global markets. A bold new partnership with Chaco for an adventure-ready apparel and footwear line is expanding its reach — all while the company flexes a jaw-dropping 74% return on equity.

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

Recent Price: $73.36 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $131.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Strong bullish consensus with 6 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Hold rating from 7 analysts covering the stock. See the ratings
• Wells Fargo's Ike Boruchow (a top 6% rated analyst) maintains a Strong Buy rating with a $100 price target, citing solid sales growth forecast and resilient market fundamentals.
• BTIG's Robert Drbul (a top 12% rated analyst) maintains a Strong Buy rating with a $100 price target, expressing confidence in the growth trajectory reinforced through strategic initiatives including investment in technology.
• Industry ranking context: KTB is currently the 3rd highest-rated stock in the Apparel Manufacturing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: KTB ranks in the top 5% of stocks we track based on a rigorous 115-factor review. (It’s better-rated than even NVDA!)
• Component Grades: KTB excels with an A-rated Value component, complemented by B grades in Growth and Financials, while the company's 30.96% earnings growth significantly outpaces the market average. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

4- Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE: LEVI)

Levi Strauss, the iconic denim brand, is pulling off a stunning transformation into a DTC-first lifestyle powerhouse — and the numbers prove it. Q1 2026 direct-to-consumer revenues surged 16% year-over-year and now account for more than half of total revenue, with heritage demand and sharp operational focus fueling the fastest, most consistent growth in the company's history.

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

Recent Price: $22.28 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $34.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Strong consensus with 2 Strong Buy ratings and 3 Buy ratings from 5 analysts covering the stock, with zero Hold, Sell, or Strong Sell ratings. See the ratings
• For example, UBS researcher Jay Sole (a top 7% rated analyst) recently raised his price target to $34 following Q1 earnings, noting the company is "undertaking a transformation into a global, multi-channel, lifestyle brand for both men and women" that will support mid-single-digit revenue growth with mid-teens margins over time.
• Recent catalysts: Q1 2026 earnings showcased exceptional execution with EPS of $0.42 beating estimates by 13.51% and revenue of $1.74B exceeding expectations by 5.45%, both growing double-digits year-over-year as the DTC transformation gains momentum.
• Industry ranking context: LEVI is currently the #1 highest-rated stock in the Apparel Manufacturing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: As an A or Strong Buy rated stock, LEVI ranks in the top 5% of stocks we track based on a 115-factor evaluation of factors that have historically driven long-term stock growth. 
• Component Grades: Well-rounded performance with A grade in Sentiment reflecting strong analyst confidence, B grades in Value, Growth, Safety, and Financials, demonstrating solid fundamentals across the board. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here)

5- Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: AMRX)

Amneal Pharmaceuticals is emerging as a powerhouse in biosimilars scale opportunities, with strong preliminary Q1 results and a game-changing Kashiv BioSciences acquisition igniting analyst enthusiasm. Now ranked #1 in the Pharmaceutical industry, this generic and specialty drug manufacturer is positioned for serious upside.

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

Recent Price: $12.80 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $19.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: AMRX enjoys unanimous bullish sentiment with 4 out of 4 analysts rating the stock Strong Buy. See the ratings
• For example, UBS researcher Ashwani Verma (a top 14% rated analyst) recently initiated coverage with a Strong Buy rating and $19 price target, representing 48% upside potential, highlighting the company's biosimilar pipeline and anticipated 2026-2027 upside from biosimilars scale.
• AMRX also enjoys strong support from our Editor-in-Chief Steve Reitmeister, whose recent video showcases the stock’s strengths. Watch it here
• Great growth: The company's earnings growth of 128.71% significantly outpaces both the industry average of 19.9% and market average of 72.31%, with EPS forecasted to grow from $0.23 to $1.01 over the next year—a remarkable 339% increase.
• Industry ranking context: AMRX is currently the #1 highest-rated stock in the Pharmaceutical industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: Strong Buy (A) stocks average +32.52%/yr — AMRX is in the top echelon of stocks we track.
• Component Grades: Outstanding performance in Growth (A) and Sentiment (A) grades, reflecting strong analyst conviction and impressive earnings expansion potential, complemented by a solid B grade in Value. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here)

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