13 Best American Stocks To Buy Heading Into 2023

Published on November 11, 2022 at 8:25 am by Hamna Asim in Hedge Funds, News

In this article, we discuss 13 best American stocks to buy heading into 2023. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 5 Best American Stocks To Buy Heading Into 2023.

As per Bank of America, a new bull market could emerge in 2023 after the Federal Reserve aggressively hiked interest rates in 2022 in a bid to control inflation. While most investors are focused on the Fed’s continuous rate hikes, they fail to observe that the central bank is shrinking its $9 trillion balance sheet by means of monthly roll-offs of its treasury and mortgage debt worth $95 billion. Paired with rising rates, this move will make the global market illiquid, which can trigger a reversal in the Fed’s policy making next year. BofA’s investment strategist Michael Hartnett said that central banks are “petrified of market consequences of liquidity withdrawal.” The US dollar climbing new highs is another signal that the Fed could potentially press pause on its fiscal tightening.

Any shift from the Fed, whether it chooses to halt future interest rate hikes or continues its monthly balance sheet reductions, could be a positive indicator for investors and result in a significant rally. However, Hartnett observed that the market will experience more pain before a relief rally in 2023, and he expects that stocks will touch record lows soon.

As stocks hurtle towards new lows, investors are taking this opportunity to pile into high-quality firms which would normally be trading at much higher multiples. Case in point, Hartnett observed on October 21 that equities experienced in flows of more than $9 billion in the past week. Some of the best American stocks to buy heading into 2023 include Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

Our Methodology

We selected the following American stocks based on growth fundamentals, positive analyst coverage, and strong market visibility. We have arranged the list according to the number of hedge fund holders in each firm, tracked by Insider Monkey as of the second quarter of 2022.

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Best American Stocks To Buy Heading Into 2023

13. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), an American multinational energy giant, is one of the best American stocks to buy for 2023. The company posted market-beating Q3 results, with free cash flow of $12.3 billion. The revenue of $66.64 billion jumped 49.0% year-over-year, beating analysts’ consensus by $5.2 billion.

On October 31, Cowen analyst Charles Ryhee raised the price target on Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) to $185 from $160 and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. The analyst observed that 2023 capex was guided to the high end of the mid-term range while 2022 Permian growth was guided to the low end of the range. He noted that Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) reaffirmed a disciplined approach to M&A and share repurchases despite an ever improving balance sheet.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 59 funds reported owning stakes worth $26 billion in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) at the end of Q2 2022, compared to 53 funds in the prior quarter worth $28 billion.

In addition to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the favorite stock picks of elite investors.

Diamond Hill Capital mentioned Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm had to say:

“Other top contributors in Q1 included multinational energy company Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX). The company benefited from increased energy demand as COVID-related economic restrictions eased in tandem with concerns regarding supply interruptions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

12. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), a retailer of household goods and general merchandise, is one of the premier American stocks to buy. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) announced on October 18 that it has launched a beta version of its creators platform which will enable influencers to monetize shoppable products from the retail giant via affiliate product links.

On November 7, Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh said that year-to-date, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s shares are significantly outperforming, down only 3% versus a 22% drop in the S&P 500. Looking toward the upcoming print, the analyst believes Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is positioned to top consensus estimates. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shares have generally struggled on recent prints, and he advised taking advantage of any such buying opportunities. The analyst maintained an Outperform rating and a price target of $155 on the shares.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, 67 hedge funds were long Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) at the end of Q2 2022, compared to 60 funds in the last quarter. Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners is the leading position holder in the company, with 9.8 million shares worth $1.2 billion.

In its Q2 2021 investor letter, ClearBridge Investments, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“The pandemic has created challenges for businesses large and small; one major challenge for large essential retailers such as ClearBridge holdings Home Depot, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and Costco has been ensuring adequate staffing to meet demand under trying conditions. All three instituted enhanced pay practices during the pandemic, with raises, unplanned bonuses and other benefits helping compensate employees for their efforts in a difficult environment. In September 2020 Walmart raised wages for 165,000 employees, including a number of entry positions to $15 an hour. It followed this in February with a raise for 425,000 workers that moved its average pay above $15 an hour.”

11. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), an Indiana-based developer and marketer of human pharmaceuticals worldwide, is one of the elite American stocks to buy heading into 2023. On October 17, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) declared a $0.98 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on December 9, to shareholders of record on November 15.

Barclays analyst Carter Gould on November 2 raised the price target on Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) to $395 from $355 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares. The analyst cited higher long-term Mounjaro estimates following the Q3 results for the increased target. He thinks investors should focus on Mounjaro demand and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)’s long-term opportunity rather than short-term concerns.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 70 funds reported owning stakes in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) at the end of June 2022, up from 53 funds in the prior quarter. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management featured as the leading position holder in the company, with nearly 6 million shares worth $2 billion.

Here is what Baron Funds specifically said about Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

“In pharmaceuticals, our largest investment is in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY). Lilly’s new diabetes drug Mounjaro is off to a strong start. In addition, Mounjaro may be approved for obesity next year. In clinical trials, Mounjaro delivered up to 22.5% average weight loss in adults with obesity and has the potential to be a top-selling drug. Lilly also has a drug in development for Alzheimer’s disease in the same class as Lecanemab, a drug being developed by Biogen and Eisai that slowed the rate of cognitive decline in a late-stage clinical trial. Lilly is not facing any significant near-term patent expirations and we think the company should be able to grow revenue and earnings at attractive rates through the end of the decade and beyond.”

10. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is an American multinational provider of branded consumer packaged goods. It is a defensive stock and a reliable dividend king, which makes it one of the best American stocks to buy for 2023. On October 11, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) declared a $0.9133 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on November 15, to shareholders of record on October 21.

Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers on October 20 raised the price target on The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) to $156 from $155 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares after the fiscal Q1 results.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) was part of 71 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 72 funds in the preceding quarter.

9. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 83

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is an American multinational corporation that operates in the pharmaceutical, medical technology, and consumer healthcare sectors. On October 18, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) reported a Q3 non-GAAP EPS of $2.55 and a revenue of $23.8 billion, outperforming Wall Street estimates by $0.06 and $360 million, respectively. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is also a reliable dividend king, with 60 years of consecutive dividend increases under its belt.

On October 19, Bernstein analyst Lee Hambright maintained a Market Perform rating on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) but lowered the price target on the shares to $190 from $194. The analyst noted that Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) posted robust Q3 results as sales grew 8.2% organically to $23.8 billion. Both sales and adjusted EPS beat consensus by 2% despite FX pressures and ongoing macroeconomic constraints, added the analyst, who also noted that macro pressures were gradually easing.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, 83 hedge funds were bullish on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) at the end of the second quarter of 2022, and Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners is the leading position holder in the company, with 6.5 million shares worth $1.16 billion.

Distillate Capital Partners LLC shared its outlook on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) in its Q2 2022 investor letter. Here’s what the firm said:

“Johnson & Johnson was among the 2 largest trims at around 1% each. Each stock was up 1% in the quarter compared to the 16% price decline for the S&P 500 and the positions were reduced as the valuations became somewhat less appealing, though still attractive enough to warrant inclusion.”

8. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the leading American semiconductor firms. On November 8, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) announced that it had launched a new chip in China that complies with the recently introduced U.S. export rules. The A800 chip is the first such processor from a U.S. semiconductor maker that adheres to new trade rules.

On October 25, investment advisory Needham reiterated a Buy recommendation on NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) but lowered the firm’s price target on the shares to $155 from $170 as part of a broader research note on Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment. Analyst Rajvindra Gill issued the ratings update.

According to Insider Monkey’s data, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) was part of 84 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, and Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management featured as a prominent stakeholder of the company, with 7.6 million shares worth $1.15 billion.

Vulcan Value Partners made the following comment about NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

“We also sold NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) during the quarter to allocate capital to new purchases and to add to existing positions in the portfolio. NVIDIA is facing multiple headwinds. Data center revenue growth is slowing, gaming revenue growth is declining, and the United States has issued new export controls to China that impact NVDIA’s products. We believe NVDIA’s competitive advantages are intact, and it remains on our MVP list. In the right circumstances we would be delighted to own it in the future.”

7. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It provides managed healthcare and insurance services. On November 4, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) declared a quarterly dividend of $1.65 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on December 13, to shareholders of the company as of December 5. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the premier American stocks to buy for 2023.

On October 18, Deutsche Bank analyst George Hill raised the price target on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) to $615 from $569 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The company reported robust Q3 results on broad-based strength as membership growth remains resilient and value-based arrangements increase, the analyst wrote in a research note.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 91 funds reported owning stakes worth $11 billion in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) at the end of June 2022, compared to 103 funds in the prior quarter worth $12.8 billion. Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management is one of the leading position holders in the company, with 2.8 million shares valued at $1.5 billion.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Carillon Tower Advisers, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and United Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) reported solid quarterly results and raised 2022 guidance modestly. Additionally, managed care is another industry that is viewed as defensive in the current environment, which helped support UnitedHealth and its peer group.”

6. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 99

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is an American multinational company that provides banking and financial products and services for individual customers, small and mid-sized businesses, institutional investors, large enterprises, and governments worldwide. It is one of the best American stocks to buy heading into 2023.

On October 19, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on December 30, to shareholders of record on December 2. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)’s dividend yield on November 11 came in at 2.31%.

JPMorgan analyst Vivek Juneja raised the price target on Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) to $39 from $35.50 and reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The large cap banks are benefitting in terms of revenue from higher rates and benign credit quality, while some impact from recession was already priced into the shares, the analyst told investors in a research note. In the short-term, he thinks bank stocks “should continue to benefit from rotation away from other sectors seeing more headwinds.”

According to Insider Monkey’s Q2 data, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) was part of 99 hedge fund portfolios, with collective stakes worth about $36 billion. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the largest position holder in the company, with more than 1 billion shares worth $31.4 billion.

Like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is one of the premier stocks to pick up for next year.

Here is what Artisan Partners specifically said about Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) in its Q2 2022 investor letter:

“We made only one new purchase during the quarter, initiating a position in Bank of America (BAC). As one of America’s largest banks, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is second only to JPMorgan Chase (JPM) in size and is probably its closest peer. Both are well-run banks, but compared to JPM, since the GFC, BAC has retired more shares, grown EPS faster and currently has more capital and a lower dividend payout. We are attracted to BAC’s strong capital base, high capital generation capacity, large loan loss reserve, low (~50%) loan/deposit ratio, short duration investment securities book, and low dividend payout that provides financial flexibility. BAC has a less volatile earnings stream than JPM with lower capital market sensitive exposures. Additionally, BAC is rigorously stress tested by the Fed every year in quantitative and qualitative fashion. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, which we hold in the portfolio, owns 12% of BAC. He petitioned the Fed to own more than 10%, so he clearly likes it. Bank stocks were strong gainers in 2021 on the prospects of higher rates boosting net interest margins, but the stocks pulled back in the first half of 2022 on economic concerns. We believe BAC has massive scale advantages, should benefit from increasing interest rates, particularly in the 2-year part of the yield curve, and should grow over time with the economy. The economic environment is highly uncertain, but current consensus includes the provision for losses more than doubling and capital markets activity slowing. Against that backdrop, our purchase price equated to about 8.5X our estimates of “mid-cycle” earnings. With leading businesses, a double-digit ROE, a prudent capital return strategy and a strong balance sheet, we believe this entry point offers a solid long-term value.”

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