In this article, we will take a look at Louis Navellier’s top 10 stock picks heading into 2025.
Louis Navellier, Chairman and Founder of Navellier & Associates, is a renowned American investor who is celebrated for his skill in navigating the stock market and delivering impressive profits. Leading a firm dedicated to growth investments, Navellier’s strategy is reflected in his high-performing portfolio. His journey began in a college mainframe computer lab in the 1970s. While studying at the now Cal State East Bay, Navellier set out to validate the prevailing belief that beating the market was impossible. His original aim was to create an index product before index investing became mainstream, attempting to replicate the S&P 500. Ironically, his project failed by succeeding. Rather than simply matching the market, his model consistently outperformed it, uncovering inefficiencies that became the cornerstone of his investment philosophy. In 1987, Navellier would go on to establish Navellier & Associates, a fund dedicated to providing customized portfolio strategies aimed at maximizing returns while effectively managing risk for individual investors.
With decades of expertise in translating academic theories into real-world market strategies, Louis Navellier champions a disciplined approach to quantitative analysis for identifying market-beating stocks. His methodology follows a meticulous three-step process: quantitative analysis to pinpoint high-potential opportunities, fundamental analysis to evaluate each candidate’s financial health and growth prospects, and portfolio optimization to fine-tune the selection for maximum performance. Throughout his career, Navellier has identified numerous “thousand-percent winners,” from Conair’s dominance in the hair dryer market during the 1980s to NVIDIA’s leadership in AI chips today. His methodology emphasizes discovering well-managed companies that lead their industries, particularly those with expanding operating margins and steady earnings growth.
Navellier’s U.S. Outlook
In a Market 360 article, Louis Navellier offered insights into the recent presidential election and its potential market implications under a Trump 2.0 administration. He highlighted the critical role manufacturing played in the 2024 election outcome by pointing to the Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) report, which revealed a decline in the manufacturing index to 46.5 in October from 47.2 in September, signaling contraction (any reading below 50). The details paint an even grimmer picture: The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ payroll report has revised August and September job figures downward by a combined 112,000. As such, manufacturing took a significant hit, with 46,000 jobs lost, partly due to Boeing’s ongoing challenges. Here’s what Navellier had to say about the report:
“All in all, this payroll report was a statistical mess and will likely need to be revised when we have more information. But it also drove Treasury yields lower and increased pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut key interest rates, since the Fed is now more worried about the job market than inflation.”
According to Navellier, the new administration is expected to drive growth in the manufacturing sector through a combination of measures: implementing tariffs to counter unfair overseas competition, encouraging the Federal Reserve to maintain lower interest rates, and leveraging cheaper energy prices that position the U.S. favorably compared to Europe and Japan. He noted that if these strategies succeed, the U.S. could see a manufacturing boom.
On the other hand, Navellier has been one of the biggest heralds of AI and its implications. Currently, many investors remain heavily focused on the “first generation” of AI stocks and while Wall Street’s AI darling is likely to continue generating returns, Navellier states that it has become yesterday’s story. According to the investor, the real opportunity lies in the “second generation” of AI stocks; companies poised to harness generative AI to build profitable enterprises and revolutionize existing industries. This next wave will usher in transformational change of a kind that happens only once every 25 years. The companies that adapt to this second wave of AI will soar, delivering years of outperformance. Those that fail to embrace this shift risk falling behind—or even disappearing altogether. Conversely, Navellier believes that AI will also dismantle outdated industries and businesses. The “Real AI Boom”, as he calls it, will mint new millionaires—and even billionaires—while driving hundreds, if not thousands, of stocks worldwide to collapse.
Louis Navellier of Navellier & Associates
Our Methodology
For this analysis, we examined Navellier & Associates’ stock portfolio from the third quarter of 2024. The stocks are ranked based on the firm’s stake value in each holding.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Navellier & Associates’ Stake Value: $13.42 million
Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 158
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), a global leader in consumer electronics, software, and services, is best known for its flagship products like the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. The company is also making significant advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR), bolstering its position for growth in emerging markets.
According to Bernstein, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares could reach $290 in their bull case scenario. They firm views Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as a “quality compounder,” citing mid-single-digit revenue growth, improving margins, disciplined capital returns, and double-digit earnings per share growth. It also underscored Apple’s unique market position, with over 2.3 billion devices in use and nearly one billion “demographically attractive” users. While Bernstein predicts a potentially underwhelming iPhone 16 cycle, the firm recommends buying Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares if they dip to $200 or below, especially during the February to April timeframe, capitalizing on the stock’s seasonal trading patterns.
Apple’s fiscal Q4 2024 results exceeded Wall Street expectations for revenue and earnings per share, despite a dip in net income due to a one-time tax charge related to a European tax decision. Adjusted earnings per share rose 12% year-over-year, while quarterly revenue increased 6% to $391.04 billion for the fiscal year. Apple’s cash reserves have grown to $156.65 billion.
In addition, iPhone revenue climbed 6% in the quarter, marking the first glimpse of the iPhone 16’s market performance. CEO Tim Cook reported that iPhone 16 sales outperformed both the iPhone 14 and 15 during comparable periods. Additionally, Cook highlighted the rollout of Apple Intelligence, an AI system for iPhones and Macs, as part of the iOS 18.1 update, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation.
9. Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL)
Navellier & Associates’ Stake Value: $13.73 million
Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 54
Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) specializes in designing, building, marketing, and financing a variety of detached and attached homes across the U.S. The company stands out from competitors with its focus on prestigious locations, distinctive architectural designs, unmatched customization options, and exceptional customer service.
In Q3, the company delivered record-breaking third-quarter home sale revenues of $2.72 billion, driven by efficient operations and strong demand for new homes. Moreover, Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) sold 2,814 homes at an average price of $968,000 and signed 2,490 net contracts totaling $2.4 billion, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase in both units and dollar value.
In addition, Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) raised its full-year adjusted gross margin guidance to 28.3% (up from 28.0%) and expanded its stock buyback program from $500 million to $600 million. Following these robust results, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods maintained an Outperform rating on the stock, highlighting its favorable valuation at 1.7 times the estimated 2025 book value. The firm also raised forward estimates by 6.5%, driven by better-than-expected deliveries, gross margins, and SG&A efficiency. The firm projects a 21% growth in book value by the end of 2025, with a return on equity (ROE) forecasted between 17% and 21%.