Top Stock Picks for Week of October 12, 2026
Meta Platforms (META) is the world’s largest social media platform. The company’s portfolio has evolved from the Facebook app to multiple apps, including photo and video sharing app Instagram and WhatsApp messaging app, largely through acquisitions. Meta Platforms is extending AI deeper across its apps, while recommendation and advertising upgrades are supporting engagement and advertiser returns today. WhatsApp, subscriptions, business agents and AI glasses broaden the long-term monetization runway beyond feed advertising and add enterprise opportunities. At the same time, Meta is committing substantial capital to models and infrastructure before returns from newer AI products are fully established. Its liquidity, operating cash generation and access to long-duration capital provide flexibility to fund infrastructure while Meta evaluates returns across ads, agents, APIs and enterprise compute. The social media company's stock has climbed by 20.44% in the past month, exceeding the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 6.54% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.4%.
Diageo plc (DEO) is a global beverage alcohol company operating in approximately 180 countries. Diageo demonstrates strong fundamentals, led by its brand portfolio, geographic diversification, innovation capabilities and disciplined execution. The company’s globally recognized brands provide a strong foundation for premiumization, consumer engagement and category expansion, while growth in Guinness, Smirnoff RTD and emerging markets shows the resilience of its business model. DEO’s focus on innovation, mainly across RTDs and low/no-alcohol offerings, positions it to capture evolving consumer preferences and expand growth opportunities. The company is also expanding accessible price points and product formats to recruit consumers across different occasions. Diageo’s improving cash generation and focus on financial discipline provide support for its long-term growth strategy. This alcoholic beverages company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.2% in the last 60 days. This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 1.8%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners, but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like D-Wave Quantum, which shot up +680.1%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpDiageo plc (DEO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
