Advanced Micro Devices reported first-quarter 2026 results on Tuesday after the close. Disney reported its first quarter 2026 results ahead of today’s opening. They were both very good.
As expected, S&P 500 futures and both stocks rose in premarket trading. Investors should wait for a good day unless President Trump decides to escalate the war with Iran.
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To add to the good vibes, the S&P 500 closed yesterday’s trading session with another record close at 7,259.22.
As a result of the record, there were 192 new 52-week highs on the NYSE and 427 on the Nasdaq Composite. Valuation multiples continue to rise, seemingly unabated.
Surprisingly, new 52-week lows were recorded on both the NYSE (45) and Nasdaq (111). Of the 156 new 52-week lows, there were 17 stocks with prices of $100 or more.
These seven have the highest stock prices and are worth buying or at least putting on your watch list.
Housing Deposit (HD)
Housing Deposit (HD) It hit a new 52-week low of $310.40, on the 14th of the last 12 months. Its shares fell 12.8% last year.
Home Depot is the undisputed leader in home improvement in the United States. That’s the rub: When real estate markets are heating up, HD can do no wrong. When they’re terrible, like they are now, same-store sales range from flat to negative. Inevitable.
The big reason to own right now?
Receive a good dividend (3% yield) while building a significant PRO business (its $1.2 trillion total addressable market) to complement the more cyclical and economically influenced DIY market.
Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL)
Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL) It hit a new 52-week low of $300.23, on the 26th of the last 12 months. Its shares fell 33.1% last year.
Anyone who has followed the insurance industry in 2026 knows that it has been a difficult year for growth, especially in the ultra-competitive property and casualty market. Kinsale does not compete there. Underwrites specialized risks for small and medium-sized businesses. They have been hurt by tariffs.
Known for its disciplined underwriting, its combined ratio, which indicates underwriting profitability, was 77.4% in the first quarter of 2026, up 470 basis points from a year ago. Lower is definitely better. This led to a return on equity of 24.0%, 150 basis points higher than a year ago.
It pays to have disciplined underwriting in times of low or no premium growth.
Stryker (SYK)
Stryker (SYK) It hit a new 52-week low of $290.17, on the 21st of the last 12 months. Its shares fell 22.6% last year.
If you invested in Stryker five years ago, you’ll get a disappointing annualized total return of just 4.2%. It has done little for investors despite continued growth.
On April 30, despite a lackluster first quarter, Stryker maintained its revenue and earnings per share guidance. It expects organic revenue growth of 8.8% in 2026, along with EPS of $15. It trades at less than 20 times that estimate. Its forward P/E hasn’t been this low since 2018.
McDonald’s (MCD)
McDonald’s (MCD) It hit a new 52-week low of $283.02, the 13th in the last 12 months. Its shares fell 9.7% last year.
Every time I walk to my local Starbucks (SBUX) At six in the morning, I ironically walk past a large billboard advertising $5 McDonald’s meals. I personally don’t go to McDonald’s often, but I understand why someone would. In some places in the United States you can’t get a gallon of gas for five dollars. Value and affordability go hand in hand like PB&J. It’s smart positioning.
It will report first-quarter 2026 results tomorrow. It is expected to earn $2.75 per share on revenue growth of 8.9% to $6.49 billion. It is difficult to imagine that in this economy and its value offers, better than expected results will not be obtained.
Either way, it’s hard not to like a company that generates more than $7 billion in annual free cash flow despite more than $3.4 billion in capital expenditures.
As restaurant stocks and cash flow go, it’s still its own field.
Steris (STE)
Steris (STE) It hit a new 52-week low of $209.61, its seventh in the last 12 months. Its shares fell 5.1% last year.
Speaking of free cash flow, the infection preventionist should surpass or get very close to $1 billion in FCF in fiscal 2026 (March). In the 12 months ended December 31, 2025, it was $917 million, converting each dollar of revenue into $1.30 in free cash flow.
Admittedly, I’m not an expert in the Steris business. Of the 8 analysts covering STE, 5 rate it a Buy (4.25 out of 5), with a price target of $287.33.
With nearly 10% annual revenue growth and 20% operating profit growth, it will be able to deliver consistent dividend growth and share buybacks for years to come.
Swimming pool (POOL)
Swimming pool (POOL) It hit a new 52-week low of $186.94, on the 29th of the last 12 months. Its shares fell 38.9% last year.
Once upon a time, this company could do no wrong. Then life became expensive and pools, especially building new ones, became secondary to keeping the family finances afloat.
Considered the world’s largest distributor of pool products, the company’s two busiest quarters are the second and third quarters. In 2019 (before COVID), their combined sales for the two quarters were $2.02 billion. By 2022, that figure was 82% higher, reaching $3.67 billion.
This is very good growth in three years for what is probably considered semi-discretionary income. Since then, sales have declined slightly and have stabilized at around $3.2 billion.
At the end of the day, while you’ve lost a fair share of new construction-related business, the recurring nature of existing pool maintenance ensures that revenue doesn’t fall off a cliff like some industries.
The downside is that you no longer convert $1 of income into more than $1 of free cash flow. The advantage? Its return on equity remains in double digits.
UFP Technologies (UFPT)
UFP Technologies (UFPT) hit a new 52-week low of $173.86, its 10th in the last 12 months. Its shares fell 7.6% last year.
Single-use medical device contract manufacturer plays an important role in the healthcare industry. This has led to a healthy gain of almost 300% in five years for UFPT stock.
What do they say about “slow and steady wins the race”? Stocks really started to take off early in COVID in 2020.
UFP reported strong first-quarter 2026 earnings results on Monday, including earnings per share (EPS) of $2.48, 30 cents above the zacks consensus estimate. Its sales in the medical market increased 5.9% in the quarter to $143.4 million, or 93% of sales.
While its stock price has lagged in the past year, its focus on the medical market should help it remain profitable and healthy over the long term.
On the date of publication, Will Ashworth had no (directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article are for informational purposes only. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
