15 Best Cheap Stocks to Buy for 2026

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index briefly crossed 7000 points for the first time on January 28, 2026, rebounding nearly 40% since April 2025 lows, with five record closes noted by January 27, 2026 [1] - The Nasdaq Composite has seen modest gains in 2026, while the Russell 2000 has surged nearly 7% year-to-date as of January 29, 2026, outperforming large-cap peers for 14 consecutive trading sessions, the longest streak since 1996 [2] Valuation Concerns - The Shiller S&P 500 price-to-earnings ratio is currently at 41, the highest since the dot-com bubble, while the trailing P/E ratio is at 31.52, significantly above the historical average of 16.2 [3] - Bank of America's head of US equity strategy, Savita Subramanian, indicates that the S&P 500 is expensive, predicting it will reach 7,100 by year-end 2026, which is among the lowest forecasts on Wall Street [3] Investment Strategy - Goldman Sachs analysts predict that value stocks will remain favored if US economic momentum strengthens, noting that these stocks, with forward P/E ratios below 15, have outperformed higher-valuation stocks at the start of the year, achieving a 15% return in the last six months of 2025 [4] Stock Selection Methodology - The list of best cheap stocks for 2026 was created using screeners like TradingView and Finviz, focusing on US-listed stocks with forward P/E ratios between 3 and 15 and a positive upside potential of at least 20%, ranked by hedge fund holdings as of Q3 2025 [7][8] HNI Corporation - HNI Corporation (NYSE:HNI) is highlighted as a top cheap stock for 2026, with a forward P/E of 11.92 and an upside potential of 58.46% [9] - Benchmark Co. raised its price target for HNI to $75 per share from $60, citing a planned acquisition of Steelcase Inc. valued at approximately $2.2 billion, expected to yield annual cost synergies of about $120 million [10] - HNI's shares are priced below historical values, with a P/E ratio of 13.35, and the company has a history of consistent dividend payments over 55 years [11] Sanofi SA - Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) is also listed as a cheap stock for 2026, with a forward P/E of 9.02 and an upside potential of 25.11% [15] - Citi Research initiated coverage on Sanofi with a Neutral rating and an €85 price target, expressing concerns over pipeline setbacks affecting long-term growth [16] - Sanofi's current valuation reflects these setbacks, with analysts noting that the market is unlikely to reward the stock with a higher multiple without evidence of pipeline improvement [17] - Positive results were reported for Sanofi's experimental medicine amlitelimab in Phase 3 clinical studies for atopic dermatitis, indicating potential for future growth [18]