4 Stocks to Buy Now (And 1 Surprising Sell)

Group 1: Pool Corp - Pool Corp is a robust company with a significant portion of its revenue, 62%, coming from pool maintenance, indicating a strong business model beyond new construction [2] - The company is currently 50% off its all-time high, presenting a buying opportunity despite challenges in the housing market [3] Group 2: Occidental Petroleum - Occidental Petroleum is positioned well due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Venezuela, which are expected to support energy prices over the next two years [3] - The company has diversified operations beyond crude oil, including gas and chemicals, which provides resilience against market fluctuations [3] Group 3: Intuit - Intuit has seen a significant decline, down 50% from its all-time high, but is considered oversold and strategically positioned with partnerships in AI [3] - The company offers a suite of products, including QuickBooks and TurboTax, which are expected to benefit from AI integration [3] Group 4: Duke Energy - Duke Energy is forecasted to meet increasing power demands, with a projected 1.5% growth in gigawatts needed from new data centers [3] - The company has the highest integrated capital expenditure spending in the US regulated energy sector, positioning it well for future growth [3] Group 5: MicroStrategy - MicroStrategy is currently viewed as a sell, being 77% off its all-time high, with concerns about Bitcoin's potential decline through mid-2027 due to yield curve dynamics [3][4] - The company is associated with Bitcoin and blockchain but faces challenges in proving its value as a long-term asset during economic downturns [4][5] Group 6: Bitcoin as Digital Gold - Bitcoin's performance has diverged from gold, raising questions about its status as "digital gold" and its reliability during recessions [4][5] - The regulatory environment surrounding cryptocurrency remains unclear, which adds to the speculative nature of Bitcoin investments [5][6]