BofA Securities has outlined its preferred U.S. equity ideas for Q3 2026, naming ten companies that the bank believes are positioned to outperform their peers over the coming quarter. Of the ten, nine carry buy ratings and one is rated underperform. BofA frames the list against what it sees as supportive macro and earnings dynamics - namely a resilient U.S. economy and a pickup in earnings momentum.
High-conviction selections and the rationale
Ford - BofA expects Ford to gain from firmer North American demand, an improved mix toward higher-margin trucks and SUVs, rising revenue from software and services, and expansion in its battery energy storage business.
IBM - The bank points to steady software demand, improving trends in consulting, and growing interest in quantum computing as drivers for IBM. BofA also notes that stable free cash flow could support additional upside.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals - Ionis is highlighted as a favored biotech name because a series of drug launches and several late-stage clinical trial readouts create multiple near-term catalysts that could materially change earnings expectations.
JPMorgan Chase - BofA views JPMorgan as well positioned for superior earnings growth among large U.S. banks due to a higher-for-longer interest rate environment, robust investment banking activity, and continued investments in AI and digital banking capabilities.
Knight-Swift Transportation - The brokerage expects that tight trucking capacity and rising freight rates will strengthen pricing power, enabling Knight-Swift to benefit from an improving freight cycle.
Snowflake - BofA believes accelerating adoption of Snowflake's AI products and its data cloud platform will sustain revenue growth as enterprise spending on AI continues to increase.
Spotify - The firm projects Spotify can enhance profitability through higher subscription pricing, AI-enabled premium product features, growth in advertising, and expansion in audiobooks and podcasts.
Visa - Visa is BofA's top payments pick, supported by a rebound in cross-border transactions, rapid expansion of value-added services, ongoing share buybacks, and opportunities in digital payments and AI.
Walmart - BofA expects Walmart to capture market share via aggressive pricing, faster delivery capabilities, growing e-commerce sales, and expansion of higher-margin businesses including advertising and memberships.
Lennar - The only underperform on the list, Lennar is expected to face headwinds from higher land costs, softer housing demand, and pressure on margins, which BofA believes will weigh on earnings relative to peers.
Context and positioning
BofA's Top 10 spans multiple sectors, indicating the bank's view that opportunities for outperformance are not concentrated in a single industry. The selections are accompanied by specific near-term catalysts ranging from product launches and pricing leverage to macro-driven benefits such as rate dynamics and freight cycles.
Note on coverage
The list reflects BofA's convictions for the third quarter of 2026 and the firm’s assessment of which companies are most likely to benefit from the combination of resilient macro conditions and visible, near-term business catalysts.