Market leadership can change from one session to the next, but some business trends keep running for years. The move from cash to digital payments, an aging population that needs more medical care, a long backlog of commercial aircraft orders, the slow arrival of self-driving cars, and the growing value of financial data all fit that description. The five stocks below are tied to those trends, and each carries a strong buy consensus from Wall Street analysts as of October 20, 2026.
The backdrop is busy. Inflation has run above the Federal Reserve's target, long-term Treasury yields remain high, and the Fed's next policy decision comes at its October 27-28 meeting. October 22 is one of the heaviest days of earnings season, with Procter & Gamble, Union Pacific, Lockheed Martin, and Blackstone scheduled to report before the open, and Western Digital and Omnicom after the close. The ideas below span payments, medical devices, aerospace, transportation technology, and financial data. Editorial notes only, not investment advice.
Visa (V) – A Toll Road on Global Spending
Visa runs one of the largest card payment networks in the world. It does not lend money to cardholders. Instead, it earns small fees each time a card is used, so its revenue tends to rise with overall consumer spending and inflation. Visa has also expanded into services such as fraud prevention, data analytics, and money transfers between businesses. In our view, the ongoing shift away from cash, especially outside the U.S., gives Visa a long runway for growth.
Consensus on Visa reads strong buy, with nearly every covering firm bullish. Baird's David Koning kept his Outperform rating and raised his price target on October 12.
Risks: Regulators and merchants continue to push back on card fees. Legal challenges, new payment methods such as real-time bank transfers, and a slowdown in cross-border travel remain factors to monitor.
Boston Scientific (BSX) – Medical Devices for an Aging Population
Boston Scientific makes devices used in heart procedures, blood vessel treatments, and other minimally invasive surgeries. Its products for treating irregular heart rhythms have been a key source of growth. Procedures like these tend to grow as populations age, and they are less tied to the economic cycle than many other businesses. In our view, Boston Scientific's strong position in heart devices supports steady long-term demand.
Consensus on Boston Scientific reads strong buy, with most covering firms bullish. Truist's Richard Newitter kept his Buy rating on October 14.
Risks: Several firms have cut their price targets sharply over the past year. Citigroup's Joanne Wuensch holds a Neutral rating and trimmed her target on October 5, and Wells Fargo's Larry Biegelsen holds Equal-Weight. Competition in heart rhythm devices, product recalls, and hospital spending trends remain factors to monitor.
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) – Parts Supplier to a Full Order Book
Howmet makes jet engine parts, fasteners, and structural parts for aircraft, along with forged wheels for trucks. Its engine parts are hard to make and must meet strict safety standards, which limits competition. Airplane makers have years of orders waiting to be filled, and airlines need replacement parts for the engines already flying. In our view, that mix of new-build and repair demand gives Howmet a steady base of business.
Consensus on Howmet reads strong buy, with most covering firms bullish. RBC Capital's Ken Herbert kept his Outperform rating on October 15.
Risks: Both RBC Capital and TD Cowen trimmed their price targets in October, and Wells Fargo's David Strauss holds Equal-Weight. Production delays at aircraft makers, a weaker truck market, and a valuation that already reflects strong growth remain factors to monitor.
Uber Technologies (UBER) – Ride-Hailing, Delivery, and the Road to Autonomy
Uber runs the largest ride-hailing network in many markets, along with a large food and grocery delivery business. The company has also signed partnerships with several self-driving car developers to offer driverless rides on its app. Advertising inside the app has become a growing source of revenue. In our view, Uber's huge base of riders makes it a natural partner for robotaxi companies, rather than a business that self-driving cars will replace.
Consensus on Uber reads strong buy, with every covering firm in our data set bullish. Guggenheim's Taylor Manley reiterated his Buy rating on October 16.
Risks: Robotaxi companies could choose to run their own networks instead of partnering with Uber. Rules on driver pay and employment status, competition in delivery, and changes in consumer spending remain factors to monitor.
S&P Global (SPGI) – Selling the Data Markets Run On
S&P Global owns one of the largest credit rating businesses in the world, along with the S&P Dow Jones Indices unit and a large financial data business. Many funds pay fees to track its stock indexes, and companies pay to have their bonds rated. These businesses are hard for new competitors to enter. In our view, the growth of index investing and the rising value of clean financial data for AI tools support S&P Global over the long term.
Consensus on S&P Global reads strong buy, with every covering firm in our data set bullish. JPMorgan's Andrew Steinerman kept his Overweight rating on October 14.
Risks: Morgan Stanley's Toni Kaplan trimmed her price target on October 7, and JPMorgan and BMO Capital also made small cuts in October. Slower bond issuance, regulatory scrutiny of rating agencies, and competition in financial data remain factors to monitor.
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