Great Stocks to Invest In: Navigate 2026 with These $1,000 Portfolio Picks

The start of a new year marks an ideal moment to reassess investment strategy. Whether you’re looking to capitalize on emerging technologies or seeking stability amid economic uncertainty, finding great stocks to invest in requires careful analysis. Here are three compelling opportunities that merit consideration for investors deploying $1,000 in capital during this critical period for markets.

Alphabet: Riding the Artificial Intelligence Wave

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG/GOOGL) remains positioned as one of the great stocks to invest in for those bullish on artificial intelligence expansion. The company’s competitive advantages in AI are multifaceted and reinforcing.

Google Cloud continues outpacing both Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) AWS and Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Azure in growth trajectory. The rollout of Google Gemini 3.0, the company’s latest large language model, represents a significant technological advancement with potential to attract additional enterprise customers.

Perhaps counterintuitively, generative AI has enhanced rather than cannibalized Google’s core search business. The technology has improved search experience and ad relevance, translating directly into increased advertising revenue—the company’s dominant profit driver. Industry analysts anticipate that agentic AI (autonomous AI agents) will emerge as a key growth catalyst for Google Cloud throughout 2026.

Additionally, the integration of AI agents into Google Workspace presents opportunities to deepen adoption of cloud-based productivity tools. Meanwhile, Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, continues demonstrating operational momentum. Though meaningful revenue contribution may still be years away, forward-thinking investors increasingly recognize the significant optionality this business represents within Alphabet’s portfolio.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Multiple Growth Catalysts Ahead

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) offers investors exposure to one of the healthcare sector’s most compelling growth stories, with several catalyst events anticipated throughout 2026.

Alyftrek, the company’s latest cystic fibrosis therapy, is accelerating in commercial momentum. While sales will partially cannibalize existing CF products, the lower royalty structure on Alyftrek should ultimately expand profitability. The company expects accelerating adoption as the treatment gains market penetration.

Journavx, Vertex’s non-opioid pain medication, has already achieved access for over 170 million patients globally. Management guidance suggests this figure will expand further in 2026, directly translating into increased revenue potential as market accessibility grows.

Perhaps most significantly, Povetacicept addresses a substantially larger market opportunity. The company has commenced a rolling regulatory submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking accelerated approval for IgA nephropathy treatment. This chronic kidney disease affects approximately three times more patients than cystic fibrosis across the U.S. and Europe combined. Vertex anticipates completing the regulatory filing during the first half of 2026.

One notable setback: zimislecel development has encountered delays. The Phase 3 study for this experimental Type 2 diabetes treatment required temporary dosing halt while manufacturing analysis was completed. Vertex management expects to resume dosing during 2026, though regulatory filing appears unlikely for this year.

Enbridge: Stability When Great Stocks to Invest In Also Serve Defensive Roles

Unlike the previous two selections, Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) represents a fundamentally different investment thesis—one emphasizing stability and income generation rather than explosive growth.

As North America’s largest natural gas utility and one of its most significant pipeline operators, Enbridge generates dependable cash flow across economic cycles. The company currently offers a forward dividend yield of 5.8%, meaningfully above broader market averages. Moreover, Enbridge has increased its dividend payment consistently for 30 consecutive years—evidence of management’s confidence and commitment to shareholder returns.

From a growth perspective, Enbridge management has identified approximately $50 billion in capital deployment opportunities extending through 2030. Notably, nearly half of this total encompasses gas transmission infrastructure—a stable, regulated business model generating predictable returns.

The historical record supports this defensive positioning: over the past 20 years, Enbridge has delivered risk-adjusted total shareholder returns exceeding both the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the broader utilities sector. This performance during periods including the 2008-2009 financial crisis demonstrates the value of owning utility-oriented infrastructure assets when economic headwinds emerge.

Constructing Your $1,000 Allocation

Investors evaluating great stocks to invest in should consider portfolio construction principles. A $1,000 allocation might reasonably incorporate both growth exposure through Alphabet and Vertex—capturing technology and healthcare innovation—while dedicating a portion to Enbridge for portfolio ballast and income generation. This combination balances growth potential with downside protection, offering a diversified approach suited to varying market conditions throughout 2026 and beyond.

The key insight remains consistent: great stocks to invest in align with both your risk tolerance and the macroeconomic environment likely to prevail. By blending growth opportunities with defensive positioning, investors can construct portfolios designed to navigate uncertainty while participating in secular industry trends.