Look, we’ve all been there. Some Wall Street hotshot in a $3,000 suit tells you they’ve got the secret sauce for beating the market, and six months later you’re eating ramen while they’re buying their third yacht. But here’s the thing about Citi’s Large Cap Recommended list – it’s actually been crushing it.
For two years straight, these financial wizards have managed to do what most of us can only dream of: consistently beat the S&P 500. In 2025, their picks returned 26% while the broader market managed a respectable but less impressive 19%. Last year? They pulled off 27% versus the index’s 25%. Not bad for a bunch of people who probably haven’t seen sunlight since 2019.
So what’s their secret? According to the bank, they use a “bottom-up fundamental methodology” – which is fancy talk for “we actually look at the companies instead of throwing darts at a board.” They consider boring stuff like balance sheets, growth prospects, and whether the stock is priced like it’s the next Tesla or just another Tuesday.
The Fresh Meat: 11 New Additions
Citi just dropped 11 new names into their magic basket, and honestly, some of these picks are more interesting than your average Netflix algorithm recommendation:
Microchip Technology (MCHP) – Because apparently we still need more chips for everything. Price target: $80 (23% upside). Not the kind you eat with salsa, unfortunately.
US Bancorp (USB) – A bank that’s not trying to reinvent money as a digital cat picture. Revolutionary! Target: $70 (29% upside).
Affirm Holdings (AFRM) – The “buy now, pay later” company that’s basically teaching millennials that credit cards are so 2010. Target: $100 (31% upside).
Delta Air Lines (DAL) – Because someone has to fly us to our disappointments. At least they’re profitable disappointments. Target: $77 (10% upside).
Broadcom (AVGO) – Already up 51% this year because AI needs chips like influencers need ring lights. Target: $480 (36% upside).
Boeing (BA) – Yes, the plane company that’s been having a rough decade. But hey, people still need to fly, and Airbus can’t make planes fast enough. Target: $265 (19% upside).
The list also includes some solid, if less exciting, names like Thermo Fisher Scientific (for when you need to science the heck out of something), Linde (industrial gases – thrilling!), and Medtronic (keeping hearts beating since forever).
The Reality Check
Now, before you mortgage your house to buy these stocks, remember that past performance doesn’t guarantee future results – it’s like assuming your ex won’t disappoint you again. But Citi’s track record is pretty solid, and their methodology seems more thoughtful than “this stock has a cool logo.”
The beauty of this list is that it’s not trying to be the next meme stock phenomenon. These are actual companies with actual business models that make actual money. Revolutionary concept, right?
Whether these 11 picks will continue Citi’s winning streak remains to be seen. But in a world where financial advice often feels like astrology with better suits, a little fundamental analysis goes a long way. Just don’t blame us if your portfolio doesn’t immediately turn into a money printer – we’re just the messengers.