Remember when everyone said you couldn’t beat the market? Well, Piper Sandler just walked into the room with a 22% return and said “hold my calculator.”
While the S&P 500 was doing its respectable 16% victory lap in 2025, Piper Sandler’s “Macro Select” model was quietly crushing it with a 22% return. And before you ask – no, this wasn’t just another AI stock lottery ticket. These folks actually have a system.
Here’s the deal: Instead of throwing darts at a board covered in tech stocks, Piper Sandler’s model looks for companies with strong earnings surprises, solid earnings revisions, attractive earnings yields, and high return on equity. Think of it as the financial equivalent of finding someone who’s smart, funny, reliable, AND good looking – rare, but worth the hunt.
“We believe there will be a broadening in markets in 2026,” says Michael Kantrowitz, their chief US equity strategist. Translation: “Maybe it’s time to look beyond the same five mega-cap stocks everyone’s been obsessing over.”
So what made the cut for 2026? Here are the 9 new additions to their top-tier list:
AT&T (T) – Yes, that AT&T. The telecom giant that’s been around since your grandparents were texting on flip phones. 10% return last year.
Graham Holdings (GHC) – The media company that’s quietly doing its thing while everyone else panics about streaming wars. 4% return.
Brinker International (EAT) – They own Chili’s, so basically they’re betting people will keep wanting baby back ribs. Smart money. 12% return.
Par Pacific Holdings (PARR) – Energy company that’s not trying to be the next Tesla. Sometimes boring wins. 13% return.
Deluxe Corporation (DLX) – They still make checks, which apparently people still use. Who knew? 5% return.
Mueller Water Products (MWA) – Water infrastructure. Because even in 2026, people need clean water. Revolutionary concept. 14% return.
Kilroy Realty (KRC) – Real estate that’s not trying to be the next WeWork disaster. 6% return.
UGI Corporation (UGI) – Utilities with a whopping 33% return. Apparently keeping the lights on is still profitable.
Clearway Energy (CWEN) – Clean energy that actually makes money. 23% return proves green doesn’t have to mean red ink.
The beauty of this list? It’s refreshingly normal. No promises of revolutionizing everything, no buzzword bingo, just solid companies doing solid business. In a world where every stock pitch sounds like a sci-fi movie trailer, sometimes the best investment is the one that just… works.
Will these stocks continue their winning streak? Nobody knows – that’s why they call it investing, not guaranteeing. But if you’re tired of betting your retirement on whether robots will take over the world next Tuesday, maybe it’s time to consider some good old-fashioned profitable businesses.
After all, someone’s got to keep the lights on while we’re all arguing about the metaverse.