Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Best US Stocks to Buy in 2026 for UK Investors
Ruby Layram
4th Jun 2026
If you’ve been investing for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that the US stock market continues to dominate.
Many of the world’s most valuable companies are American, and the biggest investment themes of 2026, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data centres and digital payments, are being led by US businesses.
That’s one reason why so many UK investors choose to allocate a significant portion of their portfolios to American stocks.
But with valuations rising and AI enthusiasm reaching new heights, which US stocks are actually worth buying today?
In this guide, I’ll break down the five best US stocks to buy in 2026, explain why they’re attracting investor attention and discuss the risks you should know before investing.
Why Invest in US Stocks?
The United States remains home to many of the world’s most innovative companies.
US stocks offer exposure to:
- Artificial intelligence
- Cloud computing
- Digital advertising
- E-commerce
- Semiconductor technology
- Consumer spending
- Healthcare innovation
The S&P 500 has also significantly outperformed many international markets over the past decade, driven largely by the rise of mega-cap technology companies. Investor enthusiasm for AI continues to fuel strong demand for US equities in 2026.
For UK investors, the challenge isn’t finding US stocks.
It’s finding the right ones.
1. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)
If there is one company that symbolises the AI revolution, it’s Nvidia.
The company dominates the market for AI chips, with estimates suggesting it controls roughly 80-85% of the AI accelerator market. As global AI investment continues accelerating, Nvidia remains one of the biggest beneficiaries.
What I like most is that Nvidia isn’t just selling chips. It’s building the infrastructure that powers modern AI.
Its technology is used by:
- OpenAI
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Meta
As long as companies continue investing billions into AI infrastructure, Nvidia should remain central to the story.
2. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
Microsoft may be one of the safest ways to invest in AI.
The company combines:
- Azure cloud computing
- Microsoft 365
- Windows
- AI Copilot
- Enterprise software
Unlike many AI companies, Microsoft already generates enormous profits.
Its Azure cloud business continues to benefit from growing demand for AI computing power, while its AI products are increasingly being integrated across its software ecosystem.
For long-term investors, Microsoft offers a rare combination of growth and stability.
3. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
Many people think of Amazon as an online retailer.
In reality, its most important business today may be Amazon Web Services (AWS).
AWS is the world’s largest cloud computing platform and sits at the heart of the AI infrastructure boom.
Analysts continue to highlight Amazon’s enormous AI-related investment programme and growing cloud demand as major growth drivers for the years ahead. Some estimates suggest Amazon is committing hundreds of billions of dollars to AI and data-centre infrastructure.
Amazon also benefits from:
- E-commerce growth
- Advertising revenue
- Logistics infrastructure
- Cloud computing
4. Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
Alphabet doesn’t always receive as much attention as Nvidia or Microsoft, but I think that creates an opportunity.
The company owns:
- Google Search
- YouTube
- Android
- Google Cloud
- Gemini AI
Alphabet recently announced a huge expansion of its AI infrastructure investment as it competes with Microsoft, OpenAI and Meta in the AI race. The company plans to deploy substantial capital into AI computing capacity and cloud infrastructure.
Despite this, Alphabet often trades at a lower valuation than some of its mega-cap peers.
5. Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO)
While Nvidia gets most of the headlines, Broadcom has quietly become one of the most important companies in the AI ecosystem.
Broadcom specialises in:
- Networking hardware
- Custom AI chips
- Data-centre infrastructure
- Enterprise software
Recent results showed AI-related semiconductor revenue growing by more than 140% year-on-year, highlighting the enormous demand for its technology.
Although the stock experienced some short-term volatility following its latest earnings report, many analysts still view Broadcom as a key beneficiary of long-term AI spending.
Why I Didn’t Include Tesla
Some readers may be surprised not to see Tesla on this list.
While Tesla remains a fascinating company, I think there are currently stronger investment cases elsewhere.
The stocks above offer exposure to what I believe is the biggest investment theme of the decade:
AI infrastructure.
The companies building the chips, data centres, cloud platforms and networking systems behind artificial intelligence may ultimately be some of the biggest winners.
How UK Investors Can Buy US Stocks
Most major UK investment platforms offer access to US shares, including:
You can often hold US shares inside a Stocks and Shares ISA, allowing any gains to grow free from UK capital gains tax.
Are US Stocks a Good Investment Right Now?
Personally, I still believe US stocks deserve a place in most long-term portfolios.
However, I also think investors should avoid becoming too concentrated.
Many portfolios today are heavily exposed to:
- The S&P 500
- Large technology companies
- The Magnificent Seven
While these businesses remain exceptional, diversification still matters.
That’s why I like combining US stocks with:
- Global index funds
- UK equities
- Emerging markets
- Gold or commodity exposure
This creates a portfolio that isn’t dependent on a single country or investment theme.
Final Thoughts
If I were looking for the best US stocks to buy in 2026, my shortlist would be:
- Nvidia
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Alphabet
- Broadcom
All five sit at the centre of the AI infrastructure boom, which continues to attract enormous investment from businesses around the world. AI-related spending by major technology companies is expected to reach trillions of dollars over the coming years, making this one of the defining investment themes of the decade.
For UK investors with a long-term mindset, these companies remain among the most compelling opportunities in the market today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.
All the American tech stocks are horrendously expensive to buy into and are probably in a bubble waiting to burst. Could you do a deep dive into the US equivalent of BT, National Grid, Unilever, Croda etc….something that’s accessibly priced and has a decent dividend for the smaller investor.