Key Takeaways Use a Zacks screen to find the best #1 (Strong Buy) stocks to buy to start 2026.Buy soaring, top-ranked AI-boosted chip stock PLAB for big upside.The bulls are fighting to push the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to all-time highs heading into Q4 earnings season, which kicks off next week.The 2026 earnings outlook is robust, with expansion projected in nearly every pocket of the economy. On top of that, the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again in 2026. These two pillars create a ...