3 Market-Beating Stocks to Consider Right Now

3 Market-Beating Stocks to Consider Right Now

Anthony Lee

Fri, February 20, 2026 at 1:43 PM GMT+9 3 min read

In this article:

•                                       StockStory Top Pick 
  

  LLY

  +0.12%

 ENSG  

 -0.09%  

 

 

 CRAI  

 -0.56%  

Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns, and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.

It’s clear there’s a strong connection between sustained earnings growth and hall-of-fame returns. Taking that into account, here are three market-beating stocks with room for further growth.

The Ensign Group (ENSG)

Five-Year Return: +146%

Founded in 1999 and named after a naval term for a flag-bearing ship, The Ensign Group (NASDAQ:ENSG) operates skilled nursing facilities, senior living communities, and rehabilitation services across 15 states, primarily serving high-acuity patients recovering from various medical conditions.

Why Do We Watch ENSG?

Expected revenue growth of 18.3% for the next year suggests its market share will rise

Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last five years, increasing by 13.8% annually

Industry-leading 13.6% return on capital demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments

The Ensign Group is trading at $204.86 per share, or 27.9x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Eli Lilly (LLY)

Five-Year Return: +410%

Founded in 1876 by a Civil War veteran and pharmacist frustrated with the poor quality of medicines, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) discovers, develops, and manufactures pharmaceutical products for conditions including diabetes, obesity, cancer, immunological disorders, and neurological diseases.

Why Should You Buy LLY?

Market share has increased this cycle as its 38.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional

Adjusted operating margin expanded by 21.2 percentage points over the last two years as it scaled and became more efficient

Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 25% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years

Eli Lilly’s stock price of $1,024 implies a valuation ratio of 29.7x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

CRA (CRAI)

Five-Year Return: +191%

Often retained for high-stakes matters with multibillion-dollar implications, CRA International (NASDAQ:CRAI) provides economic, financial, and management consulting services to corporations, law firms, and government agencies for litigation, regulatory proceedings, and business strategy.

Why Do We Like CRAI?

Market share has increased this cycle as its 9.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional

Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue

Industry-leading 18.7% return on capital demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments

 






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At $164.64 per share, CRA trades at 18.5x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

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