Top Analyst Picks: 5 Stocks to Watch in April from Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

US stocks ended mixed in April with the Dow Jones falling 3.2%, the S&P 500 down 0.8%, and the Nasdaq gaining 0.9%. Wall Street analysts make new stock picks daily, but not all have impressive track records. Benzinga's Analyst Ratings API provides insights from top analysts. The five most accurate analysts' latest picks include Jay McCanless upgrading Tri Pointe Homes to Outperform with a $43 price target, and Doug Anmuth maintaining an Overweight rating on Spotify with a $670 price target.

US stocks ended April with a mixed performance, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 posting losses while the Nasdaq Composite managed a slight gain. The DJIA fell 3.2% for the month, while the S&P 500 declined by 0.8%. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9%, snapping a two-month losing streak [1].

The month was marked by significant volatility, with the DJIA and S&P 500 experiencing their third consecutive month of losses. Despite these declines, the indexes extended their winning streaks to seven sessions by the end of April. The Nasdaq's gain in April was driven by a late-session surge, which helped the index offset losses from earlier in the month [1].

The volatile April came on the heels of a contraction in the U.S. economy, as reported by the government. The GDP data for the first quarter showed a contraction for the first time in three years, raising concerns about a potential recession. Additionally, private payrolls numbers from ADP were weaker than anticipated, further adding to economic uncertainty [1].

Several major companies reported earnings during the month, with mixed results. Starbucks (SBUX) shares fell nearly 6% after the company's results missed on the top and bottom lines. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) plunged 12% after issuing preliminary results that came in well below its previous guidance. GE HealthCare Technologies (GEHC), however, climbed more than 3% after posting better-than-expected results [1].

The performance of major technology companies was mixed, with shares of Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta (META) showing varied movements. Tesla (TSLA) shares fell more than 3%, while Nvidia (NVDA) and Alphabet (GOOG) also lost ground. Despite these mixed results, Meta and Microsoft were gaining ground in after-hours trading following the release of better-than-expected quarterly results [1].

The energy sector also experienced significant declines, with major oil companies such as Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) each down more than 2%. This was driven by a tumble in crude oil prices, with West Texas Intermediate futures slipping 3.7% to around $58.20 per barrel, their lowest level in four years [1].

Gold futures, which had hit a record high earlier in the month, were down 1.1% at $3,295.00. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 4.17%, trading near its lowest levels since early April. The U.S. dollar index was up 0.4% at 99.65, after hitting a three-year low below 98 early last week [1].

Looking ahead, analysts are closely watching economic indicators and the impact of Trump administration policies on the economy and companies. Despite the recent rally, the market remains uncertain about the health of the economy and the potential for a recession.

References:
[1] https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-04302025-11724738