Goldman Sachs named several stocks that are well positioned in the current market environment. The investment bank says companies like Samsara have defensive qualities while also offering plenty of upside. Other stocks rated buy at Goldman Sachs and screened by CNBC Pro include: Nvidia, BrightSpring Health Services, Ulta Beauty and Johnson & Johnson. BrightSpring Health Services The home health care services company is firing on all cylinders, according to Goldman. Analysts led by Scott Fidel recently initiated coverage of the stock with a buy rating and a $71 price target. The investment bank said it likes BrightSpring’s differentiated offering with a wide array of services like “specialty drug complexity, infusion site-of-care migration, home-based clinical delivery, and fragmentation across both pharmacy and provider markets,” he wrote. Fidel said BrightSpring’s business model leaves it best positioned for growth in the area of care for the aging. “In our view, that combination supports a premium growth framework rather than a conventional post-acute or provider multiple,” the analyst said. Shares are up 67% so far in 2026. Samsara The fleet management and connected operations cloud platform company has plenty more room to run, Goldman said, offering “solid execution as growth drivers expand,” analyst Matthew Martino wrote following Samsara’s recent earnings report. The bank also called Samsara “one of the most defensible growth assets in software today,” saying clients should look to add shares on any weakness. Martino also sees profit margins improving, and Samara’s June 24th investor day as a positive catalyst. “Taken together, these attributes underpin a defensible competitive moat and reinforce Samsara’s ability to remain relevant as customers increasingly standardize physical operations on fewer, more capable platforms,” the analyst said. The maker of internet connected sensor systems is up 18% over the past month. Ulta Beauty The beauty retailer is best positioned to gain market share, Goldman wrote recently. Analyst Kate McShane said margin concerns and top line fears were overdone following Ulta’s latest earnings report. “Ulta reiterated top line expectations while raising its operating income growth and EPS guidance following a solid 1Q performance and with expectations for increased share repurchases,” she wrote. McShane stuck to her $652 price target, implying plenty of upside ahead. “In FY26, we continue to believe ULTA’s comp acceleration is being fueled by a healthy cosmetics category and strong company execution, with the company’s investment in marketing, labor and service resulting in market share gains,” she went on. The stock is down 23% this year, but investors should buy the dip, Goldman said. Ulta “Ulta reiterated top line expectations while raising its operating income growth and EPS guidance following a solid 1Q performance and with expectations for increased share repurchases … In FY26, we continue to believe ULTA’s comp acceleration is being fueled by a healthy cosmetics category and strong company execution, with the company’s investment in marketing, labor and service resulting in market share gains.” Samsara “Solid execution as growth drivers expand … We view Samsara as one of the most defensible growth assets in software today … Taken together, these attributes underpin a defensible competitive moat and reinforce Samsara’s ability to remain relevant as customers increasingly standardize physical operations on fewer, more capable platforms.” BrightSpring Health Services “The company’s businesses provide solutions to some of the most prominent friction nodes in healthcare services — specialty drug complexity, infusion site-of-care migration, home-based clinical delivery and fragmentation across both pharmacy and provider markets … In our view, that combination supports a premium growth framework rather than a conventional post-acute or provider multiple.” Nvidia “We believe Nvidia’s improved capital allocation should drive increased investor confidence around the company’s commitment to balance product innovation and ecosystem investments with shareholder returns. We reiterate our Buy rating on the stock as we see Nvidia sustaining its growth profile into 2027 while maintaining a competitive edge in the market — and our CY27 estimates stand over 30% above the Street.” Johnson & Johnson “Lean Into The Strengthening Pharma Franchise Of Defensive Bellwether; Assuming Coverage with a Buy … We believe consensus is under-appreciating the trajectory of the Innovative Medicine business …. Additionally, with $80bn in balance sheet capacity — the industry’s highest — we expect the company to continue on its strong track record of augmenting revenue growth in the Innovative Medicines business.”
