Just a few weeks into 2026, the market is already off to a strong start. Many companies have updated investors about exciting new projects, like Nvidia's recent description of its upcoming launch of Vera Rubin, its next-generation AI platform.
Anything could happen this year, as always, so you want to make sure your portfolio is full of excellent stocks that can help you achieve growth and stay safe.
My three favorite stocks to buy right now -- Dutch Bros (BROS 6.67%), MercadoLibre (MELI 5.20%), and Realty Income (O +0.35%) -- offer a mixture of growth and value to help you along the way.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros is a small but growing chain of coffee shops that's winning new customers as it expands across the country. It started three decades ago in Oregon and has made a major shift to a national expansion strategy, while moving its headquarters to Arizona. From there, it's spreading East, and today it has a presence in 24 states, with just north of 1,000 stores.
The company is growing in several ways, and altogether, the potential is building rapidly. First, its store count has doubled since Dutch Bros went public in 2021, and it's aiming to double it again by 2029, reaching 2,029 stores.
It was on track to open at least 160 stores in 2025, and it plans to raise that to at least 170 in 2026. Management sees the opportunity to have 7,000 stores over several years.
NYSE: BROS
Key Data Points
It's also growing same-shop sales, demonstrating that it has a viable long-term concept that fans enjoy. Some of the ways it's driving growth are through beverage innovation, menu development, and the recent rollout of mobile ordering, which is enhancing its membership program.
Dutch Bros is also becoming more profitable, with a wider contribution margin (the revenue remaining after subtracting costs) and increasing net income. Over the next 10 years and longer, the company should keep expanding rapidly and rewarding shareholders.
2. MercadoLibre
MercadoLibre is a powerhouse e-commerce and fintech stock in Latin America, and it has impressive opportunities. Latin America is still lagging the U.S. and other global regions in e-commerce and financial technology, and MercadoLibre is helping the region make the shift by offering valuable services.
The company is constantly improving its value proposition to attract new consumers, and in addition to the millions of customers it adds every quarter, existing customers are raising their buying frequency and purchase amounts on average. That's leading to soaring sales, creating a long-term growth runway.
For example, in the 2025 third quarter, revenue increased 49% year over year (on a currency neutral basis), and the number of items sold posted a 42% increase, while gross merchandise volume was up 34%.
NASDAQ: MELI
Key Data Points
The company has similarly large opportunities in finance, if not larger. Its Mercado Pago app continues to add new services, and the total credit portfolio climbed 83% over last year in the third quarter. Total payment volume increased 54%. It's expanding its platform and has applied for a bank charter in Mexico, solidifying its position as a financial giant in addition to the retail platform.
MercadoLibre has been unstoppable and has years of growth ahead as it adds new customers and services. It's also highly profitable, giving it stability as it expands.
3. Realty Income
Realty Income isn't a growth stock, but it has an impressive dividend supported by a strong business model, making it one of my favorite evergreen stocks.
It's a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on retail, and it counts many of the top U.S. retail chains, like Walmart and Home Depot, as top-20 clients. The company has also moved into other fields, like casinos and industrials, to spread risk and find new opportunities. It owns about 15,500 global properties, and management guided for $5.5 billion in investment volume for 2025.
NYSE: O
Key Data Points
That's the business end. The dividend is the attraction here, and the REIT pays its shareholders monthly -- something it has done for more than 55 years while raising it for 113 consecutive quarters. The dividend yields 5.3% at the current price, or more than four times the S&P 500 average.
Realty Income is a top dividend stock you can count on to provide rising passive income while bolstering a well-diversified portfolio.
