Top 5 US stocks to watch in 2026
Singapore-based investors and traders seeking exposure to US equities now have a range of options, from leveraged derivatives such as CFDs, to direct stock ownership via IG Singapore’s newly launched IG Markets app.
Important to know
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute any form of investment advice. Please ensure that you understand the risks and consider your specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs before making a commitment to trade.
Key takeaways
- IG offers CFD trading on over 10,000 international stocks, allowing traders to trade price movements without owning the underlying assets.
- US stock CFDs enable Singapore traders to benefit from both rising and falling markets through leveraged trading.
- IG Singapore also offers commission-free US stock and ETF investing options via its newly launched IG Markets app.
What are US stock CFDs?
US stock CFDs (Contracts for Difference) are derivative instruments that allow traders to speculate on the price movements of American-listed companies—such as Apple, Tesla, or Amazon—without owning the underlying shares.
When trading CFDs through IG Singapore, clients enter into an agreement to exchange the difference between the opening and closing price of a stock, profiting from either upward or downward movements.
Key features of US stock CFD trading include:
Leverage and margin trading: CFDs are leveraged products. IG Singapore typically requires a 10% margin for US stock CFDs, enabling traders to control a larger position with less upfront capital.
Long and short positions: Traders can go long (buy) if they expect prices to rise or go short (sell) to profit from declines.
No share ownership: CFD holders do not own the actual shares, meaning no voting rights or direct dividend entitlements. However, dividend adjustments may be credited or debited to reflect corporate actions.
Why trade US stock CFDs in Singapore?
Singapore traders are increasingly drawn to US stock CFDs due to their flexibility and access:
Global market reach: IG Singapore offers access to over 10,000 share CFDs across major exchanges including the NYSE and NASDAQ.
Extended trading hours: IG provides 24/5 trading on 140 US stocks and additional out-of-hours access on 140+ others, allowing traders to respond to news and earnings releases beyond regular market hours.
Regulatory oversight: IG Singapore is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), ensuring compliance and client protection under Singapore’s financial regulations.
Investing in US Stocks with IG Markets app
For those focused on long-term wealth building rather than short-term speculation, IG Singapore now offers direct investing through its IG Markets app. This platform allows Singapore residents to buy and hold actual US shares and ETFs with zero commissions and no platform fees, starting from just S$1 for fractional shares.
Benefits of US stock investing via IG Markets include:
Ownership of shares: Investors gain voting rights and receive dividends directly from the companies they invest in.
Fractional investing: Enables diversification even with modest capital, ideal for retail investors.
Global access: The app supports investing in thousands of stocks and ETFs across US and international markets.
This dual-platform approach — CFD trading for active strategies and direct investing for long-term growth — positions IG Singapore as a versatile provider for retail investors navigating the US equity landscape.
Top 5 US stocks to watch in Singapore
Company
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Latest share price*
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Share price change in 2025*
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Available for CFD trading with IG?
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Available for investing with IG Markets Singapore app?
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US$270.37
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+18.4%
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✔
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✔
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US$202.49
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+67.2%
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✔
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✔
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US$517.81
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+24.6%
|
✔
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✔
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US$456.56
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+20.3%
|
✔
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✔
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US$281.20
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+21.3%
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✔
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✔
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*As of 22 October 2025
1. Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL)
Sub-sector: Consumer electronics and services
Market cap: US$4.01 trillion
Latest earnings: Apple reported Q4 FY2025 revenue of US$102.5 billion, up 8% year-on-year (YoY). Earnings per share (EPS) rose to US$1.85, a 13% YoY increase. IPhone revenue hit US$49 billion (+6% YoY), and Services reached an all-time high of US$28.8 billion (+15% YoY)
Share price performance: As of 22 October 2025, Apple shares closed at US$270.37, up 18.4% year-to-date (YTD). The stock had traded at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 40.93 and a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 47.2.
Stock outlook: Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah upgraded Apple to “buy” and raised the price target from US$226 to US$315, citing “anticipated strength of iPhone sales” and a “multi-year iPhone expansion cycle”. Analysts expect Q4 revenue to hit US$102.17 billion, with Services crossing the US$100 billion annual mark for the first time.
2. Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA)
Sub-sector: Semiconductors and AI infrastructure
Market cap: US$3.45 trillion
Latest earnings: For Q2 FY2026, Nvidia reported revenue of US$46.7 billion, up 56% YoY. Data center revenue reached US$41.1 billion, also up 56% YoY, driven by strong demand for the Blackwell platform, which grew 17% sequentially. Gross margin expanded to 72.7% (non-GAAP).
Share price performance: As of 22 October 2025, Nvidia shares closed at US$202.49, up 67.2% YTD. The stock had a P/E ratio of 58.14 and a P/B ratio of 53.6.
Stock outlook: MarketBeat reports a consensus 'buy' rating from 49 analysts, with an average price target of US$230.13, implying a 13.66% upside as of end-October 2025. Analysts highlight Nvidia’s “unmatched dominance in AI chips” and its central role in powering global data centers, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. Despite US–China trade headwinds, analysts remain bullish due to strong profitability and hyperscaler demand.
3. Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT)
Sub-sector: Cloud computing and enterprise software
Market cap: US$4.02 trillion
Latest earnings: Microsoft reported Q1 FY2026 revenue of US$77.7 billion, up 18% YoY. GAAP EPS was US$3.72 (+13% YoY), while non-GAAP EPS reached US$4.13 (+23% YoY). Operating income rose 24% to US$38 billion, and net income hit US$30.8 billion (non-GAAP). Azure cloud revenue grew 40% YoY, contributing to 26% growth in Microsoft Cloud overall.
Share price performance: As of 22 October 2025, Microsoft shares closed at US$517.81. The stock, which is up 24.6% YTD, traded at a P/E ratio of 39.70 and a P/B ratio of 13.8.
Stock outlook: Microsoft holds a “strong buy” consensus from 31 analysts, with an average price target of US$633.06, forecasting a 20.41% upside. Analysts cite Microsoft’s “significant capex in AI and cloud infrastructure” and note that its gaming segment grew 44% YoY, complementing its software and cloud businesses.
4. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA)
Sub-sector: Electric vehicles and clean energy
Market cap: US$1.42 trillion
Latest earnings: Tesla reported Q3 FY2025 revenue of US$28.1 billion, up 12% YoY, with EPS of US$0.50, missing analyst expectations due to higher costs. Net income attributable
Share price performance: As of 22 October 2025, Tesla shares closed at US$456.56, up 3.74%. The stock has gained 69% since November 2024. The stock traded at a P/E ratio of 307.67 and a P/B ratio of 18.3.
Stock outlook: Tesla’s analyst consensus is 'buy', with an average price target of US$379.18, suggesting a potential downside of −13.84%. Analysts warn of 'heightened volatility' due to CEO Elon Musk’s ongoing feud with President Trump and regulatory headwinds in the U.S. and Europe. Despite record energy deployments, Tesla’s earnings miss has tempered short-term enthusiasm.
5. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
Sub-sector: Internet services and cloud computing
Market cap: US$3.01 trillion
Latest earnings: Alphabet posted Q3 FY2025 revenue of US$102.3 billion, up 16% YoY, with EPS of US$2.87. Net income grew by 33% YoY to US$35 billion. Google Cloud revenue
Share price performance: As of 22 October 2025, Alphabet shares closed at US$281.19, up 21.3% YTD with a P/E ratio of 29.68 and a P/B ratio of 6.4.
Stock outlook: Alphabet’s consensus rating is “buy,” with an average price target of US$256.38. HSBC recently raised its target and DZ Bank reaffirmed its “buy” rating, citing “robust growth trajectory” in cloud and AI segments. Analysts expect Alphabet’s Gemini AI and quantum computing breakthroughs to drive long-term performance.
US stocks trading and investing strategies
► US stock CFD trading strategies
1. Day trading strategy
Day trading involves opening and closing positions within the same trading day. This strategy is particularly suitable for volatile US stocks like Tesla and NVIDIA.
Advantages: No overnight financing charges, reduced exposure to gap risk, ability to capitalise on intraday volatility.
Considerations: Requires significant time commitment, faster decision-making and strong emotional discipline.
2. Swing trading strategy
Swing trading involves holding positions for several days to weeks, aiming to capture medium-term price movements.
Advantages: Less time-intensive than day trading, ability to capture larger price movements, suitable for traders with other commitments.
Considerations: Exposure to overnight financing charges, gap risk over weekends, requires patience and discipline.
3. Event-driven trading
This strategy focuses on trading around specific events like earnings announcements, product launches or regulatory decisions.
Advantages: Clear catalysts for price movements, well-defined risk/reward scenarios, ability to plan trades in advance.
Considerations: High volatility around events, potential for gap movements, requires thorough fundamental research.
What are stock CFDs?
► US stock investing strategies
1. Long-term growth investing
Focuses on buying and holding companies with strong fundamentals and long-term potential, such as Apple, Microsoft, or Alphabet.
Advantages: Potential for compounding returns over time, lower transaction frequency and costs.
Considerations: Requires patience and tolerance for market cycles, may underperform during economic downturns, while long holding periods mean delayed access to capital.
2. Sector rotation
Involves shifting investments between sectors based on macroeconomic cycles—for example, rotating from tech to utilities during downturns.
Advantages: Tactical exposure to outperforming sectors, can enhance returns during economic transitions, useful for managing cyclical risk.
Considerations: Requires active monitoring of macro trends, timing mistakes can lead to underperformance, while sector ETFs may dilute exposure to top-performing stocks.
3. Thematic investing
Focuses on long-term trends like AI, clean energy, or autonomous vehicles, using stocks like Tesla, Nvidia, or thematic ETFs.
Advantages: Aligns with future growth narratives, offers exposure to innovation and disruption, can be diversified across multiple companies via ETFs.
Considerations: Themes may take years to materialise, high volatility and valuation risk, and requires conviction and long-term horizon.
How to trade and invest in US stocks with IG Singapore
CFD share trading
- Create a live or demo account
- Find an opportunity among one of our 10,000+ stocks with our stock screener
- Click ‘buy’ to go long or ‘sell’ to short
- Set your position size
- Take steps to manage your risk
- Open and monitor your position
Investing
- Open an account via IG Markets Singapore app
- Search for US stocks on the app
- Choose the shares you want to buy
- Determine how many shares you want to purchase
- Place your order
- Monitor your investment and collect any dividends
US stocks trading and investing FAQs
Are US stock CFDs suitable for new Singapore traders?
US stock CFDs can be suitable for experienced traders who understand leverage and risk management. However, beginners should start with a demo account and thoroughly educate themselves about CFD trading risks before committing real capital. Remember that 71% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IG.
How volatile are US stock CFDs?
US stock CFDs mirror the volatility of underlying US stocks, which can be influenced by company earnings, economic data, geopolitical events and market sentiment. Technology stocks like NVIDIA and Tesla typically exhibit higher volatility than established companies like Microsoft or Apple.
What's the minimum amount needed to start trading?
IG Singapore doesn't specify a minimum deposit requirement for opening an account. However, practical considerations around margin requirements and risk management suggest starting with sufficient capital to manage risk effectively across multiple trades.
What are the fees for trading US stock CFDs with IG Singapore?
IG Singapore charges commission-based fees for US stock CFDs rather than spread-based pricing. Specific commission rates vary by market and are detailed in IG's fee schedule. Additional costs may include overnight financing, currency conversion and guaranteed stop-loss fees.
Can I trade US stock CFDs outside regular market hours?
Yes, IG Singapore offers 140 US stocks 24/510 and 140+ US stocks out-of-hours.
What's the difference between CFD trading and stock investing?
CFD trading involves trading price movements without owning the underlying shares. You can use leverage and profit from both rising and falling markets. Stock investing involves purchasing actual shares, giving you ownership rights but requiring the full purchase price upfront.
Do I need a US brokerage account to invest in US stocks?
No. Platforms like IG Singapore’s IG Markets app let you invest in US stocks directly from Singapore
Is US stock investing suitable for beginners?
Yes. With fractional investing, zero commissions, and global brand exposure, platforms like IG Markets make US stock investing accessible to first-time investors in Singapore.
Are US stock dividends taxed for Singapore investors?
Yes. US stock dividends are subject to a 30% withholding tax, even if you're a Singapore resident.
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