The Best Stocks to Invest $1,000 in Right Now

By Neha Chamaria – Feb 21, 2026 at 8:15AM ESTKey PointsSome companies are sitting on once-in-a-generation growth opportunities right now.Brookfield Asset Management's earnings and dividends could surge over the next five years. GE Vernova is entering a growth supercycle, thanks to its niche in the AI data center market.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NYSE: GEVGE VernovaMarket Cap$224BToday's Changeangle-down(-0.55%) $4.59Current Price$830.02Price as of February 20, 2026 at 3:59 PM ETThese two stocks could deliver explosive returns in the coming years.There's a common myth that you need to invest a fortune to build a fortune from stocks. Even a small investment can go a long way if you know where to start. The question isn't whether you should buy stocks, but which stocks you should buy that could yield life-changing returns over time. Here are my two best, high-conviction stocks you could buy today with as little as $1,000 and hold to earn big returns. Image source: Getty Images. A powerful money compounder Brookfield Asset Management (BAM +1.12%) is growing at a torrid pace. The alternative asset manager manages assets exceeding $1 trillion, with 95% of its fee revenue tied to long-term capital. That offers incredible visibility into future earnings with minimal redemption risk from the clients it manages money for (large institutions such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds). 2025 was a record year, with Brookfield raising a record $35 billion in funding in just the fourth quarter. Its fee-related earnings surged 22% in the year. ExpandNYSE: BAMBrookfield Asset ManagementToday's Change(1.12%) $0.56Current Price$50.63Key Data PointsMarket Cap$83BDay's Range$49.62 - $50.9852wk Range$41.78 - $64.10Volume102KAvg Vol2.7MGross Margin95.83%Dividend Yield3.46% Brookfield expects to double its business over the next five years, driven by the massive tailwinds of the artificial intelligence (AI) data center build-out, digitalization, and energy transition. It recently launched a $100 billion AI infrastructure fund, with Nvidia and the Kuwait Investment Authority joining as investors and founding partners. Brookfield is also a dividend powerhouse, returning 90% of its distributable earnings to shareholders. It recently raised its dividend payout by 15%. If the company can double its fee-based earnings, dividends should grow significantly, too. Throw in a dividend yield of 3.5%, and Brookfield Asset Management stock could easily deliver double-digit annualized returns for investors who buy the stock today. This stock is a monster in the making Shares of GE Vernova (GEV 0.55%) surged 98.7% in 2025. If you think the stock is already priced for perfection, you could be in for a huge surprise. Spun off from the former General Electric, now GE Aerospace, GE Vernova is the world's leading manufacturer of natural gas turbines and is sitting on a generational growth opportunity right now. The rapid data center build-out poses a major challenge for the industry: a stable power supply to keep the servers and cooling systems running. The surging power demand, however, is putting tremendous pressure on the existing grids, which can take years to upgrade. GE Vernova's turbines are scalable and can be installed quickly on-site, bypassing grid congestion to generate reliable power. That is why demand is booming. ExpandNYSE: GEVGE VernovaToday's Change(-0.55%) $-4.59Current Price$830.02Key Data PointsMarket Cap$224BDay's Range$823.00 - $842.4752wk Range$252.25 - $846.00Volume55KAvg Vol3.2MGross Margin20.28%Dividend Yield0.15% GE Vernova's orders surged 65% and backlog grew by $15 billion sequentially to $150 billion in Q4. Revenue jumped 9% to $38 billion, free cash flows more than doubled, and the company ended 2025 with nearly $9 billion in cash. The company also doubled its dividend recently and boosted its share buyback program to $10 billion. By the end of 2028, GE Vernova expects to raise its backlog to over $200 billion, and generate $56 million in revenue and over $24 billion in cumulative FCF. That growth should unlock significant value for investors who buy the shares today.Read NextFeb 11, 2026 •By Lee SamahaHere's Why GE Vernova Stock Popped Higher Today (Hint: It's Artificial Intelligence Related)Feb 7, 2026 •By Lee SamahaHere's Why GE Vernova Stock Keeps Soaring in 2026Feb 6, 2026 •By Lee SamahaWhy GE Vernova Crushed the Market Again TodayFeb 6, 2026 •By Neha ChamariaWhy GE Vernova Stock Surged 99% in 2025 and Remains a Screaming BuyFeb 4, 2026 •By Leo SunShould You Buy Shares of GE Vernova (GEV) In February?Jan 30, 2026 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerIs GE Vernova Stock a Buy Now?About the AuthorNeha Chamaria is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, utilities, and materials sectors, with a focus on dividend stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Neha worked on portfolio valuations for hedge funds at HSBC and authored articles as a journalist. She holds a master’s degree in finance from ICFAI and an MBA from Symbiosis University, along with certifications from the National Stock Exchange of India. Neha was honored with an all-India gold medal for her M.S. in Finance and was the first woman in her family to pursue a professional career.TMFNehaChamariaX@nehamschamariaStocks MentionedGE VernovaNYSE: GEV$830.02 (0.55%) $4.59Brookfield Asset ManagementNYSE: BAM$50.63 (+1.12%) $+0.56*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.