Table of Contents Expand Table of Contents What Is a Strong Buy? Strong Buy Recommendations Factors Influencing Strong Buy Ratings The Bottom Line Strong Buy Explained: Definition, Mechanism, and Usage By Adam Hayes Full Bio Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland.Adam's new book, "Irrational Together: The Social Forces That Invisibly Shape Our Economic Behavior" (University of Chicago Press) is a must-read at the intersection of behavioral economics and sociology that reshapes how we think about the social underpinnings of our financial choices. Learn about our editorial policies Updated November 08, 2025 Reviewed by JeFreda R. Brown Reviewed by JeFreda R. Brown Full Bio Dr. JeFreda R. Brown is a financial consultant, Certified Financial Education Instructor, and researcher who has assisted thousands of clients over a more than two-decade career. She is the CEO of Xaris Financial Enterprises and a course facilitator for Cornell University. Learn about our Financial Review Board Fact checked by Kirsten Rohrs Schmitt standret / Getty Images Close What Is a Strong Buy? A strong buy is a recommendation given by analysts for a stock that is expected to dramatically outperform the average market return and/or the return of comparable stocks in the same sector or industry. It represents an analyst's emphatic endorsement of a stock. A strong buy can be contrasted with a strong sell. There's been diminishing regard for strong buy ratings and a current preference for less emotive terms like "buy." Key Takeaways A strong buy recommendation suggests a stock is poised to outperform the market.The strong buy rating often comes with optimistic price targets, like a 30% to 50% gain over 12 months.Analysts issue strong buys based on positive financial performance or anticipated favorable market conditions.Reasons for a strong buy can include share price trends, estimate revisions, and growth prospects.A strong buy is the highest endorsement an analyst can give to a stock. Deep Dive Into Strong Buy Recommendations A stock with a "strong buy" rating is expected to significantly outperform the markets over the near term. A strong buy is the strongest recommendation that an analyst can give to purchase a stock. As with any type of analyst rating, the rating is only relevant until a material event occurs that results in the analyst changing his or her outlook regarding the company. A 'strong buy' means the analyst believes the stock's underlying company is or will soon be experiencing positive financial performance and/or favorable market conditions. A strong buy rating indicates an analyst has reason to believe the stock will trade drastically higher over the coming months. What exactly those reasons are can vary considerably, but in general, the analyst usually predicts the potential gain in anticipation of some sort of positive event, such as a return to profitability or the launch of a new product. A strong buy writing is usually accompanied by an extremely optimistic price target on the stock, such as a 30% to 50% gain over the coming 12 months. The strong buy rating is not as highly regarded today as it was a few years ago. Many investment banks now prefer the less emotional buy rating. Important There is no universal ranking system, so it's important to understand a firm's rating scale in order to know what it means by the terms it uses. Factors Influencing Strong Buy Ratings Share price appreciation: When a company’s share price trend shows an impressive run, analysts search for reasons that contribute to that run. If they find that those reasons point to continued strong performance, they may be motivated to issue a strong buy recommendation.Estimate revisions: When a company adjusts its revenue estimates for a given time period to indicate stronger expected performance, analysts may echo that sentiment by resetting their recommendation on the stock to a strong buy.A history of positive earnings surprises: If a company often exceeds its own performance forecasts, analysts may consider it a superior option, justifying a strong buy rating.Strong growth prospects: A company in a growing industry with strong growth predictions may warrant a strong buy recommendation.Growth drivers: A company that drives significant technological advancements can earn respect and a strong buy rating from analysts. The Bottom Line A "strong buy" recommendation signals an analyst's optimistic forecast for a stock's significant short- to mid-term outperformance compared to the market or its sector. A strong buy rating often comes with an ambitious price target, generally reflecting a 30% to 50% gain within the next 12 months. While the strong buy is a robust endorsement, the weight of such recommendations has diminished, prompting analysts to lean towards the more conservative "buy" rating in current times. Reasons for a strong buy can range from share price trends to positive earnings surprises and industry growth potential. It's important to understand a firm's rating scale, as interpretations of "strong buy" can vary across different analysis firms. Take the Next Step to Invest Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace. Read more Investing Investing Basics Partner Links Take the Next Step to Invest Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.