The third-quarter rise in equity markets masked sharp divergences among stock funds. Performance varied widely as the AI-fueled rally that drove the first half of 2026 began to lose momentum and market leadership shifted.
It’s easy to see why some investors fall into the dividend aristocrat trap: They assume these stocks are automatically among the best long-term dividend investments. But that isn’t necessarily true.
So where has the “smart money” been finding opportunities amid all the uncertainty? Here are some of the stocks that top investment managers have been buying over the past few months.
Here’s more about each of the best utilities stocks to buy, including commentary from the Morningstar analysts who cover each company.