The stock market has been spinning through a storm this year, rattled by rising trade tensions, abrupt policy shifts, and a barrage of tariff escalations from President Donald Trump. In such a volatile environment, it’s often easy to get lost in the chaos, and investors might find it difficult to separate the noise from genuine opportunity. But that’s exactly where Wall Street’s top picks can offer some clarity.

Even amid all the uncertainty, Wall Street analysts appear to be placing strong bets on two mega-cap players, Meta Platforms (META) and GE Aerospace (GE). With both stocks carrying a ‘‘Strong Buy’’ consensus and over 20% upside potential baked into their average analyst price targets, here’s a closer look at these two names. 

Stock #1: Meta Platforms

California-based Meta Platforms (META) has come a long way since Facebook first reshaped global communication in 2004. With platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, it has revolutionized how people stay connected. And now, the company is pushing the boundaries again, shifting to immersive experiences in augmented and virtual reality, aiming to redefine how people interact in the digital age.

Commanding a hefty market cap of roughly $1.3 trillion, shares of this “Magnificent Seven” company haven’t been immune to the broader market selloff, with the stock tanking roughly 15% so far in 2025. Yet, over the past 52 weeks, Meta’s stock is still up 4%. 

Despite its lackluster price action this year, the social media giant kicked off 2025 on a strong note, unveiling fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 29 that blew past Wall Street’s expectations on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue soared a notable 21% year-over-year to $48.4 billion, beating forecasts by about 3%. Earnings were even more impressive, up 50% year over year to $8.02 per share, crushing estimates by a solid 20.1% margin. 

The company closed out 2024 with strong momentum, reporting 3.35 billion average daily active people (DAP) in December, a 5% jump from the prior year. Meta also posted a hefty $13.2 billion in free cash flow for the quarter and closed the year with a strong $77.8 billion in cash and marketable securities. CEO Mark Zuckerberg pointed to solid strides in artificial intelligence (AI), smart glasses, and the future of social media, signaling big plans to take these innovations to the next level in 2025.

For the first quarter, scheduled to be revealed after market close on Wednesday, April 30, Meta is projecting revenue to land between $39.5 billion and $41.8 billion, signaling 8% to 15% year-over-year growth. For the full year, capital expenditures are expected to arrive between $60 billion and $65 billion, with the bulk of that spending aimed at bolstering both its generative AI ambitions and core operations. 

Meanwhile, analysts monitoring Meta Platforms expect the company’s bottom line to improve 4.2% year over year to $24.85 per share in 2025 and grow another 12% annually to $27.83 per share in 2026. 

Wall Street seems highly optimistic about META stock, with a consensus “Strong Buy” rating overall. Of the 54 analysts offering recommendations, 46 are firmly backing it with a “Strong Buy,” two advise a “Moderate Buy,” four suggest “Hold,” and only two give it a “Strong Sell.”

The average analyst price target of $703.81 indicates 40% potential upside from the current price levels, while the Street-high price target of $935 suggests that META could rally as much as 87% from here.

Stock #2: GE Aerospace 

Ohio-based GE Aerospace (GE) stands at the heart of aviation, powering roughly 45,000 commercial and 25,000 military aircraft engines around the world. The company plays a key role in advancing flight technology and keeping aircraft moving safely through the skies.

With a market cap hovering around $191 billion, GE Aerospace has emerged as one of the few stocks holding strong amid this year’s market turbulence. While the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has slipped 10.1% YTD, GE Aerospace has gained 13.4% in 2025. Zooming out, its longer-term performance is even more impressive, with the stock up roughly 26% over the past year. 

​In the first quarter of 2025, GE Aerospace reported adjusted revenue of $9 billion, an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Net income rose by 13% to $2.2 billion, while adjusted operating profit surged by 38% to $2.1 billion. This performance led to adjusted EPS of $1.49, marking a 60% increase from the previous year. These gains were primarily driven by 17% growth in services revenue within the Commercial Engines & Services segment, as well as a 5% increase in the Defense segment.

Despite tariffs and supply chain constraints, GE Aerospace was able to maintain its full-year 2025 guidance, which includes adjusted EPS between $5.10 and $5.45 and free cash flow ranging from $6.3 billion to $6.8 billion. 

Wall Street remains quite bullish on GE stock, with a consensus “Strong Buy” rating overall. Of the 20 analysts offering recommendations, 17 give it “Strong Buy” ratings, one suggests “Moderate Buy,” and the remaining two give it “Hold” ratings.

The average analyst price target of $227 indicates almost 21% potential upside from the current price levels. The Street-high price target of $261 suggests that GE could rally as much as 38% from here.