50 Stocks to Buy (or Avoid) in April

• Hasbro (HAS) has finished April higher in 9 of the last 10 years with 6.1% average returns, recently pulling back to $90 support near its 80-day moving average after hitting a six-year high of $106.98 in February
• Lumentum (LITE) averages -7.5% April returns over the past decade, finishing positive only twice, with 16 of 21 analyst ratings at 'buy' or 'strong buy' suggesting downgrades may be overdue
• Consumer cyclicals (Hasbro, Constellation Brands, McDonald's, Booking, Marriott) dominate best performers while tech and telecom stocks (Intel, Verizon, ON Semiconductor) lead underperformers

Summary

Market Context: As markets enter April and Q2 2026, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran have created volatility, prompting investors to rely on quantitative data for trading decisions.

Key Analysis: Schaeffer's Research analyzed S&P 500 stocks' April performance over the past 10 years, identifying 25 top performers and 25 underperformers for the month.

Top Performer - Hasbro (HAS):

• Leads the list with an average April return of 6.1%
• Positive performance in 9 of the last 10 years (90% success rate)
• Trading at $91.16, a similar gain would push shares near $100
• Recently pulled back to $90, finding support at its 80-day moving average
• Positioned near its February 12 six-year high of $106.98

Worst Performer - Lumentum Holdings (LITE):

• Averages -7.5% April return over the past decade
• Finished positive only twice in 10 years
• Currently trading at $688.80; projected decline would drag shares to approximately $637
• Hit record high of $808 on March 25 but formed a bearish double-top pattern
• 16 of 21 analysts rate it "buy" or "strong buy," suggesting downgrades may be overdue
• Schaeffer's Volatility Score: 87 out of 100

Sector Trends: Consumer cyclicals (McDonald's, Constellation Brands, Booking, Marriott) dominate top performers, while tech/telecom stocks (Intel, Verizon, ON Semiconductor) lead underperformers.

Investment Implication: Historical seasonality data provides strategic entry/exit points amid current market uncertainty.