3 Growth Stocks With Strong Momentum Signals in 2026
March 23, 8:13 am
At AltIndex, we use alternative data including social media growth, hiring signals, web traffic, and employee sentiment to surface companies showing real-world momentum. This week, our stock research team flagged three names worth a closer look: Vertiv, Lam Research, and Archer Aviation.
Vertiv (VRT) — AI Infrastructure Demand Keeps Building
Vertiv makes the power management and thermal cooling systems that data centers depend on. As AI infrastructure spending continues to grow, the company has been a direct beneficiary, and the alternative data suggests that momentum is continuing rather than plateauing.
Over the past 180 days, Vertiv's LinkedIn job postings doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 open roles, a 100% increase that points to serious expansion plans. Headcount grew 6.1% from 16,143 to 17,123 employees, reflecting steady hiring to match demand. Instagram followers grew 10.4%, and every analyst tracked by AltIndex currently rates the stock a Buy.
The fundamentals support the picture. In 2025, Vertiv's revenue reached $10.23 billion, up 27.7% year-over-year, with earnings growing 168%. Its Q4 order book grew 252% year-over-year, and trailing-12-month orders expanded 81%, giving meaningful revenue visibility into 2026. The company carries a $15 billion backlog and is guiding for 30%+ sales growth in 2026.
VRT has already been a strong performer, gaining significantly over the past year and being added to the S&P 500. Shares have recently traded near all-time highs, with a 52-week range of $53.60 to $276.78. For investors who already hold it, the hiring and order data suggest the growth cycle has further to run. For those considering it fresh, the valuation reflects a lot of optimism, so position sizing matters.
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YouTube subscribers to Vertiv's channel have grown 24% year over year to 13,400, a small number in absolute terms but a meaningful signal that awareness of the company is expanding beyond its core enterprise audience. When a B2B infrastructure company starts attracting a broader organic following, it often reflects a brand that is entering mainstream conversation.
Lam Research (LRCX) — Semiconductor Equipment Demand Accelerating
Lam Research makes the etch and deposition equipment used to manufacture semiconductors. When chipmakers expand capacity, Lam's order book grows. The current cycle points toward sustained demand as AI chip production scales globally.
LinkedIn job postings at Lam grew 62% over 180 days from 617 to 1,000 open roles, with headcount up 3.9% to 16,477 employees. Instagram followers grew 19.2%. The business outlook score of 85 (indicating that 85% of employees have a positive business outlook) is the highest among the three companies here, a signal that employees are broadly optimistic about the company's direction.
Lam Research (LRCX) - Business Outlook
The financials reflect the momentum. In fiscal year 2025, Lam's revenue reached $18.44 billion, up 23.7% year-over-year, with earnings growing nearly 40%. The most recent quarter came in at $5.34 billion in revenue, up 22% year-over-year, with management guiding the next quarter to approximately $5.70 billion. Gross margins sit at 48.7% with a 29.1% net profit margin.
Like Vertiv, LRCX has already had a strong run. Shares are up roughly 34% over the past year. The stock is well-covered by analysts and not overlooked by the market, but the alternative data signals suggest the underlying business is still in an expansion phase rather than leveling off.
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Employee sentiment at Lam Research is trending in the right direction. 85% of employees currently report a positive business outlook on Glassdoor, up 10 percentage points year over year. That kind of internal confidence is worth paying attention to. Employees at a capital equipment company tend to have a clearer view of the order pipeline and customer relationships than most outside observers, and a rising outlook score suggests the people closest to the business believe the momentum is real.
3. Archer Aviation (ACHR) — Early Stage, but Operational Signals Are Building
Archer Aviation is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for commercial air taxi operations. The company is pre-revenue, which makes traditional financial metrics less useful and alternative data signals more informative. What the data shows is a company meaningfully accelerating its operations.
Instagram followers grew 17.8% over 180 days from 68,392 to 80,592. LinkedIn job postings surged 71.5% from 137 to 235 open roles. Headcount grew 16.3% from 1,409 to 1,638 employees, the strongest rate among the three companies in this screen. TikTok followers grew 2.1%, pointing to gradual consumer brand awareness.
On the news front, the catalysts are notable. Archer's partners in Texas, Florida, and New York were selected for the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, with Midnight flights targeted to begin in the second half of 2026. Archer also signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia's General Aviation Authority to develop a regulatory pathway for eVTOL operations in Riyadh, Jeddah, and projects tied to Saudi Vision 2030. The company ended FY2025 with approximately $2 billion in liquidity.
Analysts carry an average 12-month price target of $11.06 against a current price around $6, implying roughly 75% upside if that target is reached. The 52-week range stretches from $5.48 to $14.62, which reflects how much sentiment can move this stock in either direction.
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Archer Aviation has significantly increased its lobbying activity, with estimated lobbying spend up 133% compared to a year ago. For a pre-revenue company navigating FAA certification and airspace regulation, lobbying is a core part of the business strategy. The sharp increase suggests Archer is pushing hard to shape the regulatory environment for the emerging eVTOL industry.
How These Stocks Were Identified
These three names came from AltIndex's growth stock analysis, where we look for companies showing sustained momentum across multiple alternative data signals at the same time. The screen requires positive growth in both Instagram followers and LinkedIn job postings over 180 days, an analyst buy ratio above 70%, and a business outlook above 70%. Web traffic, TikTok followers, and LinkedIn headcount are included as additional signals when data is available.
Out of the 2,500+ companies in the AltIndex universe, 13 passed all filters. Vertiv, Lam Research, and Archer Aviation ranked at the top of that list.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. All investments involve risk, and you should conduct your own research or consult a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.
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