The five stocks featured in The Motley Fool article “5 Top Stocks to Buy in September,” published August 31, 2025, were Microsoft (MSFT), Brookfield Asset Management (BAM), Verizon Communications (VZ), Target (TGT), and Procter & Gamble (PG). The picks reflected contributors’ views at that time—not recommendations for October 2026. Their arguments ranged from growth and income to valuation and a possible turnaround; none guarantees a gain or establishes that a stock suits your circumstances.
What the September 2025 list was—and was not
The source list was published on August 31, 2025, with September as the coming month. Its headline signaled purchase intent, but it is now a historical snapshot. The figures and company outlooks below are claims reported in that 2025 article, not independently refreshed current data. Read the original article, “5 Top Stocks to Buy in September”, for its full context and disclosures.
The picks span different businesses and investment arguments. Treat them as a record of what five contributors highlighted—not as a current ranking. Comparing them as investments today would require a shared valuation date, current company information, and a clear investor profile.
The five stocks and the arguments contributors made
| Stock | 2025 contributor thesis | Dated detail reported in the article |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft (MSFT) | Demitri Kalogeropoulos argued that Microsoft’s reach across enterprise and consumer software, gaming, consumer technology, cloud, and AI supported a premium valuation. | The article reported fiscal-year operating cash flow of $136 billion, compared with $119 billion in fiscal 2024. These are figures cited in the 2025 article, not current results. |
| Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) | Neha Chamaria emphasized a fee-based asset-management model and exposure to infrastructure, real estate, private equity, credit, and renewables. | The article said assets under management exceeded $1 trillion and relayed management’s expectations for earnings and dividend growth through 2029. Those were forecasts reported in 2025, not guaranteed outcomes. |
| Verizon Communications (VZ) | Keith Speights pointed to relative valuation, wireless service revenue, broadband and mobility customer additions, network recognition, and dividends. | The article reported a five-year beta of 0.36, a forward yield of 6.16%, and 18 consecutive years of dividend increases. These were date-sensitive figures from 2025; yield changes with share price and payout. |
| Target (TGT) | Anders Bylund described a low valuation and potential retail turnaround, while acknowledging stalled sales and earnings growth and competitive pressure. | The 2025 article said a CEO transition was planned for February 2026. That was a forecast at publication, not confirmation of what later occurred; verify subsequent company disclosures. |
| Procter & Gamble (PG) | Daniel Foelber highlighted category diversity, familiar brands, dividend history, and valuation, while noting weak volume and pressure from costs and consumer spending. | The article reported fiscal 2025 net sales growth of 0%, organic sales growth of 2%, and flat volume. It also relayed fiscal 2026 guidance of 1%–5% sales growth and 3%–9% diluted EPS growth. Guidance is not a reported result. |
How to use the old figures in a current decision
Do not carry the 2025 cash-flow, asset-management, beta, dividend-yield, growth, or guidance figures forward as current facts. They describe what the article reported at publication. For a current comparison, check each company’s latest annual and quarterly filings and investor disclosures, then compare valuation measures using the same date and methodology. The SEC explains that public-company reports are available through EDGAR.
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A useful comparison should consider more than a headline yield or valuation multiple. Assess each business’s revenue drivers, risks, and financial condition; whether the investment case is primarily growth, income, value, or turnaround; and how it fits your time horizon and tolerance for losses. The five companies are materially different, so a single ranking without those assumptions would be misleading.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Risks to weigh before buying individual stocks
Owning stock means owning a share of a company. A stock may rise in value or pay dividends, but its price can fall and you can lose some or all of the money invested. If a company fails, common shareholders may receive nothing after higher-priority claims. Dividends and low valuations do not eliminate those risks. The SEC’s stock FAQ explains ownership, potential returns, risks, and company filings.
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Whether any one stock belongs in your portfolio depends on your financial situation, risk tolerance, and investing timeframe. The SEC’s March 31, 2026 Investor Bulletin states: “Diversification means investing in a variety of assets to lower the overall risk of your investment portfolio.” Diversification can lower overall portfolio risk; it does not ensure a profit or prevent losses. See the SEC bulletin on diversification.
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