2 Turnaround Stocks Wall Street Hates That I've Been Buying in 2026

Although analysts are expected to be objective, buy-equivalent ratings far outnumber sell-equivalent ratings on Wall Street. The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with the long-term growth of the U.S. economy, means wagering on upside is statistically smarter.

But in those rare instances in which analysts assign hold and sell ratings, bargains can occasionally be unearthed. Two of these turnaround stocks have been among my favorite purchases over the last six months, and they're unquestionably hated by Wall Street. I'm talking about domestic tire behemoth Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ:GT) and online services marketplace Fiverr International (NYSE:FVRR).

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In time, Goodyear can burn rubber once more

To say that things have been a slog for Goodyear would be an understatement. As many of its competitors have been acquired by overseas companies, Goodyear's shares have lost 80% of their value over the trailing decade.

The company's problems can't be boiled down to a single issue. Rather, it's a confluence of factors that include aggressive overseas competition, weaker U.S. tire sales, higher debt amid weaker operating results, and margin pressure fueled by the Iran war. Perhaps unsurprisingly, six of 10 analysts rate Goodyear stock a hold, while another believes it's an underweight.

While things are far from perfect, it's important to note that Goodyear is cyclical and has navigated similar cycles before. The company is making slow but steady progress with its Goodyear Forward plan, which involves everything from plant closures and purchasing adjustments to supply chain optimization. Goodyear aims to build on the $1.5 billion run rate cost savings achieved last year.

Goodyear is also ideally positioned to benefit from the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs). EVs burn through tires faster than internal combustion engine vehicles, leading to higher-margin consumer sales opportunities.

Best of all, the risk-versus-reward profile makes sense, with Goodyear shares approaching a 20% discount to its tangible book value.

Image source: Getty Images.

Fiverr's fortress balance sheet provides a solid foundation

There's also been no love lost between Wall Street and online services marketplace Fiverr International, which has plummeted 97% from its all-time high. All 10 analysts currently rate Fiverr the equivalent of a hold, with downgrades a common theme throughout 2026.

Fiverr, whose marketplace helps match freelancers with businesses that need their services, has felt the impact of the AI revolution. Low-cost and generally lower-margin jobs that had previously padded its growth stats are now being handled by AI-driven solutions.

But the Fiverr growth story may not be over -- at least that's my contention.

While the company's second-quarter operating results and third-quarter guide were downright ugly, revenue from high-dollar ($1,000+) projects jumped by 13% from the previous year. Although it's hemorrhaging lower-margin jobs to AI and seeing its buyer base shrink, spend per buy jumped 15.6% to $368.

Though this isn't a quick turnaround, Fiverr has the foundation to reset itself amid the evolution of AI. It closed out June with $308.5 million in combined cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and bank deposits, and has no debt. As of the closing bell on Sept. 4, Fiverr's market cap was roughly $24 million above its combined cash position, and the company remains cash flow positive.

Sean Williams has positions in Fiverr International and Goodyear Tire & Rubber. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Fiverr International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.