3 Absurdly Cheap Stocks to Buy Before the End of 2026

Chasing high-flying stocks can be exciting, but it can also be risky for investors who buy near or at the peak. The real big payoff for investors can come from buying up shares of struggling stocks that the market has become bearish on and that are trading at discounted valuations.

While not all stocks that are down will recover, three that I think are absurdly cheap and that I'd consider buying before the end of 2026 are Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX), Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), and Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL). Here's why these look like incredible deals right now.

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Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics has been a volatile stock to own in recent years. It closed on Tuesday at less than $27, and it was less than a month ago that it hit highs of more than $40.

The healthcare company has loads of potential upside thanks to its promising GLP-1 drug, VK2735. It's been doing well in clinical trials, and the reason for the surge last month was due to encouraging results that showed it could not only help people lose between 16% to 19% while on the drug for 21 weeks, but it also helped them keep the majority of the weight off when switching to less frequent maintenance doses.

The company doesn't have an approved drug in its portfolio just yet, but with VK2735 doing well in late-stage trials, it may only be a matter of time before that changes, and when it does, the stock could soar in value.

Unfortunately, because Viking is burning through cash, it needs to raise capital to continue developing its drugs, so the risk of dilution is high. But I think better days are ahead for Viking, and a larger healthcare company seeking exposure to the lucrative GLP-1 market could also make a bid to acquire Viking in the future. With a market cap of just $3 billion, I could see the stock easily doubling in value.

Verizon Communications

Verizon is an excellent dividend stock to buy, and with it yielding 6.6%, it may even be too good to pass up at these levels. Its business is doing well, generating steady growth, and its payout ratio of around 70% also suggests the dividend is just fine.

What's been weighing on Verizon and other telecom stocks of late is the fear that Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, will disrupt the industry, as it recently announced it would acquire low-band spectrum from Grain Management, which could help Starlink grow its mobile business nationwide. It's a risk, but one that I believe is overblown right now.

Verizon's still an industry leader, and that's not likely to change anytime soon. Meanwhile, with the stock offering a high yield and it trading at just nine times its estimated future profits (based on analyst expectations), it's an incredibly appealing dividend stock to load up on right now.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

One stock that I regret not already pulling the trigger on is Royal Caribbean. The cruise ship operator's stock fell last month after it announced it would be acquiring a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for $3 billion. It briefly hit a new 52-week low of around $222 before recovering.

However, even at its current share price, it's a terrific deal for long-term investors. The investment in Sandals is a great example of how Royal Caribbean is expanding its business beyond just cruises. By diversifying and offering more experiences, the company is poised for much more long-term growth.

Its cruise business is already doing tremendously well, with its performance coming in better than expected in its most recent quarter. The company also recently raised its guidance, projecting 9% revenue growth for the full year and 14% growth in adjusted earnings.

At just 11 times its estimated future profits, the stock is an all-out bargain buy. For long-term investors, this can be a solid investment to buy and hold for years.

David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.