Top Pros' Top Picks 3/20/26

Author

Mike Larson
March 20, 2026

Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

Stocks continue to weaken on war fears. Crude oil is giving up a bit of ground, though, while gold and silver are bouncing after selling off aggressively in the past week. Treasuries are losing more ground, while Bitcoin is hovering just above $70,000.

How high could oil prices climb? Saudi Arabian experts are reportedly expecting $180 a barrel as their base case – IF the conflict persists into late April. Some Persian Gulf price benchmarks are already well above the broadly followed WTI and Brent futures market prices widely quoted in the press, according to the Wall Street Journal. For its part, the United States Oil Fund (USO) is now up 69.6% year-to-date.

USO, UL, MKC, SMCI (YTD % Change)

Data by YCharts

The premium Gulf prices reflect a global scramble for oil – particularly in Asia – with the Strait of Hormuz still effectively blocked. US forces are now using helicopters and low-flying airplanes to strike more targets in Iran. Their focus is boats, missile sites, and other assets Iran would use to threaten shipping lanes. Meanwhile, Axios reported that President Trump is mulling some kind of operation against Kharg Island, which houses Iran’s main oil-exporting facilities.

Will we soon get a big deal in Big Food? Unilever Plc (UL) is reportedly looking to offload its food business, which is valued at around $33 billion. One potential buyer is McCormick & Co. (MKC), according to Bloomberg. It would be the biggest deal ever for the spice and seasonings company if it comes to fruition. Unilever wants to focus on beauty and household products moving forward. It has already sold off units that make tea and snacks.

Finally, shares of Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) are tanking after the Justice Department charged company officials with smuggling AI tech to China. The firm’s co-founder, Taiwan sales manager, and a contractor were accused of helping steer $2.5 billion in US tech to the country.

The US clamped down on exports in 2022 to keep China’s military from gaining access to advanced semiconductors. SMCI itself was not named as a defendant in the complaint, and the firm said it was cooperating with investigators. Super Micro stock was recently down 25% on the news.

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MARKET OVERVIEW

S&P 500

6,606.49 (-0.27%) ↓

VIX

24.76 (+2.91%) ↑

Dow Jones Industrial Average

46,021.43 (-0.44%) ↓

Gold

$4,660.30 per ounce (+1.19%) ↑

Nasdaq Composite

22,090.69 (-0.28%) ↓

Oil

$95.54 per barrel (-0.62%) ↓

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TOP INVESTING IDEA

At the 2026 MoneyShow Las Vegas, Jason Schenker offered a look at the intersection of geopolitics and economics. Specifically, the President of Prestige Economics examined the potential for continued global conflict, drawing parallels between "Cold War I and Cold War II." Check out this excerpt from his keynote for more on the US economy, the impact of presidential administrations, and the ongoing US-China trade war. 

Are YOU Holding Our Experts’ Top Picks for 2026?

Are YOU holding the “top picks” our MoneyShow experts shared for 2026? Because you could already be sitting on gains of up to 59.3%, 44.8%, and 35.5% if so! From AI plays to drone stocks to mining names, several of the stocks shared in our MoneyShow 2026 Top Picks Report are having a great year already.

Not every pick is profitable, of course. But you can get the scoop on the top names by downloading a FREE report copy here…

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FEATURED PICKS FROM MONEYSHOW EXPERTS

  • AFG: An Insurance Powerhouse with an Attractive Yield
    👉️ TICKER: AFG
    American Financial Group Inc. (AFG) is an insurance holding company that is engaged in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. AFG has a couple of elements that could be considered competitive advantages, notes Ben Reynolds, editor of Sure Dividend.

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LARSON'S LINKS
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UPCOMING EVENTS