Stocks to Watch in January 2026: Bursa Malaysia & US Market
TL;DR: January 2026 brings two major catalysts: Bursa Malaysia earnings & dividend announcements, plus US tech earnings season. Best buys: CIMB (5.36% yield), NVIDIA (25-30% upside), Maybank (5.8% safety), Micron (25-30% upside).
Why January 2026 Matters
January is earnings season. Companies report their profits and announce how much money they'll pay shareholders (dividends). Stock prices react strongly to these announcements. For Malaysian investors, January also brings FY2025 results and dividend payouts. For US investors, earnings season decides which stocks get bought for the rest of 2026.
Two investment themes collide in January:
- Bursa Malaysia: Banks + infrastructure + telecom earnings drive dividend payouts (5-7% yields)
- US Market: AI semiconductors + enterprise software earnings validate 2026 growth
Bursa Malaysia: Top 5 Stocks for January
1. CIMB Group (CIMB) — Growing Dividends
Expected Dividend: 20–24 sen | Yield: 5.36% | Safety: ★★★★★
Southeast Asia's fastest-growing bank. Q4 2025 earnings (due Jan/Feb) will show net interest margin (NIM) recovery. Expected 5.8–6.5% return in 2026. Analyst upgrades from Maybank IB and CIMB Securities.
Jan Catalyst: FY2025 results + dividend announcement (likely boosted from growing profits)
2. Maybank (MAYBANK) — Safest Choice
Expected Dividend: 18–22 sen | Yield: 4.8-5.8% | Safety: ★★★★★
Malaysia's largest bank. Pays dividends every year without fail (60-year history). FY2025 results will show loan growth of 4-5% driven by Malaysia's 4.5% GDP growth forecast. Most conservative choice for beginners.
Jan Catalyst: FY2025 earnings + dividend confirmation
3. RHB Bank (RHB) — Higher Yield
Expected Dividend: 16–19 sen | Yield: 6.29% | Safety: ★★★★
Highest dividend yield among Malaysian banks. Growing profit trajectory + Boost Bank digital exposure = upside surprise. Analyst call: "Top Buy" with upgraded dividend payout target.
Jan Catalyst: Higher-than-expected dividend payout announced with results
4. Gamuda (GAMUDA) — Infrastructure Play
Dividend: 3-4% | Growth: 20%+ upside | Safety: ★★★★
Primary beneficiary of Malaysia's GEAR-uP programme (RM100B capex in infrastructure). 2026 will see major project realizations. More upside from capital gains than dividends, but still stable payer.
Jan Catalyst: Budget implementation updates + GEAR-uP contract announcements
5. Tenaga Nasional (TENAGA) — Most Stable
Expected Dividend: 13–15 sen | Yield: 4.1-5.9% | Safety: ★★★★
Malaysia's electricity monopoly. Most predictable earnings. Energy transition theme (renewable energy + data centre power) = structural growth. Pays quarterly dividends.
Jan Catalyst: Q4 2025 earnings + renewable energy capex updates
US Market: Top 5 Stocks for January
1. NVIDIA (NVDA) — Unstoppable AI Momentum
Price Target: +25-30% upside | Q4 Catalyst: Jan/Feb earnings | Theme: Blackwell ramp
AI chip leader. Backlog remains massive through 2026. January earnings will confirm Blackwell GPU ramp + data centre demand strength. Analysts see "very strong setup for 2026".
Jan Event: Q4 FY2025 earnings (late Jan/early Feb). Market watches for: (1) Blackwell revenue guidance, (2) H100/H200 demand, (3) Full-year 2026 forecast
2. Micron (MU) — "NVIDIA of Memory"
Price Target: +25-30% upside | Consensus: Strong Buy | Theme: AI memory demand
Record free cash flow. Record margins. AI memory (HBM) demand accelerating. January FY2026 earnings will show record capex investment + margin expansion.
Jan Event: FY2026 earnings + full-year guidance. Market watches: (1) HBM revenue acceleration, (2) Memory pricing trends, (3) Capex plans for 2026
3. AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) — NVIDIA Challenger
Price Target: +40-50% upside | Theme: MI450 competition | Catalyst: Product launch updates
MI450 launch (H2 2026) = first real NVIDIA competition. January earnings will validate existing data centre business + provide MI450 readiness updates. Highest upside potential.
Jan Event: Q4 2025 earnings. Market watches: (1) MI300X demand, (2) MI450 pre-orders, (3) Customer pipeline strength
4. Oracle (ORCL) — Enterprise AI Adoption Play
Price Target: +49% upside | Consensus: Strong Buy | Theme: AI enterprise software
Undervalued in AI narrative. Embedding AI across entire cloud/ERP stack. January Q3 FY2026 earnings will show if enterprises actually spending on AI (vs just on chips). Massive upside if validates.
Jan Event: Q3 FY2026 earnings (late Jan). Market watches: (1) Cloud revenue growth, (2) AI revenue contribution, (3) Enterprise AI deal sizes
5. Apple (AAPL) — Latecomer, Strong Core
Price Target: +15-20% upside | Q1 Catalyst: Jan 28 earnings | Theme: On-device AI coming
Core business (iPhone + Services) remains strong. On-device AI (Siri + Apple Intelligence) launching in iOS 18 = refresh cycle catalyst. Q1 earnings (Jan 28) will show iPhone 16 demand strength.
Jan Event: Q1 FY2026 earnings (Jan 28). Market watches: (1) iPhone 16 sales, (2) Services growth, (3) 2026 guidance (AI update cycle)
January 2026 Earnings Calendar
| Date | Company | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | Salesforce (CRM) | Enterprise AI adoption trend |
| Jan 28 | Apple (AAPL) | iPhone 16 demand + AI momentum |
| Jan 29 | Intel (INTC) | Competitiveness vs NVIDIA |
| Jan 30 | Verizon (VZ) | Telecom infrastructure demand |
| Late Jan | NVIDIA, AMD, Micron, Oracle | AI semiconductor + cloud trends |
| Throughout Jan | Bursa Malaysia Banks (CIMB, Maybank, RHB) | FY2025 results + dividend announcements |
Quick Investment Strategy
For Malaysian Investors (Income-Focused)
- Weight banking 40-50%: CIMB + Maybank + RHB (5-6.5% yields, safe)
- Add infrastructure 20-30%: Gamuda (infrastructure play + GEAR-uP theme)
- Add utilities 20-30%: Tenaga (stable 4-6% yield + growth from energy transition)
For US Investors (Growth-Focused)
- Core AI semiconductors 50%: NVIDIA + Micron (backlog proven, structural demand)
- Enterprise software 30%: Oracle (AI adoption inflection point)
- Optionality 20%: AMD (highest upside if MI450 gains traction)
Action Plan for January
Week 1: Research & Plan
Pick 2-3 stocks from each list above. Write down your target prices and buy-if-drops prices.
Week 2-3: Wait for Earnings
Watch earnings announcements. Don't chase rallies. Wait for 5-10% pullbacks to buy at better prices.
Week 4: Execute
If earnings are strong + guidance positive, buy. If earnings disappoint, skip or wait for bigger pullback.
Duitwise Rating
⭐ 4.8 / 5
January 2026 is the best month to set up your 2026 portfolio. Earnings announcements + dividend payouts create clarity on which stocks will outperform. Best strategy: buy strong earners on any market weakness.
💡 Tip: Use our Malaysia Brokerage Comparison and US Brokerage Comparison tools to find the cheapest commissions. Saving 0.2% on trades = more money to invest.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE
This article is for learning only. It is NOT investment advice.
- Past earnings growth does NOT guarantee future results
- All stocks can lose 30-50% or more. You could lose your entire investment
- Dividend payments can be cut without warning (see: telecom stocks in 2024)
- US earnings surprises move stocks 10-20% intraday. This is volatile
- Exchange rates (RM/USD) affect your US returns
- This information is from December 2025. Markets change daily
- Before investing, talk to a licensed financial advisor registered with Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)
Duitwise takes no responsibility for money lost from following this article. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions.
Where We Got This Information
- Bursa Malaysia Analyst Reports: CIMB Securities, Maybank IB, Phillip Capital (Dec 2025)
- US Markets: CNBC, Investing.com, Morgan Stanley Research, BofA Equity Research
- Individual Companies: Investor relations websites for latest guidance
- Malaysia Context: Bank Negara Malaysia, Budget 2026 announcements
- Regulatory: Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) — sc.com.my
For real-time stock prices and earnings dates, check Bursa Malaysia (bursamalaysia.com) and Yahoo Finance. Earnings dates change frequently — always verify before trading.