Top stocks to buy (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: Mehul Kothari, DVP – Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers recommends buying Bharti Airtel, Finolex Industries, and Coal India as the top stock picks for February 18, 2026. The expert shares a detailed outlook on each stock along with target prices:Bharti Airtel – Mean Support with Improving MomentumBuy: ₹2035 – ₹2020 | Stop Loss: ₹1985 | Target: ₹2100Bharti Airtel is taking strong support near the middle band of the Bollinger Bands, indicating that price is holding around its short-term mean and attracting buying interest at lower levels. Momentum indicators are gradually turning constructive, with RSI taking support at its 14-period DEMA, suggesting strengthening internal momentum. Additionally, the MACD histogram is beginning to expand on the upside, hinting at a potential shift toward bullish momentum. The overall setup points toward improving strength as long as the stock sustains above the middle band support zone.Finolex Industries Ltd – Breakout Above Pivot & Cloud with Strong VolumeBuy: ₹190–₹184 | Stop Loss: ₹170 | Target: ₹221Finpipe has decisively breached the Monthly Pivot R1 resistance, signalling renewed strength in the ongoing trend. The breakout above the Ichimoku Cloud confirms a shift toward bullish momentum and reflects improving price structure. The Alligator indicator shows its three lines aligned and running parallel, indicating the emergence of a sustained trending move. A sharp rise in volumes validates strong participation at higher levels, adding conviction to the breakout. Meanwhile, the DMI remains positive, and the MACD has delivered a bullish crossover, reinforcing the constructive outlook.Coal India – Pullback to Confluence Support After Strong RallyBuy: ₹425–₹415 | Stop Loss: ₹390 | Target: ₹470Coal India is undergoing a corrective phase after a sharp rally of nearly 90 points from the 370 lows. The stock is approaching the crucial 61.8% Fibonacci retracement near the 405 zone, which aligns with a flat Ichimoku Cloud, the 200 DEMA, and a prior breakout area—forming a strong confluence support zone. The MACD has almost completed a full downside cycle, indicating that the correction is in an advanced stage. A final dip toward the 420 zone cannot be ruled out, after which momentum may begin to reverse and potentially turn positive.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)