The stock market has rallied so far this year, particularly in the period between the last earnings season and this one. Companies now have to prove to Wall Street that their higher stock prices are justified.

Investors may find themselves in different camps, those looking to shift their focus toward value plays, those wanting to ride the momentum, and everything in between.

In this article, five contributors weigh in on top stocks to buy in August. Johnson Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) stand out as two value-oriented plays, while Nike (NYSE: NKE) is a beaten-down name-brand stock that hasn't rallied like the broader market. On the growth side of the spectrum, HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) is a software company with room to run. And Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), and Polkadot (CRYPTO: DOT) stand out as three of the top cryptocurrencies with staying power. Here's what makes these investment options worth a look in August.

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Source Fool.com