In this piece, we discuss the 10 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for 20 Years.
With 2026 here, investors searching for the best stocks to buy are faced with a complex but opportunity-rich environment. Reuters reports that market dynamics are marked by geopolitical risk, the U.S. midterm elections, a leadership transition at the Federal Reserve, and diverging global monetary policies. At the same time, analysts are projecting equities in the U.S., Europe, and Japan to rise this year, with gains expected to be more modest. Meanwhile, a potential correction is predicted by over half of market participants amid concerns about stretched AI-driven valuations.
While cautious investor sentiment is expected to persist in the short-term, the longer-term outlook remains constructive. The recent ‘black swan’ events have led everybody toward a persistent wall of worry that markets historically climbed according to Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, who said in December that pullbacks should be viewed as pauses within an ongoing bull cycle rather than its end. Furthermore, he sees AI as a solution that caters to structural labor shortages and believes the sector holds the capability to support durable growth even if some stocks fail.
Looking ahead, earnings momentum in U.S. small caps is expected to improve as rate pressures ease, Reuters reports. The optimism also builds on expectations for two Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026.
Goldman Sachs also issued a positive outlook, supported by strong economic momentum, easing inflation, healthy corporate balance sheets, and sustained AI-driven investment. The investment bank released its 2026 Economic and Financial Market Outlook report on January 12, 2026.
With this background in mind, we will now discuss our list of the “10 best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years” for long-term investors who are increasingly focusing on stocks that boast durable fundamentals and outlast short-term volatility.
For this list, instead of making a quantitative and qualitative selection ourselves, we leveraged AI via the best-known chatbots to select relevant stocks.
Our Methodology
To curate our list of the 10 best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years, we relied on the most credible chatbots, asking them to list the best stocks to buy and hold for the said period. Next, we assessed analyst and hedge fund sentiment for each stock, selecting those that ranked best on both metrics. To measure hedge fund sentiment, we used Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database, which tracks 978 stocks as of Q3 2025. Finally, we ranked the stocks in ascending order by upside potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
Note: Analyst upside is calculated as of January 19, 2026.
10. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
Upside Potential: 8.4%
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
Ahead of the 2026 tax filing season, expectations are rising that U.S. consumer spending will receive a boost, potentially impacting value-oriented retailers like Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST).
On January 18, 2026, Wolfe Research laid out its expectations for material tailwinds to tax refunds in 2026, projecting an incremental $75 billion in refunds for households earning under $200,000, roughly $500 per filer. These expectations rose after the IRS left withholding tables unchanged following the mid-2025 One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Furthermore, the investment firm projects an additional $20 billion in refunds for $200,000-$500,000 earners, driven by additional SALT-related benefits, with payouts typically accelerating after February 15. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is included in Wolfe Research’s Tax Refund Basket and is well-positioned to benefit from higher discretionary spending associated with refund inflows.
Meanwhile, three days earlier, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) declared a $1.30 per share quarterly cash dividend, payable on February 13. This was preceded by Deutsche Bank’s initiation of coverage of the stock on January 8, 2026, when the firm set a ‘Buy’ rating and a $1,044 price target. While citing short-term pressures from food disinflation, the firm expected stimulus-driven tailwinds in the first half of 2026.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) focuses on operating membership-based warehouse clubs across the U.S., Canada, and international markets. It offers bulk merchandise at low prices with a high-renewal, fee-driven business model.
9. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 128
Upside Potential: 8.9%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 20, 2026, Reuters reported that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) is possibly exiting its 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz. The company has made investments in the food and beverage stock for the past ten years. However, the investment has recently failed to meet Warren Buffett’s expectations.
Accordingly, Kraft Heinz also filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC, eyeing the potential resale of Berkshire’s 325.4 million shares, equivalent to roughly $7.7 billion based on the prior share price close of $23.8. Following the filing, Kraft Heinz’s shares fell 4.9% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor concerns arising from the potential exit of the major investor.
The move builds upon the significant write-downs made earlier, including $3.0 billion in 2019 and another $3.76 billion in August. The move comes as Kraft Heinz is looking to split into two companies later in 2026, a move that Buffett and CEO Greg Abel previously criticized.
Meanwhile, on January 2, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) finalized its $9.7 billion acquisition of OxyChem from Occidental. The move reflects the company’s strategy to reallocate capital toward stable, cash-generative industrial assets.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B), a diversified conglomerate previously led by Warren Buffett, owns businesses spanning insurance, energy, industrials, transportation, and consumer products.
8. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Upside Potential: 11.7%
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 20, 2026, Guggenheim reduced its price target on Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) from $1,163 to $1,161, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The update came as the firm made a routine model update ahead of the company’s upcoming Q4 results.
On the same day, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to sofetabart mipitecan (LY4170156) for adults with platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer with disease progression following prior therapies. Following encouraging Phase 1a/b data, the designation speeds up development timelines and regulatory engagement, improving the company’s oncology pipeline visibility substantially.
In presentations at ASCO 2025 and ESMO 2025, responses were shown across all dose levels and folate receptor alpha expression, including in patients progressing on prior mirvetuximab. Moreover, the results showed a favorable tolerability profile, alongside limited serious safety signals. Now, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stands on a strong footing, with the asset now advancing into the global Phase 3 Framework-01 trial that positions sofetabart mipitecan as a potential differentiated entrant in a high unmet-need ovarian cancer market.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), a global pharmaceutical company, focuses on developing medicines across diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
7. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 78
Upside Potential: 12.2%
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
Key leadership and organizational changes were announced by The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) on January 16, 2026, which aim at accelerating consumer-centric execution and enterprise-wide digital transformation, with Henrique Braun preparing to take on the CEO role on March 31, 2026.
The leadership changes feature the creation of a new Chief Digital Officer position, which Sedef Salingan Sahin will assume, unifying digital, data, and operational excellence across the company. This particular move reflects the company’s intent to speed decision-making, solidify execution, and embed technology more deeply across markets. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s CEO, Braun, also made changes across senior roles, assigning a customer and commercial leadership role to Chief Marketing Officer Manolo Arroyo and retaining John Murphy as the CFO. Moreover, the company’s new regional market groupings reflect management’s focus on emerging-market growth and operational agility.
Meanwhile, two days earlier, the Financial Times reported that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is abandoning plans to sell Costa Coffee, with bids falling short of the company’s roughly £2.0 billion target, significantly below the £3.9 billion paid in 2018. The situation reflects the company’s ongoing portfolio discipline challenges, alongside potential future impairment risk.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), a global beverage leader, boasts a diversified portfolio spanning sparkling soft drinks, hydration, juice, and coffee markets.
6. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 166
Upside Potential: 14.1%
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 21, 2026, UBS maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating with a $280 price target on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ahead of earnings. While reflecting on the strong early demand for the iPhone 17 series, the investment firm reported that its supply-chain checks point to a modest pull-forward in the December quarter amid rising memory costs, prompting higher production. Therefore, UBS lifted iPhone unit sales by approximately 12%-13% to 84.5-85.0 million units. Furthermore, the firm believes that cost inflation, particularly in memory, has likely resulted in slightly stronger late-quarter sell-through than previously expected. This creates short-term upside while also pointing to long-term margin sensitivities, according to UBS.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) also drew Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng’s attention, who reiterated a ‘Buy’ rating with a $320 price target. The analyst argues that the stock’s recent 4% pullback stems from short-term concerns about costs and Services segment growth, rather than any deterioration in long-term fundamentals. The investment bank projects 9% iPhone revenue growth in both fiscal 2026 and 2027, alongside 13% year-over-year growth in fiscal Q1 2026. The firm’s projections reflect pricing mix along with a 26% expected surge in China shipments. For the longer term, Goldman sees the iPhone Fold launch and software-driven upgrade cycles as key growth catalysts.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) focuses on designing and selling consumer electronics and software-driven services worldwide.
5. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 87
Upside Potential: 17.3%
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 22, 2026, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported mixed second-quarter 2026 results, which reflected the volatile health of the U.S. consumer sector. However, the results also highlight the company’s resilience at the premium end of its portfolio.
During the quarter, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported sales growth of 1%, bringing total sales to $22.21 billion, slightly below the $22.28 billion consensus. The weaker growth stems from softer U.S. spending and the lingering impact of a government shutdown, which together offset strong international growth. Three of the five categories recorded declines in sales volume, with Beauty the sole bright spot, remaining strong amid robust self-care demand. This comes despite consumers trading down on everyday staples.
On an adjusted basis, earnings surpassed analyst expectations, with core EPS of $1.88 compared to $1.86, thanks to pricing actions and mix benefits. However, core gross margin recorded a decline for a fifth straight quarter amid tariff pressures and investments in value-oriented pack sizes.
Looking ahead, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reiterated its full-year sales and profit guidance, expressing confidence in navigating a challenging macro backdrop. The company’s shares rose 2%, reflecting investor focus on earnings stability and improving international momentum despite the modest revenue miss.
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), a global consumer goods leader, sells branded household, personal care, and health products globally, thanks to its diversified portfolio spanning multiple everyday-use segments.
4. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 179
Upside Potential: 22.9%
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 21, 2026, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned that customer access to credit could be sharply curtailed following a proposed 10% cap on U.S. credit card interest rates. According to him, the move could mean the removal of backup credit for up to 80% of Americans. While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the executive highlighted a rising regulatory risk for the broader card ecosystem, including companies such as Visa Inc. (NYSE:V). The risk is looming as policymakers weigh cost-of-living pressures ahead of U.S. elections. With implementation details remaining unclear, the proposal revives investor concerns surrounding transaction volumes and issuer economics once lending tightens significantly.
Within this setting, Visa Inc.’s (NYSE:V) growth outlook depends on the expansion of digital payments.
On January 21, 2026, multiple sources reported that Apple is engaging Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and other networks to roll out its payments service in India from 2026 onward. The move potentially broadens Visa’s exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets, subject to approvals.
The move follows the company’s January 15, 2026, move, where Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) enabled Apple Pay support for Chinese-issued Visa Cards. With this, the company aims to expand acceptance across in-store, in-app, and online transactions and reinforce cross-border and mobile payment momentum.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), a global payments technology company, operates the VisaNet network, which facilitates secure electronic transactions worldwide.
3. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 332
Upside Potential: 25.5%
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
In January, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s growth narrative is a mix of short-term pressure and longer-term infrastructure positioning.
On January 20, 2026, Reuters reported that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is now seeing tariff-related price spikes on its e-commerce platform, with CEO Andy Jassy saying sellers are gradually passing on costs to consumers following an inventory pull-forward that ran out in the fall of 2025. The analyst noted active, bargain-focused shoppers amid hesitation toward higher-priced discretionary items, adding to uncertainty about 2026 demand elasticity. The company’s shares declined in early trading, reflecting investor sensitivity to consumer resilience amid higher costs and a broader market pullback.
Meanwhile, on January 15, 2026, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) was seen advancing its plans to secure strategic inputs for growth. Reuters reported that Rio Tinto had been finalized as the copper supplier for the company’s data centers. The mining giant’s Nuton leaching program is a venture focused on developing and deploying proprietary, innovative copper bioleaching technologies. The move reflects AWS’s role in structurally growing copper demand associated with AI infrastructure despite soft short-term retail margins.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a global technology and e-commerce company, operates online retail platforms. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services delivers cloud computing, storage, and digital infrastructure to consumers, enterprises, and governments globally.
2. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 234
Upside Potential: 34.2%
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 21, 2026, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang appeared on the World Economic Forum stage in Davos, framing AI as “the largest infrastructure buildout in human history.” He sees AI not as a single technology cycle but as a multi-layer platform shift. According to him, this shift spans energy, chips, data centers, models, and applications, with the five-layer AI stack already driving demand across construction, power, advanced manufacturing, cloud operations, and, critically, the application layer, which offers long-term economic value.
Huang used the stage well to reinforce NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s leading role as foundational infrastructure, where its sustained capex and software-led monetization support durability beyond short-term GPU cycles. Furthermore, he highlighted the over-$100 billion global VC investment into AI-native startups, which reflects future downstream demand for compute.
However, the long-term optimism coincides with near-term geopolitical challenges. Reports came out on January 20, 2026, that indicated Huang’s plans to visit China in late January, with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) seeking clarity on selling its H200 AI chip, even though Chinese customs signalled restrictions despite U.S. export approval. The same day, the server partner Inventec commented that shipments remain “stuck on the China side,” keeping China revenue visibility uncertain.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) focuses on designing GPUs and accelerated computing platforms spanning gaming, data centers, AI software, networking, and automotive markets.
1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 312
Upside Potential: 37.0%
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is included in our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for 20 years.
On January 21, 2026, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) saw Citi lower its price target from $690 to $660, while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The firm’s target reduction reflects a more cautious short-term setup heading into fiscal Q2. The more mixed reseller surveys and partner checks caught the firm’s attention. As a result, the firm reduced its estimates for the company’s non-Azure businesses amid weaker PC demand.
Yet Azure is expected to surpass expectations in the second quarter, with the cloud segment’s role as the primary earnings engine driving the optimism. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) retains a spot among the firm’s top mega-cap ideas.
Meanwhile, four days earlier, Reuters reported that Elon Musk, the first person to cross $640 billion in net worth, is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). The entrepreneur alleges that he is entitled to the wrongful gains associated with his early support of OpenAI, with Microsoft benefiting by $13.3 billion to $25.1 billion. However, both companies have dismissed the claims as baseless, with a jury trial set to begin in April. While this sparks uncertainty, no immediate operational impact on Microsoft can be stated.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) focuses on developing software, cloud services, and devices across Productivity, Intelligent Cloud, and Personal Computing. Meanwhile, its Azure platform anchors growth, and enterprise software, Windows, and gaming provide diversified recurring revenue streams.
While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MSFT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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