In this article, we will take a look at the 10 Best US Stocks to Invest In for Long Term.
Concerns around the Iran war and slowing US growth have been weighing on markets. Volatility has picked up, and that shift has left some investors concerned about income safety and steady returns. Financial advisors tend to come back to the same foundation. Over time, portfolios should be diversified across equities, bonds, and cash. In the short term, though, cash planning matters just as much.
Advisors often suggest keeping six to 12 months of expenses in an emergency fund. On top of that, holding about 2% to 10% of a portfolio in cash is considered reasonable, depending on personal circumstances, life stage, and goals. Money tied to short-term needs is usually kept away from the stock market. The idea is simple, and it should not be exposed to sudden swings.
A CNBC report from April 22 pointed to a different concern. Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin is watching how younger investors react to market stress, especially those stepping back from war-driven commodity trades. He indicated that the industry is trying to connect with Gen-Z investors, who often approach investing differently. Speaking at CNBC’s Converge Live conference in Singapore, Gitlin said younger investors should think in terms of long-term wealth building, rather than “hobby investing,” where personal interests shape portfolio decisions.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best American stocks to buy.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
Our Methodology:
For this list, we screened for US companies that have an average expected EPS growth of at least 25% over the next five years. From that group, we limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These companies are also popular among elite funds and analysts.
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. V.F. Corporation (NYSE:VFC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
On April 17, BWG Global upgraded V.F. Corporation (NYSE:VFC) to Positive from Mixed. The firm pointed to its channel checks, noting that Vans showed some improvement in the U.S. during Q4, while Timberland and The North Face benefited from colder weather.
On April 15, Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow raised the firm’s price recommendation on VFC to $20 from $15. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares ahead of quarterly results. The analyst said that while the firm had taken a more cautious stance over the past 12-plus months, it is now leaning slightly more positive. This shift reflects improving checks around Vans in the US and what that could mean for the company’s P&L and valuation.
During the fiscal Q3 2026 earnings call, CFO Paul Vogel indicated that annual revenue is expected to be flat or show modest growth compared to the prior year. He said gross margins should reach at least 54.5%, putting the company within range of its fiscal 2028 target of 55%. Operating margin, he added, is expected to come in at 6.5% or higher.
For Q4, management guided for revenue to range from flat to up 2% on a constant currency basis. They also expect a positive foreign exchange impact of about 5% on the top line. At the brand level, The North Face is expected to maintain its Q3 growth pace. Timberland may see slower growth, while Vans is likely to decline in the mid-single digits. The company also expects operating cash flow and free cash flow to improve year over year. It plans to keep leverage at 3.5x or below.
V.F. Corporation is a global apparel, footwear, and accessories company. It designs, sources, markets, and distributes a wide range of branded products, including backpacks, luggage, and accessories for consumers across age groups. Its portfolio consists of products sold under VF-owned brand names.
9. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
On April 14, JPMorgan raised its price recommendation on Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) to $212 from $198. It kept an Overweight rating on the shares. The update came as part of the firm’s Q1 preview for the North America steel group. It said that “tight” supply alongside “mixed demand” should remain supportive for the sector.
On April 1, Goldman Sachs analyst Nick Cash assumed coverage of NUE with a Buy rating. It also set a $210 price target on the stock in a sector note on Americas steel. The firm said it is bullish on US steel equities “as a result of sustained higher prices due to section 232 steel tariffs moving import costs up while also constraining supply,” and added that it sees “above average demand growth in infrastructure as well as pockets of growth in private non-residential construction.” At the same time, it pointed to uncertainty in the broader macro environment and said it prefers “lower beta companies set to accelerate free cash flow and realize higher through cycle margins as they benefit from metal margin expansion and product diversification.”
Nucor Corporation manufactures steel and steel products, with operations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also produces and sources ferrous and non-ferrous materials, mainly for use in its own steel manufacturing business.
8. Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46
On April 15, Wells Fargo raised its price recommendation on Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD) to $207 from $196. It reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm said that heading into Q1 results, it is more positive on steel and aluminum, while taking a more selective stance on copper.
On April 20, Reuters reported that Steel Dynamics’ first-quarter profit increased, supported by higher steel prices. The report linked this to tighter supply, with mill outages and imports falling to multi-year lows. US steel imports stayed at those low levels due to tariffs and domestic trade actions. At the same time, manufacturing onshoring and more regional supply chains continued to support demand.
Steel demand during the quarter was led by the energy sector. Non-residential construction, automotive, and other industrial markets followed. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $5.20 billion, up from $4.37 billion a year earlier. Analysts, on average, were expecting $5.10 billion for the quarter, based on data compiled by LSEG. The steelmaker also benefited from lower scrap prices, which are a key input for its electric-arc furnace operations.
Steel Dynamics, Inc. operates as an industrial metals solutions company. Its Steel Operations segment includes electric arc furnace steel mills that produce steel using ferrous scrap and scrap substitutes. These are supported by continuous casting, automated rolling mills, and a network of coating, processing, and warehouse facilities.
7. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50
On April 17, JPMorgan lowered its price recommendation on The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) to $98 from $121. However, it maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm also removed the company from its Analyst Focus List ahead of the earnings report. The analyst said that a rising number of announced and potential deals is reducing visibility for Estee. At the same time, the firm believes the stock’s current valuation presents an attractive entry point.
On April 14, Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman lowered the firm’s price objective on EL to $72 from $94 and maintained an Equal Weight rating. The update came as part of a Q1 preview for the consumer staples group. Barclays said it has “growing caution” on the group heading into the prints due to higher input costs. In food, the analyst pointed to “building concerns” around how sustainable dividends are for certain companies.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. Its offerings span multiple categories, including skin care, makeup, fragrance, hair care, and others. The company sells its products in about 150 countries and territories under a range of brand names.
6. Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85
On April 16, Stifel analyst Tore Svanberg raised the firm’s price recommendation on Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) to $140 from $120. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst said the firm still sees volatility in AI-focused names as an opportunity for “long-term investors focused on picking clear technological innovators.” This view came as part of a preview for the analog, connectivity, and processors semiconductor group. The analyst also noted that premium valuations for AI-exposed names are justified, given the clear secular growth in the segment.
On April 15, Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer raised the firm’s price objective on MRVL to $170 from $150. The firm maintained an Outperform rating after hosting an investor meeting with company management. The analyst described the tone of the discussions as “unequivocally bullish,” with management pointing to an accelerating growth outlook driven by DCAI networking and ASIC. The firm also said it sees Marvell’s share as stable to increasing across its core networking markets.
Marvell Technology, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, supplies data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, covering everything from the data center core to the network edge. The company focuses on designing, developing, and selling integrated circuits.
5. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85
On April 20, Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall raised the firm’s price recommendation on Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) to $140 from $127. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating. The analyst noted that optical stocks have continued to reach new highs and said the enthusiasm around the group is unlikely to “wane just yet as there is nothing that disproves the bull case for now.”
On April 16, JPMorgan downgraded GLW to Neutral from Overweight and raised its price target to $175 from $115. The firm said it is taking a more cautious stance on optical companies heading into earnings. The analyst noted that current valuations require investors to “dial forward” to 2028 earnings. JPMorgan added that visibility into earnings through 2028 needs to improve to support further upside in the shares.
Corning Incorporated operates as a materials science company. Its business segments include Optical Communications, Display, Specialty Materials, Automotive, and Life Sciences. The Optical Communications segment produces carrier and enterprise network components for the telecommunications industry.
4. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
On April 15, Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) to $430 from $425. It kept an Underweight rating on the shares. The firm said that within machinery and construction, it prefers “idiosyncratic stories where we see opportunity for improving sentiment in spite of macro risk to earnings” as it heads into what it described as “an otherwise low conviction” Q1 reporting period.
On April 14, Bloomberg reported that Caterpillar has acquired self-driving electric tractor startup Monarch Tractor, citing people familiar with the matter. Monarch, often called the “Tesla of agriculture,” had faced challenges while scaling its business and recently laid off staff. The startup said in a LinkedIn post that its technology had been acquired by “a large global equipment manufacturer,” though it did not name the buyer. The individuals cited in the report were not authorized to speak publicly, and Caterpillar and Monarch did not respond to requests for comment.
Caterpillar Inc. manufactures construction and mining equipment, along with off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Its operations are organized across Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Power & Energy. The company also offers financing and related services through its Financial Products segment.
3. Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86
On April 13, BofA analyst Vivek Arya raised the firm’s price recommendation on Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) to $425 from $400. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The call was based on the company’s margins, pricing power, and what the analyst described as idiosyncratic growth.
During the fiscal Q1 2026 earnings call, CFO Richard Puccio outlined expectations for Q2. He indicated that revenue is projected to be around $3.5 billion, with a possible variance of $100 million on either side. He said operating margin at the midpoint is expected to be about 47.5%, with a margin of error of 100 basis points. The tax rate, he noted, is likely to fall between 11% and 13%, translating into adjusted EPS of roughly $2.88, with a potential fluctuation of $0.15.
Management also discussed trends across segments. They indicated that the industrial segment is expected to increase about 20% sequentially and come in well above typical seasonal patterns. Year over year, growth is seen at around 50%, supported by a cyclical recovery and continued strength in ATE and ADAS.In communications, the company expects high single-digit sequential growth, again above seasonal trends, along with roughly 60% year-over-year growth.
The outlook for the automotive sector is more muted. Management expects performance to be flat to slightly down sequentially and somewhat below seasonal levels. The consumer segment is projected to decline in the mid-single digits, broadly in line with normal seasonal patterns.
Analog Devices, Inc. is a global semiconductor company. It designs, manufactures, tests, and markets a range of solutions, including integrated circuits, software, and subsystems built on high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies.
2. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
On April 16, Reuters reported that The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) has been hiring about 100 to 140 factory workers each week. That’s the fastest pace since 2024. The company is bringing in new workers to replace retirees and to keep up with higher production and new aircraft programs, according to a union leader.
In the Pacific Northwest, Boeing’s union workforce has now crossed 34,000 and is still growing. Jon Holden shared this in his first interview after stepping into his role overseeing training and apprenticeships at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
The IAM represented about 33,000 Boeing workers in the region back in 2024, when Holden was leading the local union through a seven-week strike tied to a new contract. Holden said Boeing now needs to staff a fourth Seattle-area production line, known as the North Line, for its 737 MAX jet. There’s also a need to support production of the 777X, which is still waiting for certification, and to fill roles left open by retiring workers.
The Boeing Company operates as an aerospace manufacturer. It runs across three main segments: Commercial Airplanes, Defense, Space & Security, and Global Services. Its commercial unit focuses on building and selling jet aircraft for airlines around the world.
1. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 115
On April 16, Oppenheimer analyst Colin Rusch raised the firm’s price recommendation on GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) to $1,139 from $871. It reiterated an Outperform rating ahead of the Q1 report. The analyst pointed to stronger electrification demand and improving margins as the main drivers behind the increase. He also noted that rising data center demand and the Iran conflict are supporting power prices, which in turn is improving the economics of on-premise power and microgrid solutions.
On April 16, JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse raised the firm’s price goal on GEV to $1,150 from $1,000. It maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm also removed the stock from its Analyst Focus List. The analyst said Q1 is expected to show continued strength in Power orders along with margin expansion, supported by “robust demand and favorable pricing.” He added that the removal from the Focus List reflects more limited upside following the stock’s recent rally.
GE Vernova Inc. is a global energy company focused on Power, Wind, and Electrification. It also operates a set of accelerator businesses that support these segments. The company designs, manufactures, delivers, and services technologies aimed at building a more sustainable electric power system, with a focus on electrification and decarbonization.
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