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 (NYSE:VFC) 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 (NYSE:NUE) 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. (NASDAQ:STLD) 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. (NYSE:EL) 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. (NASDAQ:MRVL), 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.
While we acknowledge the potential of MRVL as an investment, 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 MRVL and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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