In this article, we will look at the 12 Strong Buy Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 5 Years.
Strong Buy stocks are getting more attention as investors look past the index-level rally and focus on companies where analyst optimism is backed by earnings growth, cash flow, and business quality. That matters because a five-year holding period is not just about near-term upside to price targets. It also depends on whether a company can keep growing through changing rates, slower macro periods, and shifts in market leadership.
BlackRock says “earnings are broadening beyond a highly concentrated group of mega-cap technology names tied to AI,” giving investors “greater choice for sourcing growth.” Capital Group makes a similar point, saying markets are moving toward “a more balanced one with a broadening opportunity set,” where “active stock selection, supported by deep research,” matters more. Fidelity adds that “best-in-class companies with strong brands, deep competitive moats, and recurring revenues” may be better positioned to “adapt and thrive as conditions change.” In summary, the case for Strong Buy stocks is when bullish ratings line up with durable earnings, pricing power, and a business model that can compound over time.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 12 Strong Buy Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 5 Years.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify stocks that carry a “Strong Buy” rating from analysts. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
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).
12. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
On May 22, 2026, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) agreed to pay $250M to settle investor litigation over its takeover of Activision Blizzard, Bloomberg’s Mike Leonard reported, citing court filings. The pact, filed in Delaware’s Chancery Court, would settle allegations that Activision ex-CEO Bobby Kotick and other board members offered a heavily discounted transaction to escape the sexual misconduct scandal that had engulfed the “Call of Duty” maker. Leonard noted that a judge allowed the case to move forward against Activision Blizzard last October, though claims that Microsoft exploited the scandal to push down the purchase price were dismissed.
On the same day, Business Insider’s Ashley Stewart reported that Microsoft’s chief marketing officer, Yusuf Mehdi, is set to depart after the next fiscal year, according to an internal memo. Mehdi, a 35-year company veteran, wrote that the “time is right” to begin planning for his next move and said he will work through the next fiscal year to help reimagine Windows for the agentic era, grow Microsoft 365 services, and advance the company’s One Copilot vision.
Earlier in May, Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square disclosed in an SEC filing its holdings as of March 31. Pershing Square took a new 5.65M-share stake in Microsoft (MSFT) during Q1.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions worldwide.
11. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)
On May 22, 2026, Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) was reportedly facing a leadership shake-up months after announcing that John Furner would replace Doug McMillon as CEO, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Nassauer. The report said Sam’s Club Chief Operating Officer Tom Ward, a company veteran of almost two decades, and Cedric Clark, head of U.S. stores, are leaving the company.
On the same day, RBC Capital lowered the firm’s price target on Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) to $137 from $140 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares after inline Q1 results and below-consensus guidance. RBC said the stock had a high bar heading into the print at 40-times expected earnings and noted that higher fuel costs led to slightly worse unanticipated flow-through.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan added Walmart to the firm’s Analyst Focus List as a growth idea while maintaining an Overweight rating and $137 price target. JPMorgan said the post-earnings share selloff creates a buying opportunity and cited Walmart’s accelerating share gains and alternate profit pool “flywheel.”
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) operates retail and wholesale stores and clubs, ecommerce websites, and mobile applications worldwide.
