In this article, we will take a look at the 13 Best Performing Long Term Stocks to Invest In.
According to a recent CNBC report, financial experts at Vanguard warned that keeping too much money in cash could quietly weaken long-term wealth. This applies whether the cash is stored physically or left in a bank account that earns little or no interest.
The main issue is inflation. Over time, inflation reduces the purchasing power of cash. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that $126 in 2026 would buy about the same amount as $100 did in 2020. The difference builds gradually, but the impact becomes meaningful over several years. Traditional savings accounts offer limited returns. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reports that the average interest rate on these accounts is just 0.39% per year. At the same time, inflation stood at about 2.4% in January 2026, based on BLS data. This means cash in many savings accounts loses value in real terms.
Some high-yield savings accounts offer better returns. Bankrate reports that certain accounts can earn up to 4% interest annually. Still, most people earn less. A Vanguard survey conducted in January 2025 found that more than half of Americans earn under 3% interest on their savings. Nearly one-quarter of respondents said their savings earn less than 1%. Kathy Kellert, head of index equity product at Vanguard, made the following statement:
“I think the reason why people hold on to extra cash is it can feel safe. But it can also quietly erode progress that investors are making towards meeting their long-term financial goals.”
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best-performing long-term stocks.
Our Methodology:
We used screeners to identify stocks that have exhibited strong share price performance over the past fiveyears, and 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
13. Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK)
5-Year Share Price Return: 59.6%
On February 24, UBS raised its price recommendation on Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) to $400 from $386. The firm kept a Neutral rating on the stock.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Kevin Lobo described 2025 as an outstanding year. He said both the fourth quarter and the full year delivered strong results across key financial measures. Organic sales increased 11% in the fourth quarter and 10.3% for the full year. This helped push total revenue past $25 billion. He noted that growth came from multiple parts of the business. Neurocranial, Endoscopy, Instruments, and Trauma and Extremities all delivered double-digit organic sales growth worldwide. This showed that performance was not limited to one area but spread across the portfolio. He added that “Full-year U.S. organic sales growth was an impressive 11.2%, and international organic sales growth of 7.5%,” and indicated that emerging markets, along with South Korea and Japan, contributed meaningfully to international growth.
Lobo also spoke about steps taken to strengthen the company’s long-term position. He said the company created the SmartCare business unit by combining Vocera and care.ai. This move brought its digital healthcare solutions under one structure. He also pointed to the launch of a dedicated breast care sales team within the Endoscopy segment, which was intended to increase focus and improve execution in that area.
Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) is a medical technology company. It provides products and services across MedSurg, Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics to support better patient and healthcare outcomes. Its business is organized into two main segments: MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics.
12. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH)
5-Year Share Price Return: 62.07%
On February 27, Mizuho analyst Yaron Kinar downgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) to Neutral from Outperform. The analyst also lowered the price target to $199 from $213. The firm made the change after the recent selloff across the insurance property and casualty sector. The analyst said there is a “low disruption threat” to insurance brokerage firms that focus on middle-market and large accounts from AI. He explained in a research note that Mizuho sees disintermediation risk as “geared to mass market personal lines and the smaller end of SME.” This suggests the pressure is more likely to affect smaller accounts rather than the company’s core client base.
On February 2, the company announced it had acquired Robinson & Son, LLC., an agency based in Hudson Falls, New York. The firm specializes in the maritime industry. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Robinson & Son was founded in 2005 by James Robinson and his father, Peter Robinson, who has since retired. The agency provides property and casualty insurance solutions to businesses and individuals nationwide, with a strong focus on marine insurance. All employees, including Co-Founder and Agency Principal James Robinson, will join Marsh McLennan Agency and continue working from their current office.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MRSH) operates as a professional services firm focused on risk, strategy, and people. Its business runs through two main segments: Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting.
