In this article, we will take a look at 15 Set-It-and-Forget-It Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.
As expectations for trade agreements and potential rate cuts reduced investor anxiety, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record closing highs on June 30, concluding their strongest quarter in over a year. Both indices saw double-digit gains at the end of the quarter, with the Nasdaq rising 17.75% and the S&P 500 gaining 10.57%.
Trade agreements with China and the UK have raised expectations that a full-scale global trade war may be avoided, and further agreements will be achieved before President Trump’s trade deadline on July 9. Additionally, the close of the quarter was influenced by managers adjusting their portfolios to make them more appealing.
However, on June 30, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a warning that even if countries are negotiating in good faith, they may still be subject to significantly higher tariffs on July 9 and that President Trump will decide whether to grant any extensions. Republicans in the US Senate will attempt to enact the President’s comprehensive tax-cut and spending plan, though there are disagreements within the party over the projected $3.3 trillion impact on the $36.2 trillion national debt.
In such an environment, some individuals navigating the stock market will look to safeguard their earnings. According to seasoned investors, certain stocks, often defined as ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ are ideal for long-term holding. Generally, these equities are well-known, securely established, have solid growth potential, and, ideally, offer dividend income as an extra perk.
Our Methodology
For this list, we noted down 15 set-it-and-forget-it based on hedge fund sentiment as of Q1 2025. These stocks possess long-term growth potential, boast solid financials, and many of them pay healthy dividends to investors.
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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
15. SAP SE (NYSE:SAP)
Analyst Upside: 8.11%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33
SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 24, Jefferies analyst Charles Brennan lowered the price target for SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) from €300 to €290 and reaffirmed his Buy rating on the company’s shares. The update came as a result of several factors that demonstrate SAP SE’s dominant market position. The market appears to be ready for a positive outlook, he says, as the buy-side has already taken into consideration recent changes in free cash flow and foreign exchange expectations.
Additionally, Brennan highlights that SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) is a prominent growth story in its industry. The company’s capacity to produce steady and long-lasting growth confirms his belief in its long-term prospects.
SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) is an enterprise software company based in Germany. It develops and provides both on-premises and cloud-based solutions to assist companies in managing human resources, supply chain management, finance, and customer experience.
14. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)
Analyst Upside: 9.20%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 27, UBS maintained its $485 price target and Neutral rating on Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) following the industrial gas company’s recent investor event, which focused on its investments in low-carbon hydrogen, the use of artificial intelligence, and technology investments aimed at faster-growing markets like the food, electronics, and aerospace sectors.
Throughout the presentation, Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) management stressed safety and dependability procedures that boost productivity, according to UBS. A tour of the company’s Clear Lake facility also highlighted five years of operational lessons learned from operating an autothermal reformer, of which there are about 30 across the globe.
UBS emphasized that Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is well-positioned for future project opportunities due to its network of gas production, pipelines, and storage throughout the US Gulf Coast, which includes the largest hydrogen cavern in the region.
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a global engineering and industrial gases company that generates and delivers process gases, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, as well as related equipment and technologies.
13. Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK)
Analyst Upside: 10.21%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61
Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 25, Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) announced that its Incompass Total Ankle System, intended for patients with severe rheumatoid, post-traumatic, or degenerative arthritis-related ankle joint damage, received FDA 510(k) clearance.
The Incompass system integrates Adaptis Boney Ingrowth Technology and revised instrumentation to facilitate long-term fixation, surgical flexibility, and optimized workflow. According to the company, data from 100,000 clinical cases and over 85,000 CT scans were used in guiding the system’s development.
Additionally, in support of the company’s strategic direction, Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) shareholders recently approved revisions to key incentive plans, such as the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Founded in 1981, Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) is a leading provider of medical technology products and services. Its business operations are divided into three primary divisions: Orthopaedics, MedSurg, and Neurotechnology and Spine.
12. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
Analyst Upside: 12.36%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 93
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 13, UBS reaffirmed its Buy rating and $1,205 price target for Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST), pointing to the retailer’s extended shopping hours pilot program as proof of its potential for further expansion.
UBS sees the wholesale club’s recent announcement that it would test extended hours exclusively for Executive members as evidence that the company still has “ample tricks up its sleeve” in spite of concerns about its premium valuation.
According to UBS, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) may see “a moderation in its sales in the coming months” as the gains from the sale of gift cards and high-volume precious metals start to wane. These product categories have played a major role in Costco’s “outsized growth” over the past year.
A membership-based warehouse club, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) offers bulk discounts on an array of products, including food, electronics, and household products.
11. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
Analyst Upside: 12.72%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. Asad Haider, a Goldman Sachs analyst, remained optimistic about Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares, rating it as a Buy on June 5. The analyst noted several factors that lead to the update.
Similar to its industry peers, the company demonstrates a proactive approach to navigating regulatory environments by participating in policy discussions with the administration. This could result in positive outcomes in areas such as 340B reform and PBM.
Johnson & Johnson’s innovation skills are further demonstrated by the company’s pharmaceutical pipeline achievements, including the encouraging Carvykti data and the expected approval of TAR-200. The company’s strategic move from Stelara to Tremfya and its investments in commercial fulfillment further highlight its commitment to preserving a dominant market position.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is a notable name in the healthcare industry, which includes sub-sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and consumer health products. The company is known for creating medications to treat a variety of conditions and diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS.
10. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
Analyst Upside: 14.67%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 25, Benchmark maintained its $48 price target and Buy rating on Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA). According to the firm, Xfinity’s performance is anticipated to improve in the second half of 2025, which should assist in lowering the stock’s “chronic sum-of-the-parts discount.”
The new Orlando Epic Universe Park and Universal Pictures’ impressive earnings were cited as additional second-half advantages for the media and telecom company.
Moreover, NBCUniversal is expected to deliver better upfront advertising market results than its competitors thanks to Peacock streaming’s ongoing growth and sports content, which includes NBA coverage later this year, the 2026 Super Bowl, and the Milan Olympics.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is a media, entertainment, and communications company that operates through three business units: Cable Communications, NBCUniversal, and Sky, the top entertainment provider in Europe. The company is growing its broadband offerings and enhancing its network infrastructure in response to rising customer demand.
9. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR)
Analyst Upside: 14.91%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. Barclays maintained its Equalweight rating and $297 price target on The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) on June 18, with the company reporting May net EPS of $1.81, far higher than Barclays’ $1.22 expectation.
The earnings beat came from expense discipline, with a company-wide expense ratio of 18.8% compared to the expected 20.9%, while strong underwriting results yielded a loss ratio of 68.2% versus the projected 69.8%.
Although disaster losses were estimated at $275 million, slightly higher than the $233 million expectation, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) also benefited from $91 million in positive prior-year development. At 84.2%, the company’s underlying combined ratio was 310 basis points below forecasts.
One of the leading insurance holding companies in the United States, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) offers residential property insurance in addition to commercial and personal auto insurance.
8. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
Analyst Upside: 16.15%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 102
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. Truist Securities kept its $417 price target and Buy rating on The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) on June 23 in response to the retailer’s roughly $5 billion offer to buy specialist construction materials distributor GMS.
According to Truist’s repo, the GMS acquisition would provide The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) more distribution options and hasten its entry into the competitive professional contractor market.
The potential acquisition reflects Home Depot’s ongoing efforts to increase its market share in the professional contractor sector, following the company’s recent $18 billion acquisition of SRS Distribution. Although the timing might not be ideal, Truist noted that The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) needed to move fast once GMS became available as an acquisition option since the company had planned to focus on debt reduction after the SRS purchase.
A leading American company in the retail home improvement industry, The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) offers a broad spectrum of tools, construction supplies, appliances, and services, including fuel and vehicle rentals.
7. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Analyst Upside: 17.08%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 139
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. While maintaining its Buy rating, UBS reduced its price target for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) from $400 to $385 on June 25. The adjustment followed remarks made by UnitedHealth’s returning CEO at the company’s June 2 annual meeting, when he stated that management would restore its 2025 projection during the second-quarter earnings release on July 29.
UBS pointed out that the investment community has taken CEO Hemsley’s description of the forecast as “prudent” as a hint that guidance would be more conservative than the consensus of $22.50 earnings per share set on June 2. UBS recently revised its own predictions to reflect the recent movement in investor expectations toward a $20 EPS estimate for 2025.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a renowned US multinational corporation that provides managed healthcare and insurance services. The company operates through four main segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx.
6. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)
Analyst Upside: 17.32%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 99
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 26, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) declared that the Phase 3 BASIS research results showed that its medication HYMPAVZI (marstacimab) was superior to other inhibitors in treating hemophilia A or B patients.
Comparing HYMPAVZI to on-demand treatment, the trial revealed that the former decreased the annualized bleeding rate by 93%. A pre-filled pen was used to administer HYMPAVZI once weekly via subcutaneous injection, requiring little preparation. During the study, no thromboembolic events or deaths were reported, indicating that the medication was generally well tolerated.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) intends to present the data to regulatory bodies in order to start the regulatory filing process for HYMPAVZI in hemophilia patients with inhibitors. The medication has already been approved by regulators in the United States and Europe for use in hemophilia patients without inhibitors.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is a leading global pharmaceutical company that develops, produces, and sells biopharmaceutical medicines worldwide.
5. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)
Analyst Upside: 17.91%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 24, Piper Sandler reaffirmed its Overweight rating and $328 price target for Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) in response to the company’s disclosure of comprehensive MariTide tolerability data.
The obesity medication’s gastrointestinal tolerability profile unnerved the market, particularly the frequency of nausea and vomiting, which at first seemed more problematic than alternatives. Piper Sandler’s study however, shows that both one- and two-step dose escalation regimens showed a noticeable improvement in the drug’s tolerability profile, consistent with management’s claims at the December top-line results announcement.
According to the firm, the weight loss drug could produce a more commercially acceptable nausea and vomiting profile due to the much lower starting dosages and three-step dose escalation protocols included in the pivotal studies.
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is a global biopharmaceutical company that focuses on human treatments for cardiovascular, hematology, inflammation, cancer, and bone health.
4. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)
Analyst Upside: 23.19%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) announced on June 26 that it will collaborate with WeightWatchers to begin distributing the bestselling weight-loss medication Wegovy, beginning July 1.
The agreement allows cash-paying patients to purchase a month’s supply of Wegovy for $299 at the Danish pharmaceutical company’s Novocare pharmacy. Novo’s other telehealth partners will also be able to provide the one-time fee through July 31.
Compounded forms of semaglutide, the active component of Wegovy and other Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) medications, are no longer available from WeightWatchers, which has emerged from bankruptcy. According to Evan Seigerman, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, the collaboration enables WeightWatchers to revive its weight-loss medication approach while also assisting Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) in gaining patients who have been using compounded forms of the medication.
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is a prominent global healthcare company that focuses on treating rare diseases, diabetes, and obesity. With 48,000 workers spread across more than 168 countries, Novo Nordisk is well-known for its pharmaceuticals, which include Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic.
3. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)
Analyst Upside: 27.25%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 140
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 27, Citizens JMP reaffirmed its $430 price target and Market Outperform rating on Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) in response to CEO Marc Benioff’s recent remarks regarding the company’s embrace of artificial intelligence.
In an interview with Emily Chang, Benioff said that “AI is doing 30% to 50% of the work at Salesforce now,” referring to a variety of professional duties like software engineering and customer support. According to Patrick Walravens, an analyst at JMP, the firm’s checks show that Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)’s Agentforce and AI technologies in customer service settings have a high return on investment.
In a similar vein, the company recently introduced Agentforce 3, a major update to its digital labor platform that includes a new Command Center for AI agent monitoring and optimization. According to reports, early users have seen significant gains as a result of this change, including shorter customer case handle times and more autonomous chat interaction resolution.
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a cloud-based software company focused on customer relationship management. The company offers custom software and solutions for various applications, such as analytics, marketing automation, and sales.
2. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Analyst Upside: 28.28%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 93′
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 27, TD Cowen maintained its Hold rating and $100 price target on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) after a vote from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) the company’s Enflonsia vaccine.
Enflonsia is a component of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s expanding vaccine portfolio, which, together with its oncology and other pharmaceutical operations, has grown in importance as a revenue source.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s vaccine business could be boosted by the ACIP vote, which could open up new markets for the pharmaceutical giant. The committee’s choice might “unlock significant potential” for the product, according to TD Cowen analyst commentary.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a well-known American multinational pharmaceutical firm. Internationally recognized as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), the company is a global provider of prescription medications, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products.
1. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Analyst Upside: 28.90%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 119
Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) ranks among the best set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy. On June 27, UBS kept its Buy rating and $1,050 price target on Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY), pointing to the pharmaceutical company’s dominant position in the market for treating obesity.
Sales estimates for Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY)’s weight-loss treatment Zepbound may surpass market expectations by about 15%, according to the investment bank’s analysis, while estimates for the diabetes prescription Mounjaro are in line with current market projections. In general, UBS expects Eli Lilly’s quarterly sales to exceed expectations by 2%.
According to UBS, the company’s next major driver is the SURPASS cardiovascular outcomes trial. The bank added that Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY)’s second-quarter earnings would briefly benefit from CVS Health’s formulary shift.
Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) is a major global pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of drugs. Founded in 1876, it has grown to become one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
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