In this article, we will take a look at the 15 Set-It-and-Forget-It Stocks to Buy in 2026.
Long-term wealth building requires choosing investments that could withstand various economic conditions. Warren Buffett, a legendary American investor and philanthropist, had emphasized this in an interview:
Nobody buys a farm based on whether they think it’s going to rain next year. They buy it because they think it’s a good investment over 10 or 20 years.
The need for this stability is further stressed in the current macroeconomic environment. On March 18, 2026, amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, the Federal Reserve’s positive view of economic conditions, expressed in the post-meeting news conference, has led market participants to significantly adjust their outlooks. A CNBC article on March 19, 2026, reported Fed Chair Jerome Powell describing economic growth as solid, despite zero net job growth and inflation remaining above the 2% target. Following the positive talk, however, traders are effectively removing their expectations for any interest rate cut this year. Addressing the reaction as a “taper tantrum”, market veteran Ed Yardeni stated that investors fear the higher-for-longer rate environment and the economic consequences of the growing conflict in the Middle East.
The uncertainty, however, increases the appeal for long-term holdings – stocks that could withstand such taper tantrums. Against this backdrop, we have come up with 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks that could potentially add some resilience to your portfolio for an extended period.
TZIDO SUN/Shutterstock.com
Our Methodology
To identify the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026, we screened for large-cap stocks (market cap above $10 billion) with a positive EPS over the past five years and an ROE of more than 15%. We focused on selecting companies with consistent profitability and strong, resilient financial profiles. Finally, we ranked the stocks by the number of hedge funds holding a stake in each. We also limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. All the pricing data are current as of market close on March 25, 2026.
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).
15. Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29
Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.
On March 24, 2026, Total Wireless, a prepaid, no-contract wireless carrier operating on Verizon’s 5G network, launched a new protection plan, Total Wireless Protect+, that was developed in collaboration with Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ). The plan extends beyond covering just the cracked screens. With the help of Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ), Total Wireless has built a plan that covers the data inside the phone in addition to the hardware outside.
In another development, on February 12, 2026, BMO Capital lowered its price target on Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ) from $255 to $246 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. The update follows the release of the company’s Q4 results and guidance announcement. According to the analyst research note, the firm maintains its stand that the company’s segment-specific guidance is unlikely to trigger material estimate revisions.
Currently, 7 out of 10 analysts are keeping a Buy rating on the stock, according to CNN. The consensus 1-year average upside potential stands at 20.05%.
Founded in 1892, Assurant, Inc. (NYSE:AIZ) is a global provider of protection products for connected devices, homes, and vehicles. The Georgia-based company partners with leading brands to manage risk as well as increase customer loyalty.
