15 Set-It-and-Forget-It Stocks to Buy in 2026

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.

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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.

14. East West Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37

East West Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 2, 2026, Morgan Stanley raised the price target on East West Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC) by $15, moving it up from $126 to $141. The firm’s analyst kept an Equal Weight rating on the company’s stock. The price target uplift is part of an average 8% increase in price target by Morgan Stanley across midcap banks. Additionally, the firm has cited tailwinds, including loan growth, capital returns, and net interest margin, for its positive outlook on the group, while noting that growth will be difficult following the recent outperformance.

In another event, on February 4, 2026, UBS analyst lowered the price target on East West Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC) from $126 to $125 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. Mid-cap and regional banks outperformed in the fourth quarter, amid credit concerns. Analysts expect continued investor momentum in regional banks, with a steepening yield curve, accelerated loan growth, and strategic M&A activity supporting the trend.

Founded in 1973, East West Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC) is the parent company of East West Bank. Headquartered in California, the company provides a range of personal and commercial banking services to businesses and individuals.

13. Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 6, 2026, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY) announced that the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has added the company’s Financial Crimes Defender™ to its Preferred Service Provider program. Financial Crimes Defender™ is a cloud-based, AI-powered platform that integrates fraud detection and BSA/AML compliance into a single interface, enabling community banks to stop illicit transactions in real time. According to the ICBA Executive Vice President Kevin Tweddle, the Defender offers the greater visibility required for better protecting its customers and their institutions. With this integration, the companies extend their 15-year partnership, strengthening Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY)’s role as a high-performance, secure technology solutions provider in community banking.

Separately, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY) saw its rating from Wells Fargo upgraded from Equal Weight to Overweight. The firm’s analyst raised the price target on the stock from $181 to $196. Citing conviction in the 2027 revenue growth acceleration amid increasing AI fears, Wells Fargo added the stock to its Fab 5 of Fintech – the firm’s list of top 5 Fintech companies.

Founded in 1976, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:JKHY) is a financial technology provider for community banks and credit unions. Headquartered in Missouri, the company offers core processing, digital banking, and specialized payment solutions to more than 7,400 clients.

12. Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 19, 2026, Globe Life Inc.’s (NYSE:GL) coverage was initiated at Texas Capital. The firm assigned a Buy rating to the stock and set a price target of $170. Citing the continued growth of the company’s life and health distribution franchise, the firm described its valuation as attractive.

Previously, in a separate update, Wells Fargo raised its price target on Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL) from $170 to $171. The firm’s analyst Elyse Greenspan kept an Overweight rating on the shares. Wells Fargo has been broadly lowering its earnings per share (EPS) estimates after fourth-quarter corporate guidance fell short of consensus expectations for most companies. The firm is now rolling its valuation methodologies to 2027 EPS and introducing new 2028 estimates for stocks under its coverage.

CNN shows a consensus Buy view on Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL) among 15 analysts covering the stock as of March 25, 2026. The analysts have set a 1-year median price target of $171.

Founded in 1900, Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL) is a provider of life and supplemental health insurance. With headquarters in Texas, the company operates through three segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, and Investments, and primarily focuses on the middle-income families.

11. Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 2, 2026, Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) saw its price target from RBC Capital lowered from $46 to $43. The firm’s Sector Perform rating was maintained on the stock. In a research note, RBC Capital pointed out that after the reporting of the data from the HIF-2alpha inhibitors study by Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL)’s competitor Merck (MRK), the share value of the company will potentially witness a decline in the range of 5% to 10%, owing to competitive pressures.

Separately, H.C. Wainwright raised its price target on Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) from $52 to $54 while maintaining a Buy rating on February 12, 2026. Analysts updated their model following the reporting of the results for the fourth quarter of 2025.

As of March 25, 2026, Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) maintains a Buy rating from 45% of 22 analysts followed by CNN, with a 1-year average upside potential of 15.47%.

Founded in 1994, Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) is a leading oncology-focused biotechnology company with headquarters in California. The company specializes in discovering and commercializing next-generation medicines like CABOMETYX to treat difficult-to-treat cancers.

10. F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44

F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 18, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) announced a strategic partnership with Skyfire to secure and monetize the growing agentic commerce market. The collaboration involves integrating Skyfire’s Know Your Agent (KYA) protocol into F5, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:FFIV) Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP). With this integration, enterprises can now distinguish between malicious bots and verified AI agents acting on behalf of legitimate customers. This allows merchants and content providers to authenticate AI-driven traffic and accept tokenized payments while maintaining safety and security. John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV), gave the following statement:

This combined solution enables them (merchants) to confidently open their doors to the next generation of Internet traffic while maintaining the security posture they depend on.

In another development, on March 24, 2026, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) announced a partnership with Forcepoint to help enterprises secure AI across its lifecycle. Forcepoint’s Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is integrated with the AI guardrails and red teaming functionality in the company’s ADSP. The alliance ensures the safety of sensitive information as AI models transition into production.

Founded in 1996, F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) is an American technology company specializing in multi-cloud application services and security. Based in Washington, the company provides solutions like BIG-IP and NGINX to ensure applications are fast and secure across any environment.

9. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 9, 2026, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE) introduced a new prediction markets framework that moves beyond traditional contracts with two binary outcomes: “yes or no,” “all or nothing.” The model anticipates a launch in the second quarter of 2026 with a Mini S&P 500 contract and introduces a payout zone that allows traders to earn partial returns for being directionally correct.

In a separate development, on March 17, 2026, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE) announced that it has filed a proposal with the SEC to launch near 24×5 trading for U.S. equities on its EDGX Exchange. The service is pending regulatory approval, with the company anticipating a launch in December 2026. Using the service allows the NMS stocks to trade from Sunday 9 p.m. ET to Friday 8 p.m. ET, with only a daily one-hour operational pause. Oliver Sung, Head of North American Equities, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE), gave the following comments.

Cboe has a strong track record of operating liquid, around-the-clock derivatives and FX markets, and will leverage that expertise to ensure robust market and investor protections are in place.

Founded in 1973, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOE) is a leading global exchange operator headquartered in Illinois. The company operates markets for options, futures, equities, and foreign exchange.

8. Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50

Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 13, 2026, Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) officially announced that it will begin construction of a new Southeast U.S. regional distribution and logistics center in Carrollton, Georgia. The facility is scheduled to open in spring 2027 and is anticipated to significantly surpass the Atlanta site’s current capacity, with a potential footprint of 900,000 square feet. The center will incorporate next-generation warehouse technologies and processing software to accelerate order picking and increase storage capacity. Greg Campbell, Senior Regional Operations Manager, Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST), gave the following statement:

The new site gives us dramatically expanded capacity. It also offers close proximity to educational institutions, giving us a great pipeline for talent development and recruitment.

Separately, Baird raised its price target on Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) from $51 to $52. The firm maintained an Outperform rating on the stock. Baird updated its model after the February ADS report, which was stronger than expected.

Founded in 1967, Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) is a leading North American distributor of industrial and construction supplies. The Minnesota-based company specializes in fasteners, safety products, and tools.

7. The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 56

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 20, 2026, Mizuho lowered the price target on The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) from $281 to $265 and kept an Outperform rating on the stock.

Prior to this, on March 19, 2026, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) announced estimated catastrophe losses of $140 million ($111 million after-tax) for February 2026. This brought the year-to-date total to $315 million, or $249 million after tax. Despite these losses, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) saw steady growth in its Allstate Protection segment. Total policies in force reached 38.4 million – a 2.5% increase year-over-year. With a 3% annual rise to 25.6 million policies, Auto insurance is the primary contributor, while homeowners policies grew 2.5%, reaching 7.7 million. On the other hand, commercial lines saw a decline of 10.2% compared to February 2025.

As of March 25, 2026, the company has a Buy rating on its stock from 14 of the 28 analysts followed by CNN. The analyst price targets lead to a 1-year median upside potential of 18.90%.

Founded in 1931, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is a leading American insurance company with headquarters in Illinois. The company specializes in providing auto, home, and life insurance through multiple distribution channels.

6. Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57

Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) is one of the 15 set-it-and-forget-it stocks to buy in 2026.

On March 10, 2026, Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) announced that the company is expanding its enterprise agentic AI platform by introducing advanced workflow orchestration across Zoom Workplace, Phone, and CX. With this update, the company’s AI transitions from a simple conversation summarizer to an action system that automatically triggers tasks across fragmented enterprise data. This automation, directly embedded in meetings and customer interactions, enables the platform to deliver real-time execution of business outcomes across different enterprise systems. Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Product & Engineering, Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) gave the following statement:

Zoom’s agentic AI platform is designed to orchestrate action across systems, turning every meeting, call, and customer interaction into a trigger for workflow automation.

In another development, on March 12, 2026, Zoom expanded its Contact Center integration with Pindrop to implement real-time deepfake detection and voice authentication. The two companies, through their expanded collaboration, address a 1,210% surge in AI fraud by embedding synthetic media detection and risk intelligence directly into Zoom’s CX platform to verify caller identity, thereby improving trust in interactions.

Founded in 2011, Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) provides an AI-first collaboration platform including video, voice, and chat services. The California-based company empowers modern hybrid work by offering seamless communication and collaboration capabilities to global enterprises and individuals.

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