In this piece, we discuss the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime.

As employment growth slows and inflation rises, the EY US Economic Outlook, September 2025, projects that real GDP will grow by 1.7% this year and 1.4% in 2026, indicating a slowdown in U.S. economic growth. Strong company fundamentals, AI-driven investment, and robust consumer spending make companies with long-term competitive advantages attractive long-term holding options, even in the face of tariff threats and policy uncertainty.

The logic behind selecting our 20 best stocks to purchase and hold for a lifetime is strengthened by the likelihood of consistent returns from companies that can sustain strong cash flows, control expenses, and deal with rising inflation.

This technique is supported by the state of the market. On September 29, Wall Street ended the day higher, as investors bet on AI growth and further Fed rate cuts despite looming government shutdown risks. The Dow Jones rose 0.15%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.26%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.48%.

Consumer spending in August was more than expected, inflation increased slightly to 2.7%, and the labor market appeared to be slowing down, with only 22,000 new jobs added and unemployment at 4.3%. Technology stocks drive the S&P’s advance, while energy lagged on falling oil prices.

Looking ahead, traders see an 89% chance of a Fed rate cut, and cautious commentary from officials keeps inflation concerns in focus. With this backdrop, let’s move on to our list of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime.

Our Methodology

To curate our list of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime, we looked for dividend kings that have raised their dividends for at least ten years in a row. The list was then reduced to companies that had at least 15% revenue growth over the previous five years and had dividend yields that were within a manageable range.

Using Insider Monkey’s database of Q2 2025 filings, we finally evaluated these stocks according to hedge fund ownership. This was done since larger hedge fund involvement frequently signifies greater institutional confidence in a company’s long-term prospects. Our list is presented in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in each stock as of Q2 2025.

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).

20. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 6

5-Year Rev Growth: 23.61%

Dividend Yield: 5.19%

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) makes our list of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime, recognized for significant dividend growth.

The $700 million medium-term note offering was announced by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) on September 22, 2025. It was divided into $375 million Series 15 Notes due in 2031 at 3.7% interest and $325 million Series 16 Notes due in 2035 at 4.526% interest.

With net proceeds designated for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment, the notes, which are guaranteed by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) and its subsidiaries, are anticipated to close on or around September 24.

In a separate deal, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP) agreed to pay Blackstone almost $7 billion, including debt, to acquire Hotwire Communications, an internet service provider. The acquisition strengthens the company’s focus on long-term, high-quality assets with steady, contracted, or regulated cash flows by expanding its global infrastructure portfolio throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, which includes utilities, transportation, midstream, and data sectors.

The infrastructure assets owned and operated by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP) produce steady, long-term financial flows. It is one of the best stocks to buy.

19. Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 9

5-Year Rev Growth: 28.72%

Dividend Yield: 8.10%

Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE) is one of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime, known for its significant dividend growth.

With $4.0 million in seller financing at 8% interest over two years, Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE) sold its former Century Theater Center in Reno, Nevada, for $5.0 million on September 4, 2025. The theater left the 52,474-square-foot property in November 2024, leaving it largely empty. The transaction improves portfolio occupancy to 99.4% and lowers carrying costs, both of which increase earnings.

Separately, Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE) created a $24 million first mortgage loan with an 11% interest rate spread over 24 months to finance the conversion of a 127,380-square-foot building in East Bay, San Francisco, into an industrial space aimed at tenants in the fields of technology, life sciences, manufacturing, and logistics. Alpine Income Property Trust has made $109.9 million in structured investments and acquisitions so far this year, yielding an initial cash yield of 9.5% on average.

The single-tenant net-leased commercial properties owned and operated by Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE) are primarily leased to publicly traded and credit-rated tenants. It is one of the best stocks to buy.

18. Postal Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PSTL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

5-Year Rev Growth: 37.40%

Dividend Yield: 6.10%

Postal Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PSTL) is one of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime, known for its significant dividend growth.

Postal Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PSTL) extended maturities for its revolving, term, and delayed-draw loans and fixed interest rates at 4.73% until January 2030, when it closed on an expanded $440 million credit facility on September 22, 2025. The company is better positioned for strategic acquisitions, supports future growth ambitions, and improves liquidity with the new facility.

With sales of $22.73 million as opposed to the projected $20.62 million and earnings per share of $0.12, Postal Realty Trust (NYSE:PSTL)’s second-quarter 2025 results were 77% better than expected.

Stifel reaffirmed its Buy rating and $17.75 price target on Postal Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PSTL) a week prior, citing the company’s solid dividend sustainability, 8.7% anticipated AFFO growth in 2024–2026, and well-covered 6.2% yield. The REIT’s financial situation and strategic vision are further strengthened by the management’s continued involvement in external growth activities.

An internally run REIT, Postal Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PSTL), is dedicated to purchasing, holding, and overseeing USPS-leased buildings in order to supply vital last-mile logistical infrastructure throughout the US. It is one of the best stocks to buy.