In this article, we will discuss: 5 Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett. For more stocks, you can head to 10 Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett.
5. VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2026: 54
First Appeared In 13F Holdings: Q2 2012
Latest Stake: $2.2 billion
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) is an internet company that enables domain name registry and provides other services. Its shares are down by 11.5% over the past year and are up by 6.3% year-to-date. Berkshire first disclosed a stake in the firm in Q2 2012, according to Insider Monkey’s data. This stake came courtesy of 3.7 million shares that were worth $143 million. The number of shares gradually grew to 12.9 million in the second quarter of 2014. They remained at this level until Q1 2020, when they experienced a slight increase. Currently, the number of shares has dropped to 8.9 million, and they are worth $2.2 billion.
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN)’s first-quarter earnings report saw the firm post a strong set of results. The firm delivered $2.34 in adjusted earnings per share and $429 million in revenue to beat analyst estimates of $2.30 and $402 million. As part of the release, VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN)’s management increased its full-year guidance for revenue to $1.730 billion and $1.745 billion from an earlier $1.715 billion and $1.735 billion range.
Diamond Hill Mid Strategy mentioned VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) and Berkshire in its fourth quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Shares of internet infrastructure provider VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) declined after Berkshire Hathaway reduced its stake in the company earlier in 2025, a move driven by regulatory considerations rather than company fundamentals. Despite near-term pressure, the company continues to benefit from high customer switching costs, proprietary technology, US government support and disciplined capital allocation.”
4. DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2026: 52
First Appeared In 13F Holdings: Q4 2011
Latest Stake: $4.6 billion
DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) is a healthcare company that caters to the needs of people suffering from kidney ailments. Another long-term Warren Buffet stock pick, Berkshire first disclosed a stake in the firm in the fourth quarter of 2011. Back then, the firm disclosed holding 5.3 million shares that were worth $203 million. The number of shares jumped considerably by the next quarter, when Berkshire held 12 million shares that were worth $541 million. By Q4 2014, Warren Buffett’s firm had held 38.6 million shares and was stuck at this level until Q4 2019. As of the first quarter of 2026, Berkshire disclosed holding 30 million shares that were worth $4.6 billion.
Deutsche Bank discussed DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA)’s shares on May 6th when it bumped the rating to Buy from Hold and raised the share price target to $220 from $216. The coverage followed the firm’s first quarter earnings, which saw it post $417.59 in revenue per treatment to beat analyst estimates. During the quarter, DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA)’s operating income was $482 million.
3. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2026: 95
First Appeared In 13F Holdings: Q4 2010
Latest Stake: $10.7 billion
Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is one of the largest ratings agencies in the world. Berkshire Hathaway disclosed holding 28.4 million shares of the firm in Q4 2010. Back then, these shares were worth $754 million. By Q4 2013, the number of shares had dipped to 24.6 million, and it has stood there since then. In Q4 2013, the shares were worth $1.9 billion, and the same amount is now worth a whopping $10.7 billion courtesy of a $473 average share price.
Mizuho discussed Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO)’s shares on April 27th. It reduced the share price target to $521 from $524 and kept a Neutral rating on the stock. Mizuho’s coverage came after Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) reported its first-quarter earnings. As part of the results, the ratings agency posted $2.1 billion in revenue and $4.33 in earnings per share, both of which beat analyst estimates. BMO discussed Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO)’s AI implementation and expressed optimism about its ability to help with data management. Consequently, the firm bumped the share price target to $489 from $463 and kept a Market Perform rating on the stock.
2. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2026: 76
First Appeared In 13F Holdings: Q4 2010
Latest Stake: $30.4 billion
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is perhaps one of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway’s best-known investments. While 13F filing data shows Q4 2010 as the earliest date of disclosure, Buffett first bought the shares in 1988. While the Oracle of Omaha dabbled with the shares and his holdings wildly fluctuated in the early 2000s, he found some stability since 201. In Q4 2010, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed holding 400 million shares that were worth $13.1 billion. The figure doubled to 800 million in Q2 2012, but returned to 400 million in the next quarter and has stood at that level since then. As of Q1, the shares are worth $30.4 billion.
Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley discussed The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s shares. It reiterated an Overweight rating and called the stock a top pick in the US beverages sector. The bank remarked that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s Fairlife sales had grown in the US due to capacity additions. It added that the beverage company also had stronger pricing power compared to its rivals.
In a Mad Money appearance on June 10th, CNBC’s Jim Cramer also discussed The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO):
“Now, get this, this is one, this is what I’m talking, I’m trying to, see, I gotta get this point through because this is not what we usually do here, but sometimes the market’s bad… Coca-Cola. Okay, now, I don’t drink Coca-Cola… But it was pushed down hard. It’s been going down, down. And then, since this market got bad, it has been nothing but net. It rallied nearly 3% today. Under the previous CEO, James Quincey, whom I love, the company reignited its growth. His successor, Henrique Braun, he’s continuing the ignition. This is a quintessential defensive stock. New high. You know what? You can probably continue to buy Coca-Cola tomorrow morning if the S&P’s down. I want you to reach for Coca-Cola and then just keep buying. I’m not kidding. This was quite a testament to how good the stock’s doing and how great the company is.”
1. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings in Q1 2026: 83
First Appeared In 13F Holdings: Q4 2010
Latest Stake: $45.8 billion
Payment card and travel services provider American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is perhaps Warren Buffett’s best-known stock pick. He first bought the shares in 1964 when the firm’s shares sank during the Salad Oil Scandal. Buffett then bought a stake in 1991 and continued in the 1990s. However, since then, it hasn’t done much with the stock. In Q4 2010, according to Insider Monkey’s data, Berkshire Hathaway held 151 million American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) shares that were worth $6.5 billion. It still holds the same number of shares, and the stake’s latest value is $45.8 billion.
DBZ Bank discussed the firm on June 18th as it upgraded the shares to Buy from Hold and set a $375 share price target. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)’s latest earnings report saw it report $18.91 billion in revenue, $3 billion in net income, and $4.28 in earnings per share. During the earnings call, the firm’s Chief Financial Officer Christophe Le Caillec outlined that its earnings were stronger than expected and gave it room to spend in marketing and technology.
Giverny Capital Asset Management discussed American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
“We used most of our Ametek proceeds to establish a new position in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) in March, at a price of $294. Probably many of you hold at least one American Express card. It’s one of the premier status brands in the world, with a customer base of prime borrowers who often pay hundreds of dollars a year for the privilege of earning lucrative rewards. Those same cardholders generally do not revolve loan balances, meaning Amex earns much more money from transaction fees and annual cardholder dues than it does in interest on monthly balances. It makes money because people transact with the card to earn rewards, not because they need to borrow money to make ends meet.
It is on my mind that we may be living in a time of peak affluence. I read recently that the United States now has more than 430,000 households with a net worth above $30 million. Simultaneously, the federal government is running irresponsible budget deficits, many college-educated young people can’t get career-track jobs or afford housing, AI may threaten the future of white-collar work, and income inequality mainly seems to worsen. Could higher taxes, lower federal spending, an AI-led white-collar recession, a push for redistributive economic policies or perhaps some combination of all of them bode ill for the kind of folks who hold American Express cards?…” (Click here to read the full text)
While we acknowledge the potential of AXP to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AXP and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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