In this article, we will list the 5 Best Long-Term Stocks to Invest In According to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trusts. Please visit 10 Best Long-Term Stocks to Invest In According to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

5. Ecolab Inc (NYSE:ECL)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Investment Stake: $1.4 Billion

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s First Major Purchase: Q3 2012

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Ecolab Inc (NYSE:ECL) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust.

Ecolab Inc (NYSE:ECL) has identified a good opportunity in the data center cooling market, and it is going for it. On May 19, Bloomberg reported that Ecolab raised $5 billion through bond sales to fund its acquisition of CoolIT Systems, a leading data center cooling provider.

Ecolab issued investment-grade bonds in a four-part transaction, according to the report. The bonds mature in three to 10 years, with the longest-tenored notes offering yields of 0.73% above US Treasuries.

Ecolab agreed to purchase CoolIT Systems for $4.75 billion in cash, and the transaction is scheduled to close in Q3 2026. CoolIT Systems provides advanced liquid cooling technology for AI data centers, and Ecolab says liquid data center cooling is a fast-growing market. CoolIT is a market leader with a high-growth and high-margin business. It’s expected to generate around $550 million in sales over the next 12 months.

According to Ecolab, the acquisition of CoolIT will strengthen its business and accelerate its organic sales growth.

Ecolab Inc (NYSE:ECL) provides water treatment, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to commercial customers. It partners with businesses in industries like foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing to ensure food safety, water optimization, and clean environments.

4. Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Investment Stake: $4.5 Billion

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s First Major Purchase: Q3 2012

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 87

Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. Caterpillar shares have gained around 50% since the year began and have surged more than 148% over the past year. Caterpillar has soared alongside data center stocks because the Street believes it is part of the sector.

On May 21, BofA Securities named Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) among the companies it believes stand to benefit from data center infrastructure demand. According to the brokerage, Caterpillar supplies infrastructure equipment and backup power systems essential for data center construction and operations.

Caterpillar’s heavy machinery, like bulldozers and excavators, is used for site preparation and foundational work in data center campus building projects. Once the campuses are built, they need power. Caterpillar also offers energy solutions for data centers. The company designs, installs, and services on-site energy projects for data center operators.

Caterpillar’s energy solution helps customers who want power now in their data center campuses but are experiencing delays in utility connections. The company also offers backup power to ensure constant uptime for data centers. Power and energy was one of Caterpillar’s fastest-growing business lines in Q1 2026, with sales increasing 22% YoY to more than $7 billion.

Texas-based Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) is an industrial equipment provider. The company manufactures equipment used in construction and mining operations. Caterpillar offers equipment rental options, backup power systems, and financial services for customers purchasing or renting its equipment.

3. Canadian National Railway Co (NYSE:CNI)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Investment Stake: $5.3 Billion

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s First Major Purchase: Q3 2012

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Canadian National Railway Co (NYSE:CNI) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. Canadian National Railway shares have gone up more than 20% over the past six months.

Canadian National Railway Co (NYSE:CNI) has landed a deal to provide rail services to mining giant BHP, according to a June 4 press release. Canadian National Railway will transport potash from BHP’s Jansen mine in Saskatchewan to ports in Vancouver for export to the global markets.

In this arrangement, Canadian National Railway will operate unit trains between the mine and the export terminals using BHP-owned railcars. The initial contract will run for around four years and is focused on the Jansen Stage 1 production. The railroad operator may have a role in the next phases of the project. The Jansen mine is expected to begin production in mid-2027.

BHP said the rail transport deal with Canadian National Railway strengthens the reliability of its supply chain. It also said this arrangement ensures it’s well-positioned to deliver potash from Saskatchewan to global customers. Canadian National Railway said the Jansen project is a significant opportunity for Canada’s export industry.

Canadian National Railway Co (NYSE:CNI) is a freight rail company headquartered in Quebec, Canada. Its nearly 20,000-mile rail network serves Canada and the US, facilitating the movement of everything from resource materials and factory inputs to finished goods.

2. Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Investment Stake: $6.4 Billion

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s First Major Purchase: Q3 2012

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust.

On June 12, Stifel reiterated a Buy rating on Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM) stock with a price target of $252. The brokerage made this call after hosting Waste Management’s COO Tara Hemmer at the 14th annual Stifel/Waste360 Investor Summit at the inaugural Waste Leadership Summit on June 10.

Following the meeting, Stifel noted that Waste Management has been using AI to improve margins. The firm also learned that the company sees additional opportunities to deploy AI tools in all parts of its operations.

Stifel also noted that Waste Management is seeing a better price-to-cost spread now than it did before the inflationary period caused by Covid. Moreover, the firm found out that the company is open to expanding deeper into the environmental services if that would create value.

Regarding Waste Management’s Healthcare Solutions division (WMHS), Stifel commented that this business seems to be at a turning point. Moreover, the firm believes that Waste Management’s rail-served landfills could double from the current six in the next 5 to 10 years.

Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM) is a leading waste management company operating in the US and Canada. It handles everything from garbage collection and dumpster rental to recycling and disposal. The company also generates renewable energy from waste.

1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK.B)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s Investment Stake: $8.2 Billion

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust’s First Major Purchase: Q3 2012

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126

Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK.B) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The stock is backed by 126 hedge funds.

According to a Financial Times report on June 11, Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK.B) is against the proposed merger of railroad operators Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. These operators compete with Berkshire’s railroad unit, BNSF Railway.

The newspaper reported that BNSF is concerned that the proposed merger would consolidate the market, raise costs for customers, and cause affordability issues for consumers. According to the report, BNSF CEO Katie Farmer warned that Union Pacific would raise rates to pay for the merger if the anticipated increase in cargo volumes is not achieved.

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern agreed to combine in an $85 billion deal to form a single transcontinental railroad operator. The combined operator would have the ability to transport goods from the West Coast to the East Coast on its own tracks. The companies say the merger would reduce friction and delays in rail freight, and that this would encourage shipping by rail rather than road.

However, Berkshire believes that the railroad industry would benefit more from partnerships rather than consolidation. Last year, Berkshire’s BNSF and railroad operator CSX partnered to provide coast-to-coast rail services.

Warren Buffett-linked Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK.B) is an American conglomerate that owns a portfolio of businesses in diverse industries. It has footprints in insurance, energy, railroads, manufacturing, and services sectors. Berkshire also owns significant stakes in many blue-chip companies.

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