5 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold For the Next 5 Years

​2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 312

​Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is set to release its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings on April 29. Wall Street is bullish on MSFT ahead of the earnings, and the stock also ranks as one of the Best Stocks to Buy and Hold For the Next 5 Years.

​Recently, on April 20, Evercore ISI reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock with a price target of $580. The firm said in a research note that they view the quarter as a survival and advance quarter, which will build momentum for Q4 and the second half of 2026. The firm expects Azure capacity to ramp up during the quarter.

​Azure growth is expected at the high end of approximately 38% despite a 4% tougher year-over-year comparison. Moreover, the company has also added major Stargate-scale capacity in Texas and Norway recently, along with expansion in Denmark, signaling robust demand.

​Wall Street expects quarterly revenue to reach $81.4 billion in Q3, along with a GAAP EPS of $4.05. Moreover, analysts’ 12-month average price target suggests more than 40% upside from the current level.

​Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a global technology company that develops and sells a wide range of software, cloud services, devices, and business solutions, serving both individual users and enterprise customers worldwide. Its flagship products include Windows, Microsoft 365, Azure, LinkedIn, and Xbox.