Top 10 Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

In this article, we will look at the Top 10 Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

​On June 9, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ Index fell by around 2.4% and 3.6%, respectively. The slight sell-off has resurfaced the concerns of a market bubble ready to burst. To discuss market moves, Adam Coons, Chief Investment Officer at Winthrop Capital Management, appeared on a Schwab network interview on June 11. Adam noted that the market reaction was a healthy pullback. He elaborated that the AI trade over the past couple of weeks, before the pullback, had run a little too fast, and it’s healthy to see the market correcting itself.

​Adam noted that over this phase, where we are trying to figure out the winners and losers of the AI trade, the market continues to correct itself. For instance, Adam noted Oracle as a great sign that the market can identify when a stock is running up really fast and getting ahead of itself. On the other hand, stronger players such as Alphabet (Google) have sustained their tremendous run on the basis of vertically integrated models. Adam acknowledged that even good companies, including Nvidia and Apple, have witnessed pullbacks despite above-expectation earnings. He elaborated that as the valuations of the big tech names move higher, the margin of error diminishes. He advised investors to look at the long-term picture in figuring out which stocks are going to turn out as winners of this AI trade.

​With that, let’s take a look at the list of Top 10 Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

​Our Methodology

We sifted through financial media reports to compile a list of stocks widely discussed for their long-term potential, and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.

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. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).

​Top 10 Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

​10. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) has gained more than 17.5% over the past 30 days. Much of these gains are driven by record net new annual recurring revenue of $256 million in fiscal Q1 2027, driven by increased AI-driven security demand. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is one of our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

​Recently, on June 11, Piper Sandler reiterated an Overweight rating on the stock with a $750 price target. Piper Sandler met with the company’s CFO and VP of Investor Relations in Toronto. The conversation covered several growth drivers, including pipeline momentum, demand trends, and key products like Falcon Flex and identity and endpoint security solutions. A major theme was the impact of Mythos and Project Glasswing on customer demand. The firm noted these initiatives appear to be driving a meaningful shift in how organizations prioritize and spend on cybersecurity.

​As a result, the firm came back more confident in CrowdStrike’s ability to capitalize on the market opportunity, describing Mythos as creating a “step-function change” in security prioritization among customers.

​That said, during the fiscal Q1 2026 earnings reported on June 4, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. reported revenue of $1.39 billion, beating the estimates of $1.36 billion. The adjusted EPS of $1.10 also surpassed the expectations of $1.07. Notably, management raised the fiscal year 2027 net new ARR growth guidance by 520 basis points at the midpoint, reflecting accelerating demand for AI-native security solutions.

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. is a technology company that offers cybersecurity solutions through its unified platform and a SaaS subscription-based model.

​9. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 87

Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) ranks among our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. Wall Street expects more than 19.8% upside from the current level. Recently, on June 12, Truist raised the firm’s price target on Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) from $129 to $134 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares.

​The firm noted the update in price target to be part of its broader preview of the travel and leisure companies. Truist sees a generally encouraging spending backdrop for US leisure travel, particularly in mass-market destinations like Orlando, with strength expected through Q2 to Q4. Notably, the firm noted that the travel outlook improves as in today’s K-shaped economy, where wealthier consumers continue to spend freely while lower-income groups remain under pressure.

​That said, during the fiscal Q1 2026 earnings, reported on May 8, Airbnb, Inc. reported revenue of $2.68 billion, surpassing the estimate of $2.62 billion. However, the adjusted EPS of $0.26 missed the expectation of $0.31. Management noted the Nights and Experiences Booked to be key drivers of growth as it grew 9% year-over-year to 156.2 million.

Moreover, the Gross Booking Value also improved 19% during the same time to $29.2 billion, driven by resilient travel demand and pricing strength.

​Management has raised the full-year 2026 revenue growth outlook to the low-to-mid teens and projects Q2 revenue between the range of $3.54 billion and $3.60 billion.

Airbnb Inc. manages and operates an online marketplace for rooms, which connects hosts and guests online. The company is based in San Francisco, California and was founded in 2007 by Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joseph Gebbia.

​8. Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88

Shopify Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOP) has gained more than 11% over the past month, mainly driven by a major $5 billion share repurchase authorization and strong fiscal Q1 2026 results. The stock ranks eighth among our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

​Wall Street is also generally bullish on Shopify Inc. as 73% of the 52 analysts covering the stock maintain a Buy rating on the stock. Moreover, the 12-month average analyst price target suggests more than 38.5% upside from the current level.

​During the fiscal Q1 2026 earnings reported last month, the company reported revenue of $3.17 billion, surpassing estimates of $3.09 billion. The adjusted EPS of $0.36 also topped projections of $0.33. Management noted that the gross merchandise volume reached $100.7 billion, reflecting 35% year-over-year growth and also marking the second quarter of exceeding the $100 billion mark. The growth was attributed to broad-based performance across all geographies.

​Following the release, on May 28, UBS reiterated a Hold rating on the stock and maintained a price target of $130. The firm highlighted that Shopify’s POS segment accounts for around 12% of gross merchandise volume. UBS believes this could grow to nearly 20% by 2035, making it an increasingly important part of the company’s growth story. Moreover, UBS expects POS to contribute 300-500 basis points to Shopify’s 10-year GMV growth rate and 100-200 basis points to gross profit growth.

​Earlier on May 20, Piper Sandler reiterated a Buy rating on Shopify Inc. with a price target of $150. The firm noted encouraging product adoption trends and a recovery in business momentum. Piper Sandler highlighted that a standout data point is Sidekick, Shopify’s AI assistant. The firm noted that usage of the assistant is up 100% to 200% among expert merchants, and reflects that the tool is delivering real value.

Shopify Inc. operates as a commerce technology company. The company offers tools to run, start, market, and scale businesses of different sizes globally. It is also involved in the sale of themes and apps, advertising on the Shopify App Store, point-of-sale hardware, shipping labels through Shopify Shipping, and Shop Campaigns for buyer acquisitions.

​7. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 103

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is among our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. Recently, on June 12, Bank of America Securities analyst Travis Steed lowered the firm’s price target on Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) from $520 to $515, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares.

​The analyst noted that the adjustment in the price target is based on a more cautious stance for the broader sector heading into 2027. The firm’s services team has flagged a lower utilization environment, which suggests that medical procedures using robotic systems may come in below expectations. Steed has also factored in inflation as a headwind for 2027 and expects it to limit margin expansion across the broader medtech sector.

​Notably, the analyst highlighted that the valuations of the medtech sector already reflect some of this utilization risk; this is why he has lowered price targets now rather than later.

​Overall, the Street’s 12-month average price target suggests roughly 40% upside from the current levels.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. engages in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of da Vinci surgical systems and Ion endoluminal system.

​6. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 170

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares have declined following important AI-related announcements at the WWDC 2026 conference. The falling investor sentiment comes as the company was not able to meet AI advancement expectations. However, the Street sees the conference as a meaningful step for Apple. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also one of our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term.

​Recently, on June 9, Maxim raised the price target on the stock from $310 to $350 and reiterated a Buy rating. Maxim noted meaningful progress in the company’s AI efforts. The firm noted that the enhanced version of Siri is set for beta launch later this year, which is a positive sign.

​On the same day, Bernstein SocGen also reiterated an Outperform rating and $350 price target. The firm noted that a key revelation from WWDC was that Apple’s next-generation Foundation Models were built in collaboration with Google, using its Gemini technology. This powers Apple Intelligence, running both on-device and via Private Cloud Compute. Bernstein flagged the conference as the first meaningful step towards AI monetization.

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and home accessories. The company develops its own operating systems (iOS, macOS) and provides digital services, including iCloud, Apple Pay, and content streaming through the App Store and Apple TV+.

​5. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 262

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) ranks among our list of Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. Recently, on June 11, Bank of America Analyst Justin Post reiterated a Buy rating on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) with a price target of $835. The firm noted that Meta’s expanding AI strategy is a key catalyst for its long-term growth.

​The analyst noted that the heavy AI capital expenditure is not merely a cost, but is strengthening the company’s AI model development while also improving ad targeting and content recommendations. Analyst Post noted that this is already resulting in higher user engagement and increased advertisement revenue. He also expects the company to develop new revenue streams ahead, such as subscriptions, enterprise solutions, and AI business agents, which have the potential to result in additional monetization over time.

​While Post acknowledges execution risks and a competitive landscape, it notes that investor sentiment is already cautious. He noted that the stock trades at a discount to its prior peaks and to large-cap peers, making it a buying opportunity.

Meta Platforms, Inc. develops products that allow people to share and connect with their family and friends using PCs, mobile devices, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and AI glasses. Some of its well-known apps include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsAPp. It operates in the Reality Labs (RL) and Family of Apps (FoA) segments.

​4. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 265

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 11, Reuters reported that Google is reportedly in discussions with Samsung Electronics to manufacture part of its next-generation AI processor.

As per the report, the prospective plan involves a split manufacturing approach, where TSMC would produce the main computing component of the chip, while Samsung may handle a separate piece that connects the processor to memory, using its advanced 2-nanometer production technology. Moreover, Reuters also noted that Alphabet Inc. is also working with MediaTek on the design. However, mass production is not expected until 2028.

​This move suggests that Google is making efforts to reduce its reliance on TSMC, which is already struggling to keep pace with surging AI demand and could become a bottleneck for the industry.

Separately, Google is also reportedly in talks with Intel to manufacture over three million TPUs in 2028, further diversifying its chip supply chain. The company’s in-house TPU chips are increasingly seen as a credible alternative to Nvidia’s dominant processors, and have become a key growth driver for its cloud business.

Alphabet Inc. is a holding company that operates Google services such as search engines, ad platforms, Internet browsers, devices, mapping software, app stores, video streaming, and more. The company also offers cloud infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers, as well as healthcare-related services and internet services.

​3. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 275

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 12 Jefferies released a research note saying that the reported delays in two key AI data center technologies including the 800V HVDC power systems and co-packaged optics are not disrupting the timelines for semiconductor companies.

​Regarding the 800V HVDC, the firm noted that major cloud providers have already pushed deployments to 2028 as most semiconductor companies were already anticipating limited shipments in 2027 and broader adoption in 2028. Hence, the delay remains within expectations.

​Similarly, the revised timeline for co-packaged optics, now expected to see vertical-scale deployments around 2029, aligns with what Jefferies had previously forecasted. The firm views any slippage here as neutral to slightly positive for STMicroelectronics.

​Regarding NVIDIA Corporation, Jefferies noted that the company is pushing into the 6G radio GPUs. The firm believes this move to be neutral for telecommunication companies, as major companies such as Nokia have already pivoted their strategy toward software running on Nvidia-powered infrastructure, suggesting it is adapting rather than competing.

​Moreover, recently, Morgan Stanley, on June 3, reiterated a Buy rating on NVIDIA Corporation with a $288 price target. The firm noted Nvidia as one of the top picks in the processor group. Morgan Stanley believes that Nvidia provides the best value among the group with a strong position in multiple product lines.

NVIDIA Corporation is a fabless semiconductor and AI computing company that designs GPUs, AI accelerators, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and system-on-a-chip units. Through its CUDA ecosystem, the company enables industries ranging from autonomous vehicles to scientific research by advancing AI, accelerated computing, and data center infrastructure.

​2. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 282

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 12, Reuters, while citing The Information, reported that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is exploring options for significant structural changes in its Xbox division. The report noted that options under consideration include spinning Xbox off as a separate entity or restructuring it as a wholly owned subsidiary.

​The report also highlighted that Microsoft is also weighing the possibility of forming a joint venture with outside partners, noting that such moves could ultimately make the gaming business easier to sell if Microsoft chose to go that route. Moreover, CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood have also reportedly approved plans to increase spending on top-tier game development for the fiscal year beginning in July. Reuters noted that the final budget has not yet been confirmed.

​The report comes just days after Bloomberg News revealed that Xbox is planning major layoffs next month, alongside significant cuts to marketing and other budgets.

Separately, on June 4, TD Cowen reiterated a Buy rating on Microsoft Corporation with a price target of $540. The firm noted that Microsoft is moving toward building more of its own AI capabilities rather than relying heavily on external frontier labs like OpenAI. The firm also noted progress across Microsoft’s broader AI stack, including advances in DIY applications and custom silicon. TD Cowen highlighted that such developments explain why Microsoft had been quietly allocating GPU capacity toward internal research and development in recent quarters.

Microsoft Corporation 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.

​1. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 353

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) ranks among our Top Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. On June 11, the company announced the official availability of Alexa+, which is Amazon’s next-gen AI assistant, for all Canadian customers.

​Management of Amazon.com, Inc. noted that all Prime members get full access at no extra cost, making it the latest addition to the Prime membership bundle. The assistant is built on a new architecture powered by large language models, which makes it more capable than the original Alexa. Management highlighted that Alexa+ is more conversational, personalized, and able to complete tasks on a user’s behalf.

​Moreover, early engagement numbers are encouraging as Canadian users are interacting with Alexa+ twice as often as the original one. In addition, the smart home feature usage is up 60%, and recipe requests have increased fivefold.

​In other news, Barclays on June 11 reiterated a Buy rating on Amazon.com, Inc. with a price target of $330. Earlier on June 1, Truist had raised the price target on AMZN from $310 to $320, while reiterating a Buy rating.

Amazon.com Inc. operates across e-commerce, digital content, advertising, and cloud computing. Its online and offline stores offer both in-house and third-party products, while its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division runs one of the world’s largest data center networks.

Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.