Thinking about stocks in terms of decades instead of months or years is an investing superpower. It allows you to zoom out on the world and gives you perspective on the big things happening. Buying and holding the top companies behind the world's growth trends can be a reliable path to building wealth, perhaps even beating the broader stock market.
Technology is central to today's world, as innovation drives progress in fast-growing fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, software, and more.
If you want a portfolio that will stand the test of time and grow at the pace of innovation, consider buying and holding these top five technology stocks for the next decade. This isn't about specifics; think about what each company already does and, more importantly, where it's heading.
In other words, the big picture.
1. Nvidia
NASDAQ: NVDA
Key Data Points
AI chip leader Nvidia (NVDA +1.95%) is a no-brainer for any long-term tech investor. The company should enjoy years of continued growth, with the AI chip market projected to grow 20% annually to over $300 billion by 2029. However, emerging opportunities to expand into new AI applications should excite investors the most.
NVDA Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
Nvidia recently announced a new AI supercomputer that is small enough for individual developers. The company's focus on expanding beyond data center products could make it a player in additional end markets, such as robotics, over the coming decade.
2. Alphabet
Google's parent company, Alphabet (GOOGL +0.14%) (GOOG +0.14%), is a one-stop shop for innovation. The company's highly profitable Google brand (search engine and software ecosystem) has built one of the world's finest companies. However, it has several promising irons in the fire, with ongoing developments in nascent technologies, including self-driving vehicles (Waymo) and quantum computing (Google Quantum AI).
GOOGL Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
In addition, Alphabet operates the third-largest cloud platform (Google Cloud), has in-house AI models (Gemini), and accesses a mountain of first-party data from Google users to train its AI with. Thus, Alphabet might be better suited for the next decade of growth than any other "Magnificent Seven" stock.
3. Netflix
NASDAQ: NFLX
Key Data Points
Streaming pioneer Netflix (NFLX +1.53%) continues to lead a streaming field that has become increasingly crowded with competition over the past five years. Netflix has become a global juggernaut with approximately 283 million paid memberships. Highly popular content, such as Squid Game, underlines its ability to appeal across cultures and geographic markets.
NFLX Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
Investing in Netflix for the next decade involves multiple growth levers that the company is only beginning to pull. After operating solely on a subscription model for years, Netflix has started integrating advertising into its business. In recent years, Netflix has expanded its content universe, branching into mobile gaming and live sports. Look for Netflix to lean further into these new categories (and monetize them) over the next decade.
4. Amazon
E-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN +2.16%) is known primarily as the online retail leader in America. It's true that Amazon accounts for approximately 40% of U.S. e-commerce sales. However, e-commerce accounts for only about 16% of retail spending, meaning Amazon's legacy business can still drive future growth. Yet Amazon goes far beyond e-commerce. The company operates the world's largest cloud computing platform (AWS), which accounts for over 30% of the global market.
AMZN Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
Amazon built a consumer-facing ecosystem on Prime memberships, which total over 200 million today. It has launched new businesses within that ecosystem, including a telehealth platform, video streaming service, and smart home devices (Alexa). The company's digital advertising unit is blossoming into a key contributor. Amazon's ability to enter new industries makes it an obvious investment for the next decade and probably beyond.
5. Microsoft
NASDAQ: MSFT
Key Data Points
Technology behemoth Microsoft (MSFT 0.46%) has also shown it can continually launch and nurture new businesses. It rose to prominence over 30 years ago with Windows personal computer software. Today, Windows remains relevant, but the company boasts a sprawling software empire that includes Windows, Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Microsoft Dynamics 365, Xbox (which owns three major game publishers), GitHub (developer platform), and more.
MSFT Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts
Microsoft's software is ingrained in millions of business and consumer devices worldwide. It's a wide moat and distribution network for new products. Additionally, Microsoft operates Azure, the world's second-largest cloud platform. The company is among the most aggressive AI hyperscalers investing in AI capabilities, tying Azure to a cloud services industry that could grow by 16% annually to over $2.7 trillion by 2034 on AI tailwinds.
