The world will probably look a bit different a decade from now than it does today, so long-term investors need to try to zoom out and see what the big-picture trends are, and gauge which companies are poised to lead them. Current high-growth businesses like artificial intelligence (AI) and weight-loss drugs have vast potential. Meanwhile, markets for emerging technologies such as humanoid robotics and autonomous vehicles could be in full swing by 2035.
Such predictions are tough to make accurately. Today's leaders could always fall by the wayside. But in my view, these five companies seem destined to win the next decade.
Making its AI model open source has positioned Meta Platforms for strength
Social media giant Meta Platforms (META -0.62%) makes a compelling case for itself to be an AI winner over the next decade and beyond. The company is the largest one to make its AI model (Llama) open source. As of late 2024, it had over 650 million downloads and 600 million monthly active users for its AI assistant, Meta AI.
Making Llama open source could prove a genius move, attracting more developers to build applications on it. Meta should have the computing resources to support those apps. CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI in 2025 alone, which it can afford thanks to its lucrative digital advertising business. Meta's forward thinking makes it a top AI pick for the future.
Novo Nordisk should remain a fixture in weight loss
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NVO 1.72%) treated diabetes and obesity since it pioneered slow-acting insulin in the 1930s. Today, the company is known for Ozempic and Wegovy, two brands of its leading GLP-1 agonist, semaglutide, which suppresses appetite and slows digestion to encourage weight loss. The weight loss niche is arguably the hottest within the pharmaceutical industry today, with analysts predicting the market could grow by 30% annually to $126 billion by 2029.
Novo Nordisk's base patent for semaglutide expires in 2026, but it holds multiple secondary patents (involving formulas, dosages, etc.) that could extend its market exclusivity to 2033. Assuming Novo Nordisk remains at the front of the GLP-1 trend, it could drive tremendous revenue growth for the company and its shareholders.
Self-driving vehicles are an opportunity for Uber, not a threat
Uber Technologies (UBER -0.69%) is the runaway leader in ride-hailing in the United States (76% market share) and built a worldwide presence. The company enjoys a powerful network effect: Its vast volume of drivers ensures short wait times for riders, and the app's high usage attracts drivers. This virtuous cycle strengthens the company as it grows.
The stock tumbled due to fears that autonomous ride-hailing services like Waymo will disrupt Uber. However, the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles could prove an opportunity for Uber, which struck multiple partnerships to explore self-driving technology. Plus, it could take many years for autonomous ride-hailing to become widespread enough to threaten Uber, which would continue to grow in the meantime. Uber is a classic contrarian stock idea with stellar growth fundamentals that could produce outsized investment returns over the coming years.
E-commerce and cloud expansion remain core opportunities for Amazon
Years of growth as the leader in e-commerce and cloud computing made Amazon (AMZN -1.01%) one of the world's largest corporations. It dominates online retail in America with 40% of the market and is the world's largest cloud infrastructure platform (31% market share). Remarkably, both of these growth stories still have plenty of chapters left. E-commerce still only accounts for 15.6% of total U.S. retail spending, and some forecasters expect AI tailwinds could lift the global cloud services market from $496 billion in 2023 to $2 trillion by 2030.
Amazon's leadership should directly translate to growth as AI drives cloud usage higher. The company is expanding into adjacent AI opportunities, including chips. In addition, Amazon has newer businesses in multiple markets, including digital advertising, streaming, and healthcare. I'm not sure there is a company with as many irons in the fire as Amazon, making it a no-brainer for long-term investors.
Tesla could find new growth with emerging products
Tesla (TSLA 0.42%) is a riskier investment because it depends on an electric vehicle business that's currently in a slump. However, the potential reward for buying its shares now could be higher, too. The company has multiple business assets that it hasn't meaningfully monetized yet. It has spent years developing self-driving vehicle technology. It plans to launch a robotaxi service and begin selling humanoid robots, both of which could become significant growth opportunities over the next decade.
And don't dismiss Tesla's core electric vehicle business, either. The road to mainstream adoption has already taken years, but it continues to progress. I also suspect that advancements in battery technology over the next decade can deliver the range and short charging times needed to threaten combustion engines. There is no guarantee that Tesla's ambitions and plans will ultimately work out. If they do, it could carve out sizable positions in these massive markets.
