The market has been in free fall of late, but if you have 10-plus investing years left, now can be an optimal time to actually pile more money into stocks. With valuations lower, it can be a cheaper time to load up on quality stocks.
And as long as you are confident that you won't need to pull money out of your portfolio anytime soon, now can be a great time to buy stocks.
The key, of course, is quality and ensuring that you aren't buying just any stock that looks cheap. Three companies that are no-brainer investments when looking at the long term are Microsoft (MSFT +3.64%), Eli Lilly (LLY 1.06%), and Walmart (WMT 1.74%). Here's why these can be ideal for buy-and-hold investors today.
1. Microsoft
Microsoft was a top name in its industry decades ago, and it wouldn't be surprising if it remains so decades from now. Businesses all over the world rely on its systems and office software for managing their day-to-day operations, including creating reports, analyzing performance, and helping with the preparation of their financial statements.
The company has also been investing heavily into artificial intelligence (AI) to add value and augment its current offerings.
NASDAQ: MSFT
Key Data Points
Meanwhile, the business has also been expanding via acquisitions, with the most notable being its $69 billion purchase of video game company Activision Blizzard in 2023. And with tremendous assets at its disposal, Microsoft can still get a whole lot bigger and diverse in the future. Over the trailing 12 months, it generated just under $93 billion in profit.
The tech stock recently hit a new 52-week low. And with a price-to-earnings multiple (P/E) of 29, it isn't egregiously overpriced even though it's one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market cap of around $2.7 trillion. Microsoft is not only a fantastic growth stock but a fairly safe investment to hang on to for the long haul.
2. Eli Lilly
Another behemoth to invest in today is Eli Lilly. The healthcare company looks unstoppable in the early innings of an incredibly promising opportunity in GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
The company is working on bringing a weight loss pill to market. But in the meantime, it already has an approved injectable drug in Zepbound, which brought in close to $5 billion in sales last year, already accounting for 11% of the company's overall revenue, despite only obtaining approval from regulators in late 2023.
NYSE: LLY
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The anti-obesity market could be worth more than $100 billion, and some analysts believe $200 billion may be more accurate. As an early leader in this space, Eli Lilly is poised for significant growth. And with a diverse portfolio of drugs beyond just GLP-1, it provides investors with long-term stability.
Shares are down more than 12% this year, and any discount you can get on the healthcare stock can prove to be a deal in the long run given its long-term potential. It trades at more than 57 times earnings, but the premium looks reasonable given the company's opportunities.
3. Walmart
Completing this list of top blue chip stocks is big-box retailer Walmart. Like the other stocks on this list, it's an industry leader, and it seems like a safe bet to assume it will continue to be a dominant force years from now.
As of the end of last week, the stock was down around 8% since the start of 2025. It's not a huge discount -- you're still paying more than 34 times trailing earnings to own a piece of Walmart. But for the stability it offers and its continued growth, it's a premium that is justifiable given the current market conditions; it's one of the safer options to hang on to right now.
NASDAQ: WMT
Key Data Points
Walmart may seem like a boring stock, but make no mistake: It is a good growth investment. It acquired TV maker Vizio last year, it looks to bolster its ad business, it has dabbled in healthcare, it's growing its online business, and last year it announced plans to open or expand up to 150 stores in the U.S. market over a five-year period.
The company has generated more than $19 billion in profit over the past 12 months, and it's one of the more resilient businesses you can invest in for the long haul.
