Think about how different the world was just 10 years ago. Some of the things we take for granted today -- artificial intelligence chatbots, food and grocery delivery apps, and more -- weren't around, or were only starting to gain steam in 2015. The world will continue to change, and technology will play a big part in that. By 2035, once again, some of today's newest innovations will become normal.
Long-term investing is about having an open mind and staying optimistic about innovation and progress. The good news is that you don't need to go too far outside the box to find winning stocks that will likely help shape the future. That's because some of them have been doing just that for the past decade or two.
Here are five technology stocks you can buy and hold for the next decade.
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1. Nvidia
Given the role that artificial intelligence (AI) will likely play in the future, Nvidia (NVDA 1.05%) might be a no-brainer. The company's accelerator chips have become the runaway leader used to train and operate AI software on data center clusters, amassing a market share that researchers peg as high as 92%. The companies building out data centers to support AI demand could spend upwards of $7 trillion on this over the next five years.
Nvidia's two AI chip architectures, Hopper and Blackwell, have been smashing hits, and the continuous push for computing power and efficiency to support more intelligent AI makes it likely these companies will want to get their hands on Nvidia's upcoming AI chips. Despite the stock's success, shares are still reasonably valued, making Nvidia a solid buy right now.
2. Alphabet
Google's search engine dominance helped Alphabet (GOOG 2.44%) (GOOGL 2.48%) become a trillion-dollar behemoth. But the company is much more than that, with far-reaching influence across the technology sector that includes mobile phones, software, cloud computing, and self-driving vehicles. Even as some fear that AI may disrupt Google's golden goose, its digital advertising business, it's also a tremendous growth opportunity for the company.
And if recent earnings results mean anything, Google has yet to show any signs that AI is weighing on the company's performance. Investors should consider Alphabet a well-rounded investment in broader technology innovation. Whatever the top growth stories are over the next decade, deep-pocketed and innovative Alphabet is probably going to at least play a factor in them.
3. Tesla
Elon Musk's Tesla (TSLA 2.28%) could be the boom-or-bust stock on this list. Tesla started and rose to popularity in electric vehicles, ultimately becoming a pioneer in the automotive industry. However, the stock has stumbled lately as investors see two sides of the coin here. On the one hand, Tesla's electric vehicle sales have slumped, potentially a result of Musk's political activities and highly public (and sometimes controversial) persona.
On the other hand, Tesla is pushing hard into humanoid robotics and self-driving vehicles, potential growth catalysts that some believe could far outweigh the company's upside in its legacy electric vehicle business. Tesla is a volatile stock that investors need conviction to hold, but the company's ceiling is high if it realizes its AI and robotics potential over the next decade. Investors have done well betting on Musk thus far; Tesla has outperformed the market over its lifetime.
4. Microsoft
Even though Microsoft (MSFT 0.22%) has been around for decades, it remains a leader in tech innovation. Many of its legacy products, like its Windows operating system software, remain very relevant today, but the company continually expands and acquires its way to growth. Today, Microsoft is deep into AI, cloud computing, enterprise and consumer software, gaming, and more. Like Alphabet, Microsoft has a lower ceiling due to its sheer size, but it is bound to play a role in shaping the world moving forward.
Investing in Microsoft also gets you peace of mind. It pays a dividend and has increased it for 23 consecutive years. Plus, the company has a higher credit rating than the U.S. government. Microsoft is genuinely a do-it-all stock that can be an excellent buy-and-hold investment you can count on to deliver steady results for the foreseeable future.
5. Meta Platforms
Social media giant Meta Platforms (META 0.92%) rounds out this list. The company could have the world's best digital advertising business model. Meta gushes cash profits from the ads it shows to the nearly 3.5 billion people who use its Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads apps each day. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is still in his early 40s and is steering the company into the future with a heavy emphasis on AI.
The company hopes that it can use AI and innovative hardware, like smart glasses, to break free from its dependence on Apple and Google's smartphone app stores. Based on the company's recent earnings report, Meta Platforms' core advertising business still has plenty of juice left, making it a wise stock to buy and hold as Zuckerberg turns his AI vision into reality over the next 10 years.
