New technology is the driving force behind most of the disruptive upstarts that go on to change the world. That makes tech stocks a surefire part of a growth portfolio, but it also makes them riskier than other stocks; while some of these exciting stocks have become the Nvidias and Amazons of today, others have faded into a distant memory.
It's not always easy to spot which tech stocks will survive and succeed. That's why I am going to recommend three kinds of tech stocks: Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM 4.44%) is established and reliable but still has robust opportunities, Apple (AAPL 2.01%) is a tech leader with a wide moat, and Sandisk (SNDK 4.95%) plays the up-and-coming growth disruptor role. Each of them could be an excellent addition to a portfolio that could set you up for life.
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1. Taiwan Semiconductor
Taiwan Semiconductor is the manufacturer behind the top chips powering artificial intelligence (AI) and many other technologies. It works with Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, and the gamut of top chip designers.
Today, AI is a major component of its business, but it benefits from all kinds of tech trends as they change. That gives it incredible long-term staying power. Revenue increased 26% year over year in the 2025 fourth quarter, and high-performance computing, which includes the AI business, accounted for 55% of the total.
NYSE: TSM
Key Data Points
It's also incredibly profitable. Gross margin was 62.3%, up from 59% the year before, and operating margin was 54%, up from 49% the year before.
As technology changes, Taiwan Semiconductor keeps playing its part, which is why the stock can help set you up for life.
2. Apple
Apple has an incredible moat in its massive ecosystem of interconnected products and devices that consumers love. This was on full display in the 2025 fiscal first quarter (ended Dec. 27), when iPhone sales increased 23% year over year. Although much of that was driven by upgrades, there were also plenty of new users, demonstrating how Apple continues to appeal to a wide demographic.
NASDAQ: AAPL
Key Data Points
The company now has 2.5 billion active devices worldwide, giving it access to hundreds of millions of users it can monetize through new products and services. Although the market has been concerned that the company is falling behind in AI, it's making strides in ways its users are happy with, and it's planning to launch a brand new platform this year in partnership with Alphabet.
With its robust ecosystem of users, Apple still has a long growth runway.
3. Sandisk
Sandisk was spun off into its own company just a year ago, and its stock is already up more than 1,600%. The data storage specialist is in high-growth mode, and as a crucial supplier of AI-related products, it should continue to enjoy strong demand going forward.
NASDAQ: SNDK
Key Data Points
However, it's still cheap, trading at 15 times trailing-12-month earnings. On a price-to-forward earnings growth basis, it traded at 0.005 times one-year expected earnings, which is dirt cheap. Analysts expect 2026 earnings of $29.76 this year, up from $2.99 last year.
Sandisk has a long growth runway, and buying the stock today could add incredible growth power to your long-term portfolio.
