15 No-Brainer Trends to Invest in Right Now

The stock market may be dealing with tremendous bouts of volatility at the moment, but that doesn't mean you need to avoid investing altogether. If you have spare investing capital to put toward your portfolio (money that you don't plan on needing for at least the next few years), then now could be a great time to invest in companies leading the way in countless exciting innovations -- and plenty are trading at bargain valuations at the moment.

On that note, let's take a look at 15 no-brainer trends for investors to lean into in 2022 and beyond.

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From revolutionizing company workflow and operations to platforms predicting consumer shopping patterns to pharmaceutical companies fundamentally changing the way they identify the most effective compounds to treat various ailments and disease, the field of artificial intelligence is bursting with opportunities for investors of all trading styles and industry preferences.

ALSO READ: Investing in AI Stocks

In many ways, the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) industries are still in their very nascent stages. However, this presents an exciting time for forward-thinking investors to invest in both established names and companies in their early days of growth that are building the hardware and software required to broaden VR and AR adoption. Bear in mind, the uses cases for these technologies are virtually endless and span fields ranging from healthcare to retail to real estate.

Digital transformation in the healthcare space has been a long time in coming, and in many cases it still has a ways to go. That said, the ever-increasing popularity and adoption of innovations like telehealth are not only revolutionizing what the future of healthcare could look like but expanding the affordability and accessibility of quality care to millions of patients. With everyone from large healthcare companies to tech giants to pharmacy retailers getting in on this space, there's no shortage of ways to play these exciting trends as a long-term investor.

ALSO READ: Investing in Telemedicine and Telehealth Stocks

In the day and age when compelling online ads can make or break the success of a business, a wealth of AI-powered cloud platforms have sprung up to meet demand.

There's no denying that the dynamics driving the modern workforce have changed significantly over the past few years. As more people seek remote, flex, and hybrid jobs, the companies providing the software and tools to support this new age of work can provide compelling investment opportunities for a diversified portfolio.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

From tech titans to pure-play software-as-a-service companies, many cloud computing stocks may be beaten down at the moment, but the multibillion-dollar industry they operate in has room for multiple winners with strong core businesses and compelling leadership.

ALSO READ: Investing in Cloud Computing Stocks

With so many teams in companies both large and small switching to fully or partly remote business models, effective workflow automation is key. For example, software-as-a-service companies providing comprehensive and user-friendly task management software are another great way to play remote work trends.

While it's still unclear what the future of the metaverse industry could look like, one thing's for sure: There are and will be many different players in this space, each with its own metaverse. And with everyone from big tech to fashion houses to gaming companies to fast-food chains wanting in on the metaverse race, there could be many possible winners to choose from.

ALSO READ: 3 Top Metaverse Stocks Ready for a Bull Run

From surgical robotics revolutionizing the way medical providers conduct highly delicate procedures to industrial robotics accelerating and optimizing processes on the factory floor, these systems have use cases across virtually every industry and companies from healthcare to tech.

While the companies producing the hardware to support online gaming have faced increased headwinds of late due to supply chain constraints, the space as a whole encompasses a range of fast-growing businesses that shrewd investors shouldn't overlook.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

It's hardly going to come as a surprise to anyone that e-commerce represents a booming industry with plenty of runway left, but the changing ways in which consumers are shopping now even compared with just a couple of years ago present opportunities outside of digital-only brands.

As the world has reopened, established retailers with a strong brick-and-mortar presence have seen a strong return of in-store shopping along with growth in their digital segments. As consumers continue to indicate their preference for both the convenience of online shopping and the personal, familiar aspects of physical retail, companies from household names to e-commerce-only companies can gain a decided foothold.

ALSO READ: Better Buy: Amazon vs. Shopify

Streaming stocks may be seeing stark declines from one or two years ago, but that doesn't mean this industry is down for the count. While not all players in this space will be winners, the companies with a strong competitive edge, remarkable leadership, and a robust market foothold can make a comeback.

From the ever-increasing adoption of remote work to the dawn of the metaverse, these fundamental changes in the way people live and work in an increasingly digital world bring fresh risks to our electronic data and reveal gaps that bad actors can take advantage of. While cybersecurity stocks tend to be fairly volatile and many of the companies behind them are still in the early-to-mid stages of their growth, there's no disputing that the solutions these businesses provide will continue to be essential to everyday life both now and in the future.

ALSO READ: Investing in Cybersecurity Stocks

While the switch to renewable energy sources has been a slow one, progress continues to be made. If you want to invest in the energy space but veer away from the more traditional companies in this industry, there are more options than you might think, with producers of wind and solar energy to solar panel manufacturers being just a few examples.

Fintech stocks are down, but they’re certainly not out, and they will continue to play an essential role in the evolving financial system. And digital payments companies -- which include everyone from buy now, pay later providers to mobile payment platforms -- will continue to form the backbone of this booming, high-growth industry.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

"It takes remarkable patience to hold on to a stock in a company that excites you, but which everybody else seems to ignore. You begin to think everybody else is right and you are wrong. But where the fundamentals are promising, patience is often rewarded."

These words by Peter Lynch are particularly poignant in the current stock market environment, where many investors are facing steep losses and watching shares of their favorite companies tumble.

It takes tremendous fortitude to maintain your investing thesis when shares of a company you own continue to plummet, even if the business continues to grow and demonstrate resilience.

If you are investing in the current market, it's more important than ever to thoroughly research the company's financials, addressable market, leadership, and core business before you buy in. If a company you own has seen shares plummet without any real change to the core business, think long and hard before you sell and realize a true and irreversible loss.

This volatile period in the market will come and go, as all others have before it. While no one knows when the bend in the road will appear, those who remain in the stock market and continue to buy great companies even as fear and panic drive others away can set their portfolios up for success and sustained growth in the future.

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