Observing the current trends in the stock market has been challenging. The Federal Reserve is making moves to curb high inflation rates, and many financial experts concur that an economic downturn could be on the horizon.
Unsurprisingly, these developments have affected the market. Notable indices like the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the Nasdaq composite have experienced significant downturns.
In situations like this, it can be daunting to determine which stocks to invest in, if at all. Yet, even in an environment that feels like navigating through turbulent waters, there are promising opportunities to seize.
Top 10 Stocks to Invest In Now: March 2024
When the bears take hold of the market, it’s easy to second-guess your investment decisions and difficult to find anything you’d be interested in piling your money into. However, no matter how red the market is, there’s always a glimmer of green.
Where are those glimmers now?
The top stocks to buy now are large companies with a massive economic moat — a competitive advantage that keeps competitors from chipping away at them. Many of these are non-cyclical plays that offer strong dividends.
And there are a few cyclical gems that risk-tolerant investors may want to dive into for a discount on gains that seem all but guaranteed in the future.
Here are some ideas for the best stocks to consider buying right now. There’s a little something for every kind of investor.
- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)
- Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
- Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META)
- ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ: ASML)
- Tesla: (NASDAQ: TSLA)
- Apple: (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK)
- Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT)
- NVIDIA: (NASDAQ: NVDA)
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1. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)
🏆 Best for Risk-Tolerant Investors
Tech stocks like Amazon are likely the last pick you’d expect to find on this list. The company operates in a highly cyclical industry and has given up about a third of its value this year alone.
There’s no question that some AMZN investors are frustrated beyond words at this point, but that’s often the best time to buy.
Amazon is an e-commerce giant with a clear ability to weather economic storms. The company’s share price didn’t even flinch in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, likely because it benefited greatly from stay-at-home orders and store closures.
That’s not the first crisis the company has faced. Although it had its ups and downs, the company’s strong fundamentals carried it through the dot-com bubble burst and the Great Recession. And though the stock may be trading down at the moment, that trend isn’t likely to last forever.
If history is any indication, the company will be sailing toward all-time highs again in no time flat.
The company also has the potential to bounce back to greatness as fears settle. Throughout the majority of its existence, Amazon has focused on razor-slim margins in the e-commerce space.
However, its newer Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing offering is anything but a thin-margin offering. Margins on the AWS business are so big that they’re pushing the company’s average margins to the roof.
All told Amazon does face some economy-related headwinds ahead, but it’s nothing the company hasn’t already proven to be perfectly capable of handling.
If you’re risk-tolerant enough to hold on through what may be a short-term rough patch and wise enough to dollar-cost average in the bear market, AMZN is a stock that’s worth your consideration.
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2. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
🏆 Best for Long-Term Growth
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, emerges as the option for investors who want long-term growth and innovation.
While not offering a dividend yield, Alphabet compensates with its dominant presence across different tech sectors.
Alphabet’s diverse portfolio is ever-expanding as they have expanded into areas such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles with Waymo.
Over the years, GOOGL has stood strong in the market and has continued to rise despite the 2008-2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes GOOGL a solid choice for steady, long-term growth.
3. Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META)
🏆 Best for Growth Investors
Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, is a favorite on Wall Street; it’s one of the most commonly found stocks in ETF portfolios. However, the past year has been a tough time. Although that may send most investors running for the hills, it’s actually an opportunity.
Meta is a growth stock by just about any definition. The company has had solid revenue growth for years, and earnings per share (EPS) growth was impressive. Moreover, the stock was known for tremendous price appreciation until the rug was pulled from the tech sector, as inflation concerns set in earlier this year.
Sure, there are a few short-term headwinds to consider, including:
- Weak E-Commerce Spending. As prices rise and recession fears mount, e-commerce and consumer spending will likely fall, which could weigh on the company’s advertising revenue.
- Transition to the Metaverse. Meta recently changed its name from Facebook in an effort to rebrand the company as the center of all things metaverse. This transition may come with some growing pains in the near future.
- Economic Headwinds. Many experts are warning of a potential recession, which could eat into the company’s revenue and profitability in the short term.
Even with these headwinds, Meta offers a unique opportunity to tap into a stock that has historically outperformed the market in a big way but to do so at a steep discount to the current market value.
4. H&R Block Inc (NYSE: HRB)
🏆 Best for Value Investors
H&R Block is a household name that offers do-it-yourself tax services as well as full-service tax professionals. It’s also one of the most appealing value stocks on the market.
HRB stock has significant appeal in the current economic times.
All people eat, sleep, and pay taxes. Increasing interest rates and dwindling consumer spending may have a negative impact on other businesses, but people still have to file their taxes regardless of the state of the economy. HRB’s business model fares well even if a recession were to set in.
While other companies are looking for ways to cut costs headed into a recession, HRB is working on revamping its small-business product to increase profitability.
If that’s not enough for you, the company even provides a nice, thick layer of icing on the cake with a respectable dividend yield.
5. ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ: ASML)
🏆 Best for Banking on the Microchip Shortage
ASML Holdings enjoys a monopoly on the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines needed to make the tiny patterns you find on microchips. They’re not just aesthetically pleasing, either. The smaller and more complex these patterns, the more data a chip is capable of processing.
Even with a potential recession looming, analysts are forecasting significant growth in earnings through the rest of 2023 and 2024.
The bottom line is simple. ASML holds a global monopoly on a tool used to create an in-demand product in a global supply shortage. Its tools are used to create the microchips auto manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, and tech companies can’t seem to get enough of.
Not to mention, recent declines in the stock have brought the share price to a more than reasonable valuation.
6. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)
🏆 Best for Visionary Investors
Perfect for investors looking to support sustainable energy resources, Tesla Inc. is a captivating option.
While not offering a dividend yield, Tesla compensates with its forward-thinking innovations in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and cutting-edge technology. Over the last five years, TSLA has exploded in growth and continues to rise.
Although it may experience some volatility, investors in it for the long haul may see great rewards. When you invest with TSLA, you are investing with a future-focused vision in a rapidly evolving industry.
7. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL)
🏆 Best for Risk-Averse Investors
Apple Inc. is another tech behemoth to make the list that has a long track record of innovation, stability, and steady stock growth.
AAPL also offers its investors a 0.48% dividend yield, which, while not a high-yield income stock, shows a consistent track record of commitment to its shareholders.
Apple’s success is based on its iconic products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and wearable tech. They continue to expand their reach by introducing services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and the App Store.
Over the years, Apple Inc. has shown explosive, steady growth, perfect for investors seeking stability.
8. Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK)
🏆 Best for Recession-Proofing Your Portfolio
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric utility providers in the United States. The company serves more than 7.7 million retail customers across six states.
There are three compelling reasons to consider investing in DUK in a bear market:
- Consumer Habits. When the economy takes a hit, consumers spend less, but they just about always pay their utility bills. That makes DUK a great investment in a recession.
- History. The company has historically outperformed the S&P in the face of multiple economic hardships.
- Stability Over Growth. The company has seen some impressive growth in recent years, but management’s core focus is on the stability of the business, making it a low-volatility play.
Truth be told, there’s not much to say about Duke Energy. It’s not a sexy business; it doesn’t have a ton of growth prospects, and it’s not likely to make you rich any time soon. But what it’s not doing only serves to outline what it is doing.
Duke Energy is continuing its mission to provide its customers with quality, fairly priced services. As it does, it gives its investors stable returns, consistently paid dividends, and an easier time going to bed at night regardless of the state of the economy or broader market.
9. Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT)
🏆 Best for Tech Enthusiasts
Another tech stock makes our list and with good reason. Tech stocks may seem risky, but Microsoft’s resilience and adaptability make it a stable choice for the risk-tolerant investor.
From gadgets and software to cloud services and gaming consoles, Microsoft positions itself as a tech giant with a proven ability to weather the market. Whether that being the dot-com bubble, the 2008 recession, or the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft has continued to stand tall.
10. NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA)
🏆 Best for Growth Investors
A powerhouse in semiconductor technology, NVIDIA Corporation has shown explosive growth in the last eight years.
While not much, NVDA offers a dividend yield and compensates for it with its pursuit of innovation in graphics processing units (GPUs) and artificial intelligence.
NVIDIA has a long track record of innovation, including 3D graphics, the GPU, the NVIDIA RTX™ upgrade to the GPU, and their Omniverse platform.
While the stock may be volatile, NVDA is a good choice for investors who like innovation, growth, and dividends.
Methodology
At the beginning of each quarter, Money Crashers compiles a list of the Best Stocks To Buy Now. These stock picks are based on company stability and market trends.
For each stock included on the list, we include the current dividend yield, P/E ratio, and current market cap. This page will change and update as the market fluctuates.
Final Word
The stocks above are some of the best to stand behind as the declines in the market continue. Considering the state of the market, every one of them is a large-cap stock, and most follow a more reserved investment strategy.
Though these are my favorite picks for investors looking for different options, you have your own unique risk tolerance and investment goals.
Never blindly invest in the stock picks you read about online, not even the picks above. Do your own research and make educated investment decisions based on what you learn and how it relates to your unique situation.
Disclosure: The author currently has no positions in any stock mentioned herein but may purchase shares of Devon Energy (DVN), H&R Block (HRB), ASML Holdings (ASML), UGI Corp (UGI), and Duke Energy (DUK) within the next 72 hours. The views expressed are those of the author of the article and not necessarily those of other members of the Money Crashers team or Money Crashers as a whole. This article was written by Joshua Rodriguez, who shared his honest opinion of the companies mentioned. However, this article should not be viewed as a solicitation to purchase shares in any security and should only be used for entertainment and informational purposes. Investors should consult a financial advisor or do their own due diligence before making any investment decision.
