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Top Stocks to Buy and Hold in 2025

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Saturday, August 30th 2025 at 21:44 GMT by The Motley Fool
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A Deep‑Dive Into Motley Fool’s “Top Stocks to Buy and Hold” (2025)

Motley Fool’s flagship “Top Stocks to Buy and Hold” feature is a quarterly roundup of the company’s favorite long‑term plays. The latest edition—published in late‑August 2025—offers a carefully curated list of ten stocks that the firm believes combine solid fundamentals, strong growth prospects, and attractive valuations. Below is a comprehensive recap of the picks, the logic behind each recommendation, and the broader market themes that shaped the list.

1. Apple Inc. (AAPL) – Tech‑Led Consumer Powerhouse

Apple is the cornerstone of the Motley Fool’s portfolio. The platform cites the company’s unmatched brand loyalty, robust ecosystem, and continual product innovation as the primary reasons to hold the stock. Despite a moderate share price appreciation in 2025, Apple’s cash‑rich balance sheet, high gross margin (around 38%), and steady free‑cash‑flow generation continue to give the stock a cushion against economic headwinds. The article notes that Apple’s Services segment, which includes iCloud, Apple Music, and the App Store, has been a key growth driver, offering higher margin returns than hardware alone.

2. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) – Cloud‑First Enterprise Titan

Microsoft’s transition to a cloud‑first model has re‑energized its earnings. The article highlights the company’s Azure platform, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 services, noting a 25% YoY growth in subscription revenue. Microsoft’s enterprise software dominates the SaaS market and the firm’s recurring revenue stream gives it a defensive edge. With a price‑to‑earnings ratio near 30x, the Motley Fool deems the stock to be fairly valued relative to its growth trajectory.

3. NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) – GPU Pioneer & AI Vanguard

NVIDIA’s dominance in GPUs—both for gaming and data‑center applications—makes it a staple of the portfolio. The article tracks the company’s “AI wave,” explaining how its chips power everything from autonomous vehicles to large‑language models. NVIDIA’s revenue has surged 40% year‑over‑year, largely due to data‑center sales. Although the stock trades near 90x forward earnings, the Fool’s analysts argue that the AI boom will justify the premium over the next five years.

4. Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) – E‑Commerce & Cloud Integration

Amazon’s dual business model of e‑commerce and Amazon Web Services (AWS) creates a powerful synergy. The article cites Amazon’s relentless reinvestment strategy, its expanding logistics network, and AWS’s healthy margin profile (around 25%). While Amazon’s P/E has slipped below 50x after a market correction, the Fool sees this as an attractive entry point given the long‑term dominance of its services.

5. Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) – Search & AI Expansion

Alphabet remains a top pick due to its advertising moat and diversification into cloud, AI, and hardware. The article notes that Google’s core advertising revenue still accounts for roughly 80% of earnings, yet the firm’s AI investments—including the new Bard chatbot and Google Vertex AI—promise incremental revenue streams. Alphabet’s price‑to‑earnings ratio sits near 28x, which the authors view as reasonable for a growth‑heavy tech firm.

6. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – Pharma & Consumer Health Shield

Johnson & Johnson is highlighted for its diversified product mix across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health goods. The article underscores J&J’s strong balance sheet, a long history of dividend growth, and a pipeline of next‑generation drugs in oncology and immunology. The stock’s 15x forward P/E ratio is framed as a “value” play in a high‑quality defensive sector.

7. Coca‑Cola Co. (KO) – Global Beverage Legacy

Coca‑Cola is praised for its resilient brand and global distribution network. The article stresses the company’s stable cash‑flow generation, low debt, and a track record of returning capital to shareholders via dividends and share buybacks. Despite a modest earnings growth of 3% in 2025, Coca‑Cola’s 22x P/E ratio is considered attractive for a consumer staple with a proven dividend history.

8. Visa Inc. (V) – Digital Payments Leader

Visa is identified as a “payment network” champion, benefiting from the global shift to digital and contactless transactions. The article notes that Visa’s revenue is projected to increase 8% YoY, driven by higher spending per transaction and expanding merchant partnerships. Visa’s 23x forward P/E ratio is justified by its near‑zero debt and high free‑cash‑flow yield.

9. Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) – Consumer Staples Stability

Procter & Gamble offers a portfolio of leading household brands (e.g., Tide, Pampers, Gillette). The article highlights P&G’s ability to raise prices consistently, its global supply chain resilience, and a 10% free‑cash‑flow yield. The 17x P/E ratio is deemed an attractive valuation for a dividend‑paying consumer staples company.

10. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) – Electric‑Vehicle & Energy Innovator

Tesla’s inclusion reflects its status as the dominant player in the electric‑vehicle (EV) space. The article discusses Tesla’s expanding gigafactory footprint, software‑driven vehicle features, and a growing energy storage division. Despite a high valuation (around 80x forward earnings), the Motley Fool sees Tesla as a long‑term play given the industry’s rapid shift away from internal combustion engines.

Broader Market Themes Highlighted in the Article

1. AI as a Growth Engine – Several picks (NVIDIA, Alphabet, Microsoft) are tied to AI, suggesting the Fool expects continued AI‑driven productivity gains across sectors.
2. E‑Commerce & Digital Payments – Amazon, Visa, and Mastercard (if mentioned) illustrate the ongoing migration from cash to digital.
3. Defensive Pillars – Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Coca‑Cola, and Procter & Gamble serve as a buffer during economic downturns.
4. Sustainability & ESG – The article notes that Tesla’s clean‑energy focus aligns with growing investor interest in sustainability.

How the Motley Fool Presents the Picks

The article is structured as a simple table, listing each stock, its sector, a short rationale, and a key takeaway. Each company name links to an in‑depth “stock analysis” page on the Fool’s website. Those pages contain deeper financial data, earnings forecasts, and a “why we like the stock” section that elaborates on the high‑level points summarized above.

Bottom Line

Motley Fool’s “Top Stocks to Buy and Hold” for late 2025 presents a balanced mix of high‑growth technology plays and defensive consumer staples. The underlying theme is that investors should stay diversified: tech and AI for growth, e‑commerce and payments for the digital transition, and consumer staples for stability. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a newcomer, the article serves as a quick reference for a portfolio built on companies that have historically outperformed, have strong fundamentals, and are positioned to benefit from long‑term macro trends.

For those interested in the full details, the original article can be accessed directly on the Motley Fool site, where each stock link opens a comprehensive research report detailing revenue projections, risk factors, and a comparative valuation analysis.