This is a list of best buy-and-hold stocks that meet certain criteria for growth and quality. These criteria tend to produce stocks that outperform the broader market over the long run. The idea is to buy and hold some of the liked stocks from the list as long as they continue to exhibit the long-term hold criteria.

This list is updated every few months, although the stocks on it don’t change very often.

Best Buy and Hold Stocks List

Here is a list of stocks to consider buying and holding for the long term. Each stock has exhibited strong earnings per share (EPS), strong sales growth, and stock price stability (compared to most stocks). Stocks are pulled from US and Canadian (.TO) exchanges.

I don’t view this list as a portfolio, where I buy all the stocks at once. It is simply a list I choose longer-term investments from. For example, I may only end up with a handful of positions from this list because they provided an entry point I liked (discussed below) along with the characteristics I wanted.

The list, and screenshot below it, were created using StockRover.com data. This is the stock scanner I use for swing trading, investing, and fundamental analysis.

The Best Buy and Hold Stocks List was updated on May 12, 2025.

To see a wide range of fundamental criteria on each stock, click the graphic below.

The list doesn’t mean these are the best-performing stocks, or that other stocks are bad. It just means these are the only stocks that meet the strict criteria discussed below.

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Criteria for Finding Stocks to Buy for a Long-Term Hold

The list of long-term hold stocks is created by filtering for North American stocks that exhibit the following traits:

• 5-Year EPS Growth Estimate > 7.9%
• 5-Year Average Yearly Increase in Sales > 7.9%
• 5-Year Average Yearly Increase in Earnings Per Share (EPS) > 7.9%
• EPS 2 years ago is greater than 5 years ago is greater than 8 years ago
• Current Year EPS Growth Estimate > 2.9%

Consider holding positions for as long as the stocks meet the above criteria, or set your own exit rules. For example, if a stock gets very highly valued compared to its typical valuation, that may be a time to sell. Valuations tend to correct which means I can pick the stock back up again at a lower price (hopefully, no guarantees though).

• Max Drawdown in the last 10 years is less than 60% (only 17.8% of all North American stocks meet this criterion, which means declines of 60% or more are likely to be witnessed in about 82% of stocks.) Calculated based on closing prices, including dividends.
• Price > $5
• Average Daily Volume > 0.3 million
• Annualized 5-year returns vs S&P 500 > 4.5%
• Shareholder Yield > -0.1

The above criteria are additional filters that help make sure the stock is acting correctly, and they filter out smaller companies or extremely volatile stocks.

You may also be interested in the Best Performing Stocks List.

When to Buy Long-Term Hold Stocks

The following filters help make sure we are not overpaying. The stocks on this list generally don’t perform as well when the P/E and Forward P/E get above the levels mentioned below. There may be exceptions, but as a general guideline, look to buy below these levels:

• Price/Earnings < 40
• Forward P/E < 35

While these are growth stocks because they are growing their sales and earnings, they are generally stable and well-established companies. Therefore, consider buying them (on average) when the P/E ratio is below 40 and the Forward P/E is below 35.

The following are the stocks that meet these additional criteria. Courtesy of StockRover.

In addition to looking at the stock’s valuation, GENERALLY, buying these stocks when they have fallen 15% off a recent high is often a good entry point. That doesn’t mean the stock can’t fall more (some of these stocks have fallen as much as 50% in the last 10 years before recovering), but most declines in these stocks are 15% to 30% before they turn higher again.

You can see how far below the yearly high the stock is trading on the stock list above. In the screenshots above, “Price vs 52-Week High” shows the current price as a % of the high. If it says 90, the stock trades 10% below its high. If it says 60, the stock is 40% below its high because the high is 100.

Performance of the Long-Term Hold Stocks

The following chart shows the collective performance of the current long-term hold stocks list over the last 5 years versus the S&P 500 via StockRover.

This is the current list projected back in time. Since the list does change somewhat over time, this is not a reflection of the expected return going forward.

Things To Be Aware Of

This scan is backward-looking and can only incorporate forward estimates. If a stock no longer meets the criteria then its performance may suffer. The criteria are designed to look for companies with attractive qualities which are generally associated with a long-term rising stock price.

If buying during a decline, it is unknown how far the stock may fall. However, there is always (eventually) demand for solid companies. As long as the criteria are met, there is a reasonable expectation that the stock will likely produce a positive return over the next several years if buying on 15% to 30% declines below recent highs. This may require some patience at times awaiting an entry. Buying as the price is rising may also be acceptable assuming the P/E ratios are not too high.

Use the list how you like, but I don’t view this as a portfolio. I view it as a list of stocks to choose from. They have different characteristics and charts; while all meet the criteria, some are better than others. Pick ones you like best, that offer an entry point you like. I don’t usually hold more than about 7 individual stocks for long-term investment (in addition to passive ETFs investments discussed below).

There are no certainties when buying individual stocks because anything can happen within an individual company. That said, the performance of such companies can be excellent as the chart above shows.

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By Cory Mitchell, CMT

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is personal investment advice, or advice to buy or sell anything. Trading is risky and can result in substantial losses, even more than deposited if using leverage. This article includes affiliate links and this site may be compensated, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase products or services via the links.

Historic Buy and Hold Stock Lists

(screenshots from StockRover on the day indicated)

March 7, 2025

Dec. 27, 2024 Buy and Hold Stock List

October 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

May 1 2024

Buy and Hold Stocks as of March 20, 2024

Buy and Hold Stocks List as of Jan. 10, 2024

Buy and Hold Stock List as of November 21, 2023

Oct. 6, 2023

August 23, 2023

July 19, 2023

May 16, 2023

March 30, 2023

February 15, 2023

Buy and Hold Stock List as of January 2, 2023

As of the September 20, 2022 close, the list is: