Category: Stock Market

  • Momentum in Canopy Growth Stock Could Send Shares to $22

    Momentum in Canopy Growth Stock Could Send Shares to $22Can Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC) break out over resistance? That's what investors want to know now that Canopy Growth stock, Aphria (NYSE:APHA), and others cannabis stocks are beginning to find some upside momentum. Source: Shutterstock If this group can get buyers to return, then we could see some powerful moves across the board. Cannabis and CoronavirusThe novel coronavirus caused a painful spill in the equity markets. However, many names have come roaring back to life. In some instances, like with the Nasdaq, these investments have gone on to hit new highs. InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsCannabis stocks were starting to look better in the first quarter of 2020. That was after bottoming in Q4 and showing signs of moving higher. In any regard, cannabis stocks understandably sold off. Many of these names have inferior balance sheets — thankfully CGC stock isn't one of them — and have decelerating growth. In this case, names like Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) and Aurora Cannabis (NYSE:ACB) have struggled immensely. * 15 Growth Stocks That Are Being Propped Up By Low Rates Click to EnlargeThat's even as some research suggests that cannabis sales held up fine during the coronavirus outbreak. In fact, some reports show that lockdown orders helped to accelerate cannabis sales. But that's not the narrative. Instead, shares declined in the coronavirus selloff as investors didn't want to own stocks with shaky financials. Further, any cannabis legislation that was sitting on a governor or government official's desk was pushed aside for Covid-19. Eventually these legislations will be addressed, but a delay is not a positive catalyst in the short-term. Canopy Growth Stock Has Staying PowerOn the plus side, Canopy Growth isn't one of those stocks with shoddy financials. The company boasts $2.56 billion in current assets and $6.8 billion in total assets. Those sums dominate current and total liabilities, which come in at just $420.5 million and $1.75 billion, respectively. Admittedly, Canopy Growth is not profitable or free cash flow positive yet. So continuing operations will further erode its balance sheet over time. But that is true for virtually all of the industry at this point. In the case of CGC stock, its assets are large enough to buoy its business in the meantime. It helps that it has Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) as its largest holder. At some point, the company could become the majority shareholder and that has helped to keep Canopy's bank accounts adequately supplied. The company recently exercised its warrants to bring its total stake in Canopy up to 38.6%. Bottom Line on Canopy Growth Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of TradingViewI like Canopy Growth, even though the industry has had trouble gaining some traction. This is the leading stock in this group, and when the sector catches some momentum, so too with CGC stock. Canopy is making moves into the U.S., first sinking into the CBD market to drive U.S. sales. It will also be in position for if (and more likely when) cannabis becomes legal at the federal level. The company has also shuffled up its management team, which should help turn the page to a more optimistic future. Obviously the coronavirus will come with its own headaches, but by and large, cannabis is being more widely accepted and that is a positive for the group over the long-term. On the charts, CGC stock is starting to rotate over the $18.30 area. It's also putting in a series of higher lows and maintaining over the 20-day and 50-day moving averages. If shares can clear this area and the 200-day moving average, the May highs near $22 could be in play. What if shares don't gain enough momentum to break out? In that case, technical traders will want to keep an eye on the $16.50 level. That's where uptrend support (blue line) comes into play. However, if this level is lost, it also means that the 20-day and 50-day moving averages failed in supporting the stock. That could put the July and June lows in play, at $15.57 and $15.32, respectively.Matthew McCall left Wall Street to actually help investors — by getting them into the world's biggest, most revolutionary trends BEFORE anyone else. Click here to see what Matt has up his sleeve now. As of this writing, Matt did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.  More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post Momentum in Canopy Growth Stock Could Send Shares to $22 appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • 9 Cyclical Stocks Whose Time Is Coming Around

    9 Cyclical Stocks Whose Time Is Coming AroundUnder the traditional or commonplace definition, cyclical stocks are investments that are largely impacted by macroeconomic events. In a bull market, for instance, you'll see Wall Street top dogs transition into cyclical sectors to advantage growth opportunities. Of course, with the incredibly disruptive novel coronavirus, all bets are off the table.Or are they? To be sure, conservative investors will want to give their portfolio a healthy dose of secular names, or assets that perform reliably well irrespective of market conditions. And some of these investments, such as food-related securities, are acting very much like cyclical stocks due to their newfound relevance and momentum.However, for those that can stomach a little risk, genuine cyclical stocks have an opportunity for potentially massive upside. Unlike other recessionary periods, the new normal was arguably not caused by an economic vulnerability. Prior to the pandemic, one of our fiscal headwinds was the U.S.-China trade war. Still, both sides were making headway until disaster struck.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsThus, it's not unreasonable to assume that some cyclical stocks will bounce back once the coronavirus fades away or until we have a vaccine. Once we get back to normal – as in, a real normal – these companies could enjoy a so-called V-shaped recovery: * Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) * FireEye (NASDAQ:FEYE) * Blink Charging (NASDAQ:BLNK) * Honda (NYSE:HMC) * Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) * Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) * Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) * Sportsman's Warehouse (NASDAQ:SPWH) * Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC) * 15 Growth Stocks That Are Being Propped Up By Low Rates Finally, keep in mind that the Covid-19 outbreak has not dampened our innovative or resourceful spirit. In some ways, the coronavirus has shifted our priorities. And these nine cyclical stocks to buy stand to benefit from this unprecedented transition. Microsoft (MSFT)Source: NYCStock / Shutterstock.com Shortly after the pandemic disrupted most Americans' ability to make a living, the rise of a new set of cyclical stocks – the work-from-home sector – captured everyone's attention. Logically, you can benefit from this phenomenon through trending names like Slack Technologies (NYSE:WORK), Dropbox (NASDAQ:DBX), and of course Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM). But I'm going to start off with a classic: Microsoft.While the other names I mentioned provide specialized solutions, in this crisis, it doesn't hurt to have a jack-of-all-trades. But don't say that Microsoft isn't a master of none because that's far from the truth. As a freelancer myself, I have always found the company's products to be lifesavers. Yes, other competing platforms exist, but they don't have the same cachet. Therefore, I love the long-term potential of MSFT stock.And it's not just my words. Microsoft saw its earnings jump in the first quarter of this year thanks to robust cloud-computing demand during the pandemic. With the coronavirus again rearing its ugly head – aided perhaps by stupid people in this country – MSFT stock might enjoy its own resurgence. FireEye (FEYE) Click to EnlargeSource: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com While employees are probably loving the transition to remote work, management may soon have a different take. No, I'm not talking about suspicions that your supervisor may have about you actually working from home. Rather, the shift to telecommuting opens a new battleground for cybercriminals. Because of this rather fortuitous event for cybersecurity firms, this may finally be the moment for FireEye.Don't get me wrong: if you're looking for cyclical stocks in this space, you're better off with stable competitors like Palo Alto Networks (NYSE:PANW) or Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP). However, FEYE stock is rather attractive because of its low price and favorable fundamentals. Frankly, there's never been a more crucial time for enterprises to protect their digital ecosystem. Thus, FireEye may benefit from a rising tide. * 10 Work-From-Home Stocks That Are Beating the Pandemic Also, Morgan Stanley raised its price target for FEYE stock to $13 from $12. Although I don't recommend blindly following analysts' forecasts, they may have a point here. Plus, this is the best chance that FEYE has ever had for upside. Blink Charging (BLNK)Source: David Tonelson/Shutterstock.com Earlier this year, Blink Charging shares were barely above penny stock status. Admittedly, it got very scary following the initial attack from the coronavirus.Since the March doldrums, though, BLNK stock has blossomed into one of the most compelling cyclical stocks to buy. What's more remarkable is that in the past five years, shares were all over the map. Back then, electric vehicles represented only a small portion of automobile sales. And to be clear, that hasn't changed much. What has changed is the attitude.You see, the oil price falling below zero wasn't just an unprecedented, though thankfully temporary calamity. It also was emblematic of a decided consumer shift toward cleaner fuel vehicles. Therefore, the much-discussed hype about a massive transition to electric now has credibility.But what has practically prevented mainstreaming of EVs is infrastructure. After all, not every driver has access to a garage. That's where Blink Charging comes into play with its network of charging stations. Thanks to the aforementioned consumer shift, BLNK stock should be a long-term winner. Honda (HMC)Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com If you're looking to invest in the EV space, you should primarily focus on Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). Even if you don't like the nominal price tag of TSLA, you could always opt for fractional ownership via platforms like Robinhood. That's probably why gravity seemingly has no effect on Tesla.Still, there's something to be said about going for the obvious pick. If you want to enjoy the advantages of cyclical stocks in the EV market but want something with perhaps higher profitability potential, you might want to check out Honda.As EVs become mainstream, I believe that consumers will expect more from their automotive brands. Though Tesla has a tremendous lead in the space, they don't stack up too well in terms of reliability. Also, many Tesla owners in the past have been frustrated with the company's slow repair times. These misfires could provide an underappreciated opportunity for HMC stock as Honda prepares to go EV only from 2025.As everyone knows, Honda has built a longstanding reputation for reliability. It's not that much of a stretch to assume it will apply the same principle to EVs. Also, Honda's extensive dealership networks could provide far superior service for customers. * 8 Presidential Election Stocks to Buy in Case Trump Wins Again Of course, this is a riskier contrarian play. But if you prefer unconventional thinking, HMC stock could be your ticket to success. Albemarle Corporation (ALB)Source: IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock.com Out of all the high-probability cyclical stocks available, those levered to the EV market could witness the biggest gains. From true energy independence to environmental concerns, electric power hits the right notes for the emerging generation. However, picking individual EV players is fraught with risk. To mitigate the dangers to your portfolio, you may want to consider Albemarle Corporation.An industry leader in lithium and lithium derivatives, Albemarle essentially acts as an umbrella investment. At a certain point, you'd expect auto rivals to challenge Tesla's throne. Though Tesla enjoys brand dominance, it can't possibly sell to every American driver. For instance, the company is leaving open the economy car segment, which should see intense competition. And that just translates to higher demand for lithium, boosting ALB stock.Theoretically, EVs are easier to make, which is another reason why automakers are rushing into the arena. Just the presence of mass (and viable) competition could shake things up at Tesla. But for ALB stock, more competition will bring in more consistent revenues. Newmont Corporation (NEM)Source: Piotr Swat/Shutterstock To be perfectly honest, cyclical stocks related to the gold industry have relied on an old but dangerous adage: "this time, it's different." Unfortunately, every time someone uttered this phrase following gold's record-breaking move last decade, enthusiasm quickly met with disappointment. Nevertheless, I'm bullish on Newmont Corporation.First, this time, it really is different. Though we've suffered pandemics in our past, we've never encountered one that forced state governments to shut their economies. Typically, gold rises on fear and uncertainty, and there's plenty of that going around. Thus, with higher demand for the underlying commodity, NEM stock is finally enjoying a credible fundamental tailwind.Second, the resurgent coronavirus is almost screaming the case for gold-related investments. Obviously, another round of state shutdowns will cause much calamity. With federal relief funds to support the unemployed about to expire soon, NEM stock could jump on the fear trade. * The 7 Best Stocks to Invest in Right Now But the biggest catalyst could be the Federal Reserve. Given that no playbook exists for responding to this crisis, the central bank will probably adopt an inflationary policy. This could be the spark that sends gold prices to absolutely ridiculous levels. Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI)Source: Supakorn Pe / Shutterstock.com Not all rises in cyclical stocks are due to uplifting reasons. Case in point is the unbelievable growth in Smith & Wesson Brands. Ironically, SWBI stock didn't do all that well under the Trump administration. First, the fear of Democrats taking away people's firearms just didn't exist. Second, crime went down during his first term, although many question the President's role in this trend.But now, the narrative has completely changed. The coronavirus exposed Trump as an effective leader only in good times. When the chips are down, he appears vulnerable. Unfortunately for him, this disaster struck on a pivotal election year.Analyzing the dynamics of the political race, I still believe Trump has a shot of winning. However, that's an unpopular opinion and the rise of SWBI stock reflects this.Also bolstering the case for Smith & Wesson is that violent crime is now surging in major U.S. cities. With law enforcement departments throughout the U.S. beleaguered due to nationwide calls for justice, individual citizens are left with few options other than to take matters into their own hands. Sportsman's Warehouse (SPWH)Source: OpturaDesign/Shutterstock.com With a second wave of infections hitting us like a freight train, we are almost surely headed toward an ugly recession. Yes, the White House has boasted about record-breaking jobs gains in May and June. However, most of that came from low-paying service sector occupations that partially returned when states began reopening.Now, that's off the table. Logically, that will translate to a truly ugly jobs report for either July or August. And that doesn't bode well for cyclical stocks geared toward the retail market. However, investors should make an exception for Sportsman's Warehouse.Because of the word "sports" in the company name, you might think that this is an athletic apparel retailer. You're not too far off. I call Sportsman's Warehouse Nike (NYSE:NKE) for coalminers.Basically, it sells guns – lots and lots of guns. As I mentioned with Smith & Wesson, this is a very popular sector; hence, the meteoric rise in SPWH stock.Additionally, I'm not sure when the enthusiasm will end. While cries for defunding the police may sound good for some political groups, I'm positive that it's scaring the heck out of most people. Of course, due to cancel culture, they're not going to admit that. * 9 Ugly Natural Gas Stocks to Keep on Your Watchlist Instead, they're buying guns, which is why you should look into buying SPWH stock. Canopy Growth (CGC)Source: Shutterstock When Canada became the first G7 member state to legalize recreational marijuana, many folks – including yours truly – thought that this would usher in a transformative paradigm shift. From my perspective, we were talking about turning a previously illegal market into a legal and therefore taxable one. So, I was excited about Canopy Growth and CGC stock. Eventually, though, that excitement turned into disappointment.In hindsight, Canopy like so many of its rivals focused almost exclusively on growth. Unfortunately, the legal cannabis market in Canada was not prepared to handle the rollout. Much of the setbacks came from the government, specifically cannabis license application backlogs. Also, not enough dispensaries existed in high-demand provinces, causing supply-demand bottlenecks.Still, that's not to excuse the business leaders in this market. They made poor decisions, which ultimately hurt investments like CGC stock.However, the coronavirus could give controversial cyclical stocks like CGC another lease on life. Specifically, the new normal has been tough on mental health. Though research is still being conducted in this area, cannabis and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) may offer organic relief.A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. As of this writing, he is long gold. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post 9 Cyclical Stocks Whose Time Is Coming Around appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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  • What to Do with Philip Morris International (PM) Stock Right Now?

    What to Do with Philip Morris International (PM) Stock Right Now?Brown Advisory recently released its Q2 2020 Investor Letter, a copy of which you can download here. The Equity Income Fund posted a return of 18.29% for the quarter, underperforming its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index which returned 20.55% in the same quarter. You should check out Brown Advisory’s top 5 stock picks for investors […]

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  • Intuitive Surgical Runs Before Earnings

    Intuitive Surgical Runs Before EarningsIntuitive Surgical soared to a record high a couple of days after breaking out. The maker of robotic surgical systems likely benefiting from coronavirus vaccine hopes. A vaccine would let surgeries go back to normal. The only problem with ISRG – besides being extended now – is that earnings are due Tuesday night.

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  • Celsion (CLSN) Stock Loses a Wall Street Supporter

    Celsion (CLSN) Stock Loses a Wall Street SupporterStocks go up, stocks go down, you can't explain that…Or maybe you can, if the stock happen to be a biotech that just flunked a clinical trial. Which leads us nicely to Celsion Corporation (CLSN). Or not so nicely if you happen to be an investor.Shares cratered by a dispiriting 68% this week after the company announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) recommended it prematurely bring to an end its Phase 3 OPTIMA study evaluating ThermoDox in patients with primary liver cancer.Based on an interim safety and efficacy analysis, the DMC concluded the study was unlikely to achieve the primary endpoint after exceeding a futility threshold value.With Celsion still assessing the data, management have outlined 3 possible paths forward: “1) continuation of the study through final analysis, 2) discontinuation of the study for futility, and lastly 3) assessment of the study following some additional events (n=8–10).”For Oppenheimer analyst Hartag Singh, the well-designed study’s results were obviously “disappointing.”Although the analyst points out that Celsion management has indicated “a potential preference for the (inexpensive) third option,” it is doubtful the outcome will be any different.With ThermoDox likely to be discarded, attention will now turn to GEN-1, the biotech’s treatment for ovarian cancer – a notoriously hard to treat disease. GEN-1 has shown promise in the first part of a phase 1/2 trial and has been given the go ahead to continue with the second portion, which will be initiated in August. While it is still early days, Singh is piqued by the reaction to the initial data.The 5-star analyst said, “While we expect to see more on GEN-1, particularly as the Phase 2 program initiates in August, work may lay ahead on the manufacturing front, and we await a broader data set. Nonetheless, initial results have been intriguing: a 2x higher R0 resection rate in newly-diagnosed Stage III/IV ovarian cancer (over historical) generating significant physician enthusiasm for the approach.”However, for now, along with removing ThermoDox from his Celsion model, Singh drops his rating from Outperform (i.e. Buy) to Perform (i.e. Hold) and takes his price target off the table. (To watch Singh’s track record, click here)Overall, two other analysts recently reviewed Celsion’s prospects, one saying Buy, while the other suggesting Hold. (See Celsion stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights. More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * $1000 Is the Number to Watch for Shopify Stock, Says 5-Star Analyst * Q2 Semiconductor Preview: What to Expect * Oppenheimer: These 2 "Strong Buy" Stocks Are Poised to Surge by Over 80% * Dynavax Teams Up With Mt Sinai On Universal Flu Vaccine

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  • Did Hedge Funds Make The Right Call On Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) ?

    Did Hedge Funds Make The Right Call On Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) ?At the end of February we announced the arrival of the first US recession since 2009 and we predicted that the market will decline by at least 20% in (see why hell is coming). In these volatile markets we scrutinize hedge fund filings to get a reading on which direction each stock might be going. […]

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  • 2 high yield ASX dividend shares I would buy

    dividend shares

    If you’re looking for a source of income in this low interest rate environment, then you may want to consider investing in one of the many dividend shares on offer on the ASX.

    Two high yield ASX dividend shares that I feel are in the buy zone are listed below. Here’s why I like them:

    Aventus Group (ASX: AVN)

    The first high yield ASX dividend share to look at is Aventus. It is the largest fully integrated owner, manager, and developer of large format retail parks in Australia. It currently owns a total of 20 centres, which are home to some of the biggest retailers in the country. This includes the likes of Bunnings, The Good Guys, Officeworks, and Aldi.

    The popularity of its centres with consumers, combined with its high weighting towards every day needs, appears to have led to Aventus being less impacted by the pandemic than many of its rivals. As a result of this, Goldman Sachs recently forecast Aventus paying a ~17.3 cents per unit distribution in FY 2021. Based on the latest Aventus share price, this equates to a very generous forward ~8% distribution yield. 

    Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

    Another high yield ASX dividend share to consider buying is Commonwealth Bank. Its shares have been hammered this year because of the pandemic and are down significantly from their 52-week high. While a decline in the CBA share price is not unwarranted due to the expected increase in bad debts, I think the selling has been way overdone.

    In light of this, I think now could be a good time for income investors to consider a patient investment in its shares. I continue to expect Commonwealth Bank to cut its dividend down to ~$3.70 per share in FY 2021. Based on the current Commonwealth Bank share price, this means its shares potentially offer a forward fully franked yield of 5.1%.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended AVENTUS RE UNIT. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Buy these strong ASX shares for your retirement portfolio

    Retired man reclining in hammock with feet up, retire early

    When you’re young and first start out investing you might focus on growth shares that offer potentially strong returns like buy now pay later provider Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL).

    After all, if things don’t go well you have plenty of time to recover your losses. But as you near retirement, I believe it would be prudent to put these types of investments aside and focus on those that offer income and capital preservation.

    With that in mind, here are two ASX shares that I think are top options for a retirement portfolio:

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    The first option to consider buying is Coles. I think the supermarket giant could be one of the best picks for a retirement portfolio due to its defensive qualities, solid growth prospects, and strong market position. Another positive is that it has a favourable dividend policy. This policy sees Coles aim to pay out between 80% and 90% of its earnings to shareholders. Based on the current Coles share price, I estimate that it currently offers investors a fully franked ~3.5% FY 2021 dividend.

    Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

    Another option to consider for a retirement portfolio is Lendlease. This international property and infrastructure company has had a disappointing 12 months because of the pandemic, but I’m confident the worst is now behind it. This could make it an opportune time to invest, especially given its positive long term outlook. Lendlease has a very lucrative development pipeline which I expect to underpin solid earnings and dividend growth in the 2020s. This includes its agreement with Google to develop the tech giant’s landholdings in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View into mixed-use communities. Another positive is its generous dividend yield. Based on the latest Lendlease share price, I estimate that its shares will offer investors a fully franked 4.9% dividend yield in FY 2021.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sezzle Inc. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • 3 Best Long-Term Stocks to Set and Forget

    3 Best Long-Term Stocks to Set and ForgetOne of the relics of the global financial crisis is that the notion of long-term stocks was dead. Back then, many experts said investors needed to become more nimble going forward or risk being exposed when the next crisis hit.Thing is from the March 10, 2009, market bottom through July 10, 2020, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) jumped 456%. That time frame certainly qualifies as "long term" and includes an array of pitfalls for riskier assets. These include the European sovereign debt crisis, the taper tantrum, a trade war with China and the March 2020 slide at the hands of the novel coronavirus.That SPY performance is proof positive long-term investing isn't, but what does change over time are the names that qualify as the best long-term stocks. I'm going to use Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO). For generations, the world's largest soft drink maker would have qualified as a great "set it and forget it" stock.InvestorPlace – Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsI'm bringing up Coca-Cola because recently, I saw some folks on Twitter saying the stock only delivered returns of 3% over the past 22 years. Initially, I didn't believe it. Sure enough, it's true. Worse yet, an investor that bought Coca-Cola in 1998 would have been down 50% a decade later and needed 15 years just to get back to even. That's not best long-term stock status. * 15 Growth Stocks That Are Being Propped Up By Low RatesGood news is there are some names out there today that could be sound set it and forget ideas. Here are a few to consider. * Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) * Mastercard (NYSE:MA) * Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Best Long-Term Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)Source: VDB Photos / Shutterstock.com By constructing this list in 2020, it's almost impossible to leave Microsoft off and not simply because this is the largest domestic company by market capitalization. The company is firing on all cylinders today. And, while MSFT stock is up 49% over the past year, the name is buoyed by an array of positive fundamental factors.First, a brief history lesson. Microsoft is 45 years old and went public in 1986. At a time when so many investors are smitten with shiny new objects, those factoids could be construed as strikes against Microsoft. Actually, the opposite is true because this middle-aged company is showing it's adaptable and has levers for growth.Microsoft is the second-largest cloud computing company, an impressive feat when considering the company didn't even enter that business until 2020. Today, the Azure unit is one of the fastest-growing cloud computing entities on the market, confirming Microsoft can enter a competition late and still scale its way to dominance.Adding to the case for Microsoft as one of the best long-term ideas is adaptability nurtured under the stewardship of CEO Satya Nadella. For example, core products such as Microsoft Office 365 used to be sold on a one-off basis. Now, Microsoft runs a more lucrative subscription model. This makes revenue visibility easier to ascertain – a favorable trait for long-term investors.The combination of strong leadership, a fortress balance sheet and leadership in some trends that are becoming secular tailwinds make MSFT stock an ideal long-term holding for investors of varying demographics and risk tolerances. Mastercard (MA)Source: Alexander Yakimov / Shutterstock.com Like Microsoft, Mastercard is classified as a technology stock, though investors often view it through a financial services lens. Put those two concepts together and you've got fintech, as known as the way of accessing growth in the financial services arena.There are more nimble, growthier fintech names than Mastercard to consider, such as PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) and Square (NYSE:SQ). That pair is positioned for long-term success, too. Mastercard is included here because it's less volatile than those fintech names, meaning its drawdowns over long holding periods should be less severe.Obviously, a big part of the long-term fintech thesis is the move away from cash to card and digital payments, a trend Mastercard stands to benefit from. Importantly, cards only recently surpassed cash as the world's primary payment option. This indicates the cashless trend is still in its early innings.An important feather in the cap of Mastercard is that, like other beloved companies in other industries, it's able to leverage the network effect. This is a fancy way of saying Mastercard is able to effectively monetize users even though those customers aren't directly paying the company. * 15 Growth Stocks That Are Being Propped Up By Low Rates"Payment networks such as Mastercard benefit, unsurprisingly, from a network effect," notes Morningstar. "The more consumers that are plugged into a payment network, the more attractive that payment network becomes for merchants, which, in turn, makes the network more convenient for consumers and so on." Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)Source: Alexander Tolstykh / Shutterstock.com Johnson & Johnson is the oldest and sleepiest of the stocks highlighted here and it's far from glamorous relative to other healthcare names. Those aren't knocks on JNJ and those traits don't mean this stock will succumb to the aforementioned woes of Coca-Cola. Plus, JNJ has some potential for excitement due to its participation in the Covid-19 vaccine race.JNJ isn't a growth biotechnology stock. It is able to source growth through its medical devices division, which puts the company at the corner of one of the healthcare sector's more compelling growth segments.Owing in large part to an aging population, "the United States remains the largest medical device market in the world: $156 billion (40 percent of the global medical device market in 2017). By 2023, it is expected to grow to $208 billion," according to SelectUSA.JNJ is able to take some of the sting out of the pitfalls associated with the pharmaceuticals business, including patent cliffs and failed trails. The company's strengths include its consumer products business, strong balance sheet and a dividend increase streak that spans multiple decades.Todd Shriber has been an InvestorPlace contributor since 2014. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG * America's 1 Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * Revolutionary Tech Behind 5G Rollout Is Being Pioneered By This 1 Company * Radical New Battery Could Dismantle Oil Markets The post 3 Best Long-Term Stocks to Set and Forget appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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