The Nasdaq Just Hit Correction Territory: The 2 Smartest Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

With the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -4.00%) moving into correction territory (down at least 10% from an all-time high), several of its constituent stocks are suddenly a lot more attractively priced than they were to start the year. While investors never like to see markets pull back into correction territory, it does present a great buying opportunity for some great companies caught up in the sell-off.

Let’s look at two quality stocks you can buy on this market dip and hold forever.

1. Alphabet

With the market pullback, Alphabet (GOOGL -4.49%) (GOOG -4.41%) finds its shares down about 20% (as of this writing) from its all-time highs set in early February. The dip in price brings its stock down to a very attractive valuation of a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 18.5. That’s not expensive for a company with the set of businesses that Alphabet owns.

While best known for its search business Google, Alphabet is actually a whole lot more. It is the world’s leading digital advertising company, where it connects advertisers with consumers through both its own properties as well as third-party sites. Google is the largest digital advertising platform in the world, while its YouTube platform is the world’s fourth-largest. In between are Meta Platforms‘ social media apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, and Amazon, which serves up sponsored ads for third-party products sold on its site.

Alphabet is betting heavily on artificial intelligence (AI), which it is using to improve its search results and to create AI Overviews to quickly give users answers to their questions. Historically, the company has only served ads on about 20% of its search queries, so its AI Overviews are a strong potential source of growth as eventually, it should be able to monetize them through new ad formats. The company has a huge network of advertisers and search history, so all the ingredients are there to profit from AI Overviews.

At the same time, the company’s newest Gemini 2.0 model is improving and catching up to the competition. It has its own Gemini app, while Gemini is also being incorporated throughout Alphabet’s businesses. This is helping the company become a leader in multimodal search (such as visual search), while its Veo 2 text-to-image video generator has risen above the competition.

Alphabet also owns the third-largest cloud computing business with Google Cloud, which is helping customers build out their own AI models and applications. The unit grew revenue by 30% last quarter and segment income by 142%. The unit has seen a profitability inflection point now that it has reached sufficient scale. The company has also developed its own custom AI chip with the help of Broadcom, which it says is leading to faster inference times and lower costs. This should help the business continue to see margin improvements.

Alphabet is also a leader in two emerging technologies: quantum computing and autonomous driving. Its Willow chip recently made a big breakthrough in solving an issue that has hampered quantum computing, while its Waymo unit is the only company offering paid robotaxi rides in the U.S.

Take this all together, and Alphabet is a great buy at current levels.

A three-dimensional cloud with the letters AI on it.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. Microsoft

Like Alphabet, while Microsoft (MSFT -3.34%) is known for its software Office 365 productivity tools, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it is also a whole lot more. It owns the second-largest cloud computing business in the world and the Windows PC operating system. In addition, it operates the professional development website LinkedIn, software development platform GitHub, AI voice platform Nuance, and the Xbox video gaming platform as well as video game studios such as Activision Blizzard, among other businesses.

Microsoft has proven to be adaptable over the years, driving growth by transitioning from a traditional software licensing model to offering its productivity software programs through its Office 365 subscription model. More recently, the company has been one of the early leaders in AI through a large investment and partnership in OpenAI.

The biggest beneficiary of its embrace of AI has been its cloud computing unit, Azure, which grew its revenue by 31% last quarter. Similar to Google Cloud, customers are flocking to Azure to help them build out their own AI models and applications. Last quarter, Azure AI revenue soared 157% year over year. Meanwhile, it said this is leading to robust adoption of its SQL Hyperscale and Cosmos DB solutions.

Microsoft’s biggest AI opportunity, however, may lie in its Microsoft 365 AI copilots, which are AI assistants that help users save time and more easily complete tasks. Copilots can do such things as prioritize Outlook email messages, summarize a Word document, or help draft a PowerPoint presentation through natural language. They have also started to be able to help with more complex tasks, such as being able to use the Python programming language in Excel using only natural language prompts.

At the cost of $30 per enterprise user per month, on top of the Microsoft 365 subscription, this is a big potential growth opportunity for Microsoft. If these Copilots can prove to save time and money, they will eventually see high levels of adoption.

Following the market’s pullback, the stock trades at a forward P/E of 25 times based on analyst estimates for fiscal year 2026 (ending in June 2026). That’s a reasonable valuation for a leading tech company that has a large recurring nature business and a history of adaptability. As such, this is a great time to look to establish a position in the stock.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Entire families killed during recent violence in Syria, UN says

Entire families killed during recent violence in Syria, UN says

Reuters Alawites fleeing the violence in Syria’s coastal region have been crossing the Nahr el-Kabir river to reach safety in Lebanon Entire families, including women and children, were killed during the recent violence in Syria’s coastal region, the UN human rights office says. A spokesman told reporters that the UN had so far verified the

Indian Americans worried over US ties under new administration, survey shows

Indian Americans worried over US ties under new administration, survey shows

AFP Donald Trump (right) and Narendra Modi met at the White House for talks in February Indian Americans are increasingly optimistic about India’s future, but hold deep concerns about US-India relations under a second Donald Trump administration, a new survey finds. The 2024 Indian-American Survey, conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and YouGov

Ethiopians celebrate the new Borana chief Abaa Gadaa Guyo Boru Guyo

Ethiopians celebrate the new Borana chief Abaa Gadaa Guyo Boru Guyo

Amensisa Ifa BBC News, Arda Jila Badhasa Amensisa Ifa / BBC Thousands of people have been gathering in southern Ethiopia for one of the country’s biggest cultural events. The week-long Gada ceremony, which ended on Sunday, sees the official transfer of power from one customary ruler to his successor – something that happens every eight

Palestinian star 'proud and hurt' after Netflix hit

Palestinian star ‘proud and hurt’ after Netflix hit

Manish Pandey BBC Newsbeat Eddy Chen/Netflix The comedy covers a range of issues from food, identity, immigration, family and politics Reflecting back on the Netflix hit based on his own life, there are two things that come to mind for Palestinian comedian Mo Amer. Pride and hurt. “It’s very difficult to talk about without breaking

Could Kinshasa strike a minerals deal with the US?

Could Kinshasa strike a minerals deal with the US?

Getty Images Congolese soldiers – some seen here after being captured by the rebels in January – have fared poorly against the M23 The Democratic Republic of Congo appears to be turning to the US in its latest efforts to find an ally in its fight against advancing M23 rebels. Recognising that the White House

economist-logo

Which countries are most vulnerable to Donald Trump’s aid cuts? | World News

The Economist Mar 12, 2025 12:18 PM IST Some of the cuts are the subject of legal challenges, but the broad consequences are already emerging. To read more of The Economist’s data journalism visit our Graphic detail page. PREMIUM Which-countries-are-most-vulnerable-to-Donald-Trum THE NEW administration in America is determined to slash foreign-aid budgets. The cuts to health

Trump, Hater of EVs, Says He’s Buying a Tesla

Trump, Hater of EVs, Says He’s Buying a Tesla | World News

WASHINGTON—Joe Biden held himself out as the most climate-friendly president ever to hold office, but relished his gas-guzzling Corvette Stingray. President Trump wants to drill-baby-drill and, on Tuesday, was in the market for an electric vehicle. PREMIUM Trump, Hater of EVs, Says He’s Buying a Tesla Like everything else in Washington these days, the politics

Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts

Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts | World News

The Trump administration has terminated $800 million in grants to Johns Hopkins University, spurring the nation’s top spender on research and development to plan layoffs and cancel health projects, from breast-feeding support efforts in Baltimore to mosquito-net programs in Mozambique. PREMIUM Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts The economy in Baltimore

Trade war escalates as Trump's 25% metal tariffs take effect

Trade war escalates as Trump’s 25% metal tariffs take effect

João da Silva Business reporter, BBC News Reuters The 25% duty on steel and aluminium imports is a major hit to some of the US’s top trading partners Tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on imports of steel and aluminium have taken effect in a move that will likely escalate tensions with some of

'Do whatever the hell you want': Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian rejects Donald Trump's 'unacceptable' nuclear proposal

‘Do whatever the hell you want’: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian rejects Donald Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ nuclear proposal

File Photo: US President Donald Trump and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran has refused to negotiate a nuclear deal with the United States, days after his US counterpart Donald Trumpsent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, expressing his willingness to negotiate a deal.In a strong remark, Pezeshkian said Iran

STAT+

Columbia scientists reel as Trump administration cancels grants

NEW YORK — Uma Reddy was sitting at her kitchen table Monday night, wrapping up patient notes, when the notice finally came: The $16.6 million grant she had used to build a maternal health center at Columbia University had been terminated. Reddy spent the next 18 hours calling and emailing dozens of collaborators and trainees

ArcelorMittal Dofasco's steel production plant in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada), February 10, 2025.

Donald Trump steps up a trade war aimed at throttling Canada economically

ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s steel production plant in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada), February 10, 2025. NICK IWANYSHYN/ZUMA-REA In confronting Donald Trump, Canada faced the choice of either caving in or retaliating. On Monday, March 10, it chose to strike back, imposing a 25% tariff on electricity exported from Ontario, which provides power to 1.5 million people in the

President Trump and White House senior adviser, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk depart after looking at Tesla vehicles on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday.

Trump buys a Tesla from Elon Musk at the White House : NPR

President Trump and White House senior adviser, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk depart after looking at Tesla vehicles on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images President Trump stepped into a car outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon — but not

An undated image provided image shows a container ship at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6, the state’s only international container terminal.

Tariff threats could spook investment among Oregon companies

An undated image provided image shows a container ship at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6, the state’s only international container terminal. Courtesy of the Port of Portland President Donald Trump’s back and forth on tariffs is escalating tensions between the U.S. and two of Oregon’s biggest trade partners, Canada and Mexico. In 2024, Oregon

Employee steals $150k in gold from IU Indy School of Dentistry

Employee steals $150k in gold from IU Indy School of Dentistry

3 things to know if you share information with Crime Stoppers Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana allows Indianapolis residents to share anonymous tips with law enforcement. An Indiana University School of Dentistry employee was arrested by university police on Friday after school officials discovered that he had allegedly stolen over $158,000 worth of gold alloy

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x