I don’t know about you, but I like to hold my stocks for a long time. If you clicked on this headline I imagine you’re the same way.
So, if you’re also a fan of slower-paced investing, read on to learn about three of the best-looking stocks to buy and hold for the next decade or longer.
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Despite the efforts of several governments to move away from oil and gas in the past few decades, the world still runs on the liquid dinosaur juice. And midstream companies like Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: ET) move it where it needs to go.
Energy Transfer has one of the largest energy portfolios in the country with assets in 44 states for the transportation and storage of natural gas, crude oil, and other fossil fuel products.
The company’s Q4 2025 results (reported Feb. 17, 2026) showed that while net income was down slightly year over year, its adjusted EBITDA grew 8% over Q4 2024 and distributable cash flow grew 3% to $2.04 billion.
That last bit is particularly important as the main reason you would buy and hold Energy Transfer for the long term is its dividend. Or rather its distribution, because it’s a limited partnership.
Either way, it yields 7% at current prices and Energy Transfer has grown it annually for four years running. The company’s payout ratio is very high at 104.4%, but it has been higher several times in the past, like in 2023 when it was 113% and 2017 when it stood at 136%. So, I don’t think Energy Transfer will have any issues bringing it down to safer levels and keeping the distributions coming.
This is a stock you buy, set up a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) and let it sit for years on end, compounding your wealth.
Moving from oil and gas to what is likely to replace them, Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) is one of the world’s premier uranium mining companies.
According to Our World in Data, nuclear energy is far and away the cleanest energy source available, producing just 6 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per gigawatt-hour generated to second-place wind’s 11 tons. It’s also the second-safest option behind only solar power.
Countries around the world are expanding their nuclear fleets and the United States Department of Energy has set a goal to triple America’s nuclear power generation by 2050. All those new reactors will need uranium to run. And Cameco provided 15% of the world’s supply in 2025.
The company is also present in almost every part of the nuclear fuel cycle from its high-grade mines in northern Canada to its fuel enrichment and refining facilities. It even has a 49% stake in Westinghouse, which produces the most advanced nuclear reactor on the market, the AP1000. So, Cameco profits from both the reactors and the fuel they run on.
A look at Cameco’s full-year 2025 results shows everything is coming up roses for it. Revenue for 2025 was up 11% over 2024. Basic earnings per share (EPS) grew 237% over the same period. And even though mining is a fairly capital-intensive industry, Cameco managed a net margin of 16.9% and an operating margin of 17.8% for 2025.
Uranium is the only energy resource aside from heating oil that’s up in spot price over the past year, up 37% no less. Cameco has been on a 175% bull run over the same time frame, and I don’t think that run will be coming to an end anytime soon.
Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR) is one of the biggest stories of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom over the past few years.
The company, which provides AI platforms ranging in use from high-end military software to more mundane workflow optimization programs, has gone on a 265% run since 2021 and, based on its latest results it still has plenty of room left to go.
Explaining exactly what Palantir does is a difficult prospect even according to people who have worked there per Wired, but the company’s results don’t need much explanation.
For 2025, Palantir saw its total revenue climb 56% over 2024 to $4.48 billion with U.S. revenue growing 75%, and U.S. commercial revenue up 109% over the same period. Adjusted free cash flow totaled $2.27 billion for the year for a margin of 51% and the company’s operating income margin hit 50%.
Finally, Palantir has $7.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. Treasury securities to just $230 million in debt, which is positively minuscule by comparison. Palantir’s incredible growth is still accelerating and I anticipate it will be years before it begins to slow.
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James Hires has positions in Cameco. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cameco and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
