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Blue-chip stocks are popular among investors due to their stable earnings, steady cash flows and proven business models. Investors with long time horizons who want modest but consistent returns typically turn to blue-chip stocks.
As leaders in their industries, these companies’ share prices tend to be high. But their reliability makes them a great addition to any portfolio.
Whether you’re new to the stock market or a seasoned investor, you’ll probably recognize most of the names on this list. Many of these companies are household names, and there’s a good chance some — if not all — of their products and services are a part of your everyday life.
Here are some of the best blue-chip stocks to buy right now.
Microsoft is an American technology company that produces computer software, consumer electronics and related services. Founded in 1975 by friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company has since grown to become one of the world’s largest companies.
In 2003, Microsoft announced it would begin distributing cash to its shareholders, and it’s been consistently paying out dividends ever since. As of September 2021, the company pays an annual dividend of $2.48 per share.
Microsoft reported its most recent earnings in July 2021. The company posted earnings per share of $2.17, beating the $1.90 consensus by 14.21%. This steady growth has reflected on the stock price, which has grown nearly 56% in the past year. For the next 12 months, analysts see an average price target of around $333 per share and rate Microsoft a “Strong Buy.”
Amazon is an American multinational conglomerate that specializes in e-commerce, cloud computing, consumer electronics, digital streaming and artificial intelligence. The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as a website that sold books and has since grown into one of the world’s largest companies.
With its most recent earning release, Amazon posted its third $100 billion quarter in a row. For Q2 2021, the company posted earnings of $15.12 per share, beating the consensus of $12.22 per share by 23.73%. Despite having plenty of cash on hand, Amazon doesn’t pay a dividend. But the stock is still very attractive. Analysts rate the company a “Strong Buy” with an average price target of around $4,225 per share over the next 12 months, a 22% premium over its current price of $3,462.52 as of market close on September 18, 2021.
Apple is an American multinational technology company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The company is largely focused in consumer electronics, online services and computer software. It’s best known for its series of smartphones, personal computers and digital gadgets, such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. In recent years, the company has branched out into digital streaming services and has begun developing its own chips for use in its products.
In 2020, Apple took the top spot as the most valuable company in the world. Most recently, the company posted Q3 2021 earnings of $1.30 per share, outperforming Wall Street expectations by 30%. Apple has nearly $200 billion in cash on hand and pays an annual dividend of $0.88. For the next 12 months, analysts give Apple a “Strong Buy” with an average price target of around $168.
Visa is an American multinational financial services and payments technology company founded in 1958. It’s the world’s largest electronic payment network, facilitating digital payments between consumers, financial institutions and merchants in 200 countries across the globe. In Q3 2021, Visa reported $42.6 billion in total processed transactions, a 39% increase over the prior year. Net revenue also saw year-over-year growth, rising approximately 27% from $4.84 billion in Q3 2020 to $6.13 billion in Q3 2021. Analysts project Visa’s share price to continue to rise over the next 12 months, giving it a “Strong Buy” and an average price target of around $281 per share.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company. While the present company was formed in 2000 when J.P. Morgan & Co. merged with Chase Manhattan Corporation, its roots extend back into the late 18th century. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the largest American bank and the world’s second-largest public company based on sales, profits, assets and market value.
If you’re looking for a blue-chip stock with a dividend you can trust, look no further; the company has increased its dividend each of the past nine years and currently pays an annual dividend of $3.60 per share. In addition, the bank’s stock price has more than doubled to $167 since hitting a low of $76.91 a little over a year ago. Though revenue and earnings dropped slightly compared to Q1 2021, Q2 earnings still beat Wall Street expectations by nearly 22%. JPMorgan Chase & Co. recently posted Q2 2021 earnings of $3.78 per share, and the bank is given a “Strong Buy” with a 12-month average price target of around $170 per share.
The Walt Disney Co. is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate founded in 1923. Headquartered in Burbank, California, the company operates everything from cable and broadcast television networks to theme parks, resorts and cruise lines. It also distributes films, digital streaming services and live-action and animated motion pictures.
The Walt Disney Co.’s stock price grew more than 73% in the past 12 months, from a low of $117.23 to a high of $203.02. Though the stock has since pulled back from its 52-week high, the company is rated a “Strong Buy” coming off a positive earnings report in August 2021, where it recorded earnings of $0.80 per share. This beat the consensus earnings estimate of $0.57 by 40.35%. The average analyst consensus estimate puts the company at a share price of around $217 over the coming 12 months.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company owned and run by Warren Buffet. The company owns or holds controlling interest in many well-known companies, including Benjamin Moore & Co., GEICO Auto Insurance and Kraft Heinz. Its Class A shares are the most expensive stock in the world, trading at over $400,000 since April 2021. Its Class B shares are much more affordable, trading between $197.81 and $295.08 over the past 12 months.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported earnings of $6.69 billion in the second quarter, up 21% from $5.51 billion in the same period in 2020. Warren Buffet bought back roughly $6 billion of its own stock in the second quarter and the company’s cash pile stands at around $144 billion. Though it doesn’t pay a dividend, analysts see the stock climbing to around $329 over the next 12 months.
NVIDIA is a technology company based in Santa Clara, California. It’s a leader in the design of graphics processing units (GPUs), small, powerful chips that generate realistic graphics on computers and gaming consoles. NVIDIA also has a hand in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. In July 2021, Tesla unveiled its in-house supercomputer the company uses to train deep neural networks for its vehicle’s self-driving capabilities — the super computer is powered by NVIDIA GPUs. For Q2 2021, NVIDIA reported record revenue of $6.51 billion, up 68% from the same period last year. Earnings were up as well, increasing 89% year-over-year and up 14% for the quarter. The stock has nearly doubled in the past year, and analysts rate the company a “Strong Buy” for the next 12 months with an average price target of $236 per share.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is an American healthcare and insurance company founded in 1977 and headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Based on information provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, UnitedHealth Group is the largest health insurance company in the US in terms of premiums written and market share. The company received $176.8 billion in premiums in 2020 and has a market share of 14.06%.
Closing out the second quarter of 2021, UnitedHealth Group saw a year-over-year growth in revenue of nearly 15% to $71.3 billion. The company also reported earnings of $6 billion, or $4.70 per share. The results beat Wall Street’s expectations and, considering its strong growth, the company increased its earnings outlook for the rest of the year. Analysts rate the company a “Strong Buy,” with a $466 average price target over the next 12 months.
Target Corp. is an American retail corporation founded in 1902 as the Dayton Dry Goods Co. Today, it’s one of the largest retailers in the US with 1,914 stores — at least one in every state — and 46 distribution centers across the nation. According to its most recent earnings report, sales and profitability increased from the same period 2020. Target saw sales increase by 8.9% and posted earnings of $3.64 per share, up almost 8% from $3.38 in 2020. Target pays an annual dividend of $3.60 per share and analysts project the stock’s price to grow to an average price target of around $283 over the next year.
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If you’re wondering how to get started with investing in blue-chip stocks, follow these steps:
Blue-chip stocks stand out for their reliability. These companies have sound business models and stable earnings and many provide steady cash flows to investors. If you’re only getting started trading stocks or you’re looking to build a strong foundation for your portfolio, consider these and other blue-chip stocks.
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