Investing in stocks can be risky as values will fluctuate during changing economic and political times. Despite the risk, if you're looking for long-term solid returns, investing in the stock market is an absolute must for a diverse portfolio. The tough part is deciding which stocks to buy that will bring the biggest returns. These companies are recommended by top investing professionals to have the potential to grow your portfolio significantly.
1. Nvidia
Tech stocks have been a hot prospect for years and Nvidia (NVDA) is a solid choice. Fortune Magazine recommends them for their history of growth. After all, the company has been in the S&P's top 500 stocks for two consecutive years and it's expected to continue to grow as the tech sector booms.
Nvidia makes semiconductor chips which are needed by many of the top innovative companies in the world to manufacture their products. It also is a major producer of graphics interfaces for computers prized by designers, animators, gamers and other professionals.
2. Applied Materials
Another tech stock set to yield positive gains for investors is Applied Materials (AMAT). Kiplinger lists the company first in its top 18 stocks for current choices. Applied Materials produces equipment and materials used to create computer chips, and the high demand for chips is not expected to dissipate anytime soon. The stock rose an impressive 95 percent in 2017.
3. Facebook
Investor Place recommends Facebook (FB), particularly for younger people looking to begin investing in the stock market. The company has no doubt been hurt by the 2017 Cambridge Analytica scandals, but overall their growth is expected to continue to surge and expand into other types of services including payment platforms, data collection and advertising.
4. United Healthcare
Forbes chooses United Healthcare (UNH-US) for the first spot on its top U.S. stocks in list with an A+ rating. The managed healthcare company is the largest in the world and provides services in 130 countries. Earnings toward the end of 2017 grew 24 percent and Forbes' analysts expect the 2017 tax reform bill to provide positive benefits for United Healthcare's future.
5. Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BDX)
Another company situated in the healthcare sector, Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BDX), which was number 225 on the latest Fortune 500 list of companies, acquired its competitor C.R. Bard in 2017. Money Magazine's stock experts picked BDX as a top stock pick as a result.
This move is expected to lead to a significant increase in revenue, and the stock should remain fairly secure because it manufactures necessary products including medical devices and hospital supplies like syringes and needles.
6. Weibo
Sina Weibo (WB) makes a list of the fastest growing companies recommended by Investors Business Daily. The Chinese company's growth rate over three years has been a staggering 282 percent and it's not expected to slow down. Sina Weibo is a microblogging platform that is huge in China with over 392 million monthly users.
7. Verizon
Consumer financial site GO Banking Rates picks Verizon (VZ) as a best stock for the first-time investor. It also makes their list of best stock picks for beginners under $100. The stock's price increased recently and the communications powerhouse is a solid company likely to weather changing economic conditions.
8. Customers Bancorp
U.S. News and World Report picks Customers Bancorp (CUBI) for its list of top stocks to buy. The company, which provides banking services in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, will be selling off their online banking service in 2018, and this means owners of the stock will receive $3.57 per share when the deal closes. If CUBI's price continues its rate of growth, it has the potential to increase in value by 1/3 at the end of the year.
