Teradyne, Inc.

NASDAQ Global Select
Somewhat Bullish +50

5 Stocks to Buy for Long Term in 2026: Industrial, Software, and Defensive Picks

πŸ“‰ The S&P 500 gained over 18% in 2025, but 2026 has seen a rotation away from the "Magnificent 7."

❌ Momentum plays like Microsoft and Tesla have struggled, with Microsoft down ~20% and Tesla off more than 12%.

πŸš€ Teradyne Inc. (TER) is highlighted as one of the best-performing S&P 500 stocks in 2026 so far, up 59.8% year-to-date.

⚠️ Past short-term performance does not guarantee future success for long-term investors seeking compounding returns.

πŸ›  GE Aerospace (GE) offers a "razor-and-blade" model with recurring cash flow from a massive installed engine base.

πŸ’» Tyler Technologies (TYL) holds a sticky customer base in the public sector due to high switching costs and data migration barriers.

πŸ›‘οΈ Rollins Inc. (ROL) serves as a defensive anchor with recession-resistant pest control demand and a flawless dividend history.

πŸ’° Broadcom (AVGO) acts as a silent AI enabler with diversified revenue across networking, storage, and industrial chips.

πŸ”οΈ Texas Pacific Land Corp. (TPL) operates as a royalty company with no debt, wide margins, and a unique land asset base.

πŸ“Š Financial health is emphasized as a critical factor, warning investors to check for deteriorating profit margins and excessive debt.

πŸ† Competitive position is key, with advice to look for durable moats like patents, brands, or regulatory barriers.

πŸ“ˆ Growth track record should span three to five years to rule out companies with a pattern of declining revenue.

Bullish Signals
  • GE Aerospace saw first-quarter revenue rise 25% year-over-year due to a global shortage of new aircraft forcing airlines to rely on older planes with high-margin maintenance services.
  • Tyler Technologies boasts an unusually sticky customer base in the public sector where governments rarely switch providers, currently holding net margins of 13.3% with potential to reach 18% as municipalities move to the cloud.
  • Rollins Inc. offers a flawless dividend track record and high customer retention that outpaces inflation, backed by a strong Return on Equity of 38% driven by non-discretionary pest control demand.
  • Broadcom serves as an essential AI enabler for major hyperscalers including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, generating massive free cash flow that is returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
  • Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates with no debt and wide margins while collecting royalties from over 880,000 acres in West Texas, providing a unique capital-light business model with a history of special dividends.
  • Broadcom is viewed by analysts as a top long-term pick due to its consistent execution and reasonable valuation compared to other AI-exposed peers.
Risk Factors
  • The article warns that chasing momentum is a 'dangerous game,' citing that the 'Magnificent 7' have mostly struggled, with Microsoft down roughly 20% year-to-date and Tesla off more than 12% in 2026.
  • Past performance over short windows does not guarantee future success for some of the top-performing S&P 500 stocks listed, which may be cyclical, recovery plays, or 'one-hit wonders'.
  • Tyler Technologies (TYL) trades at a premium valuation of around 46 times earnings, which could pose a downside risk if growth expectations are not met.
  • Texas Pacific Land Corp. (TPL) has seen significant short-term volatility with the stock up 75% year-to-date, requiring investors to 'look past' this period before considering it a long-term hold.
  • The article emphasizes that no single factor guarantees success and explicitly states that ignoring any of the suggested financial health or competitive position checklists increases risk.
Full Analysis
The article identifies Teradyne Inc. (TER) as a standout performer in the S&P 500 during 2026, recording a year-to-date gain of 59.8% through April 2026, according to TradingView data. While the text briefly notes its strong performance alongside other top movers like Sandisk Corp and Texas Pacific Land Corp, it does not provide any additional specific details regarding Teradyne’s business model, financial metrics, competitive advantages, or investment thesis beyond its ranking as one of the best-performing stocks in the index for the year. The broader context of the piece suggests a market rotation away from the "Magnificent 7" technologies toward different sectors or companies that have delivered substantial gains. Teradyne is included in a list of top performers but is not expanded upon as one of the five primary long-term recommendations featured later in the text; those specific picks are GE Aerospace, Tyler Technologies, Rollins Inc., Broadcom, and Texas Pacific Land Corp. For investors specifically interested in Teradyne based on this content, the only takeaway is its exceptional short-term momentum within a broader 2026 market rotation environment, though the article advises caution against simply chasing such recent performance without further fundamental analysis.