Last year, the stock market experienced a slowdown, which was a good opportunity for long-term investors to find solid stocks. The key is selecting companies with high growth potential and stable businesses.

Speaking of long-term stocks, which ones are good? I want to share five that I’ve been following for a while. The first is Apple, a technology company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and colleagues. What makes Apple interesting for long-term investment is its strong ecosystem, from iPhone, iPad, Mac to Apple Music and iCloud. I see that this company has good adaptability and always designs new products that attract users.

Another notable company is NVIDIA, a leader in AI technology. Their GPUs are essential for developing deep learning models. Although recent challenges from competition have arisen, I still believe NVIDIA has growth potential in robotics and autonomous vehicles.

Alphabet (Google) is another company I follow. They have invested billions of dollars in AI technology to expand their infrastructure. I see that Google Services and Google Cloud have sustainable growth potential.

Microsoft also has a strong position in the market, from Windows and Microsoft Office to Azure cloud services. Last year, they launched new features like Microsoft Loop, which helps improve collaborative work.

Finally, there’s Airbnb, which started in a rather unique way. The founders began by renting out rooms to earn income. Now, Airbnb has over 4 million service providers worldwide. The company has expanded into the “Amazon of travel,” demonstrating long-term growth potential.

When it comes to choosing long-term stocks, I usually look at fundamental factors such as revenue growth, profitability, and debt levels. It’s very important to find companies with a consistent growth record, not just for one year.

Another key factor is competitive advantage. Companies with strong brands or unique products tend to have an edge over competitors. Also, industry trends matter—no matter how good a company is, if the industry isn’t expanding, growth will be limited.

Innovation is equally important. Companies that invest in R&D, foster an innovative culture, and adapt to market changes are what I look for.

For valuation, I check the Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio and Price-to-Sales ratio to ensure the stock isn’t overpriced relative to its growth potential.

If you want to invest in long-term stocks, there are several methods. The first is buying through a Thai broker, which gives investors actual ownership of the shares but requires a substantial initial investment and involves some fees.

The second method is using service apps, which are more convenient and don’t require an account with a securities company. Investors can place buy and sell orders 24/7 and own the shares directly, with relatively low fees.

For those seeking more flexibility, derivatives like CFDs are an option. Although you don’t own the actual shares, CFDs offer trading convenience and no trading commissions. However, CFDs are more suitable for hedging risks rather than long-term holding.

In summary, choosing long-term stocks requires careful analysis of fundamentals, industry trends, and a company’s ability to adapt. The companies I recommend—Apple, NVIDIA, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Airbnb—have sustainable growth potential and are suitable for long-term holding. Nonetheless, investors should find better entry points and continue studying current market conditions.