10 Best Stocks to Buy Now For the Long Term

3. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

10-Year Sales Growth: 11.03%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 181

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a global payments technology company that facilitates digital payments and money movement across over 200 countries and territories. It operates primarily through its advanced transaction processing network, called VisaNet, which handles authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. On February 24, Analyst Andrew Jeffrey from William Blair reiterated a Buy rating on the stock noting that he likes the strategic transformation and market leadership of the company.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is evolving from a consumer payments company to a diversified platform, focusing on value-added services and new payment flows. This transition is projected to drive revenue growth of 9%-12%. Moreover, approximately 70% of the company’s revenue comes from its core payments business, which benefits from the ongoing shift to electronic payments and advancements like tokenization and contactless payments. This segment has shown strong growth, with its global consumer payments volume outpacing consumer spending growth. Lastly, the company is also making significant investments in technology that are expected to improve financial performance, particularly adjusted EPS growth. It is one of the best stocks to buy for long term.

Meridian Hedged Equity Fund stated the following regarding Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:

“Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is the world’s largest retail electronic payments network. We hold Visa in the portfolio because of its formidable competitive moat, built on network effects spanning billions of cards and millions of merchants globally. The company continues to benefit from the secular shift toward electronic payments while expanding its portfolio to include high-growth adjacent offerings. While U.S. market penetration is mature, international markets—particularly in emerging economies, where cash usage remains prevalent— offer significant growth opportunities. Visa’s operating model demonstrates strong leverage, with incremental revenue efficiently flowing to the bottom line. This quarter, Visa outperformed expectations across key metrics, with payment volumes and transaction growth proving resilient despite macro uncertainties. Looking ahead, we anticipate continued momentum into fiscal 2025, driven by the ongoing transition to digital payments, international expansion, and the scaling of newer business lines.”