Workflow
2 No-Brainer Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
LLYLilly(LLY) The Motley Fool·2025-03-26 10:05

Core Viewpoint - Investing in stocks remains a strong long-term strategy despite current market volatility, with Eli Lilly and Shopify highlighted as two compelling investment opportunities [1] Group 1: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly is a leading pharmaceutical company focused on therapies for severe illnesses, including diabetes and weight management, which are in high demand [2] - In 2024, Eli Lilly's revenue increased by 32% year-over-year to approximately 45billion,withguidancefor2025suggestingcontinuedgrowthatasimilarrate[3]Thecompanyspromisingpipelineincludesdiabetesdrugs,antiobesitymedicines,andinnovativetreatmentsforconditionslikeAlzheimersandeczema[4]EliLillyhasastrongtrackrecordofdividendgrowth,havingincreasedpayoutsby20045 billion, with guidance for 2025 suggesting continued growth at a similar rate [3] - The company's promising pipeline includes diabetes drugs, anti-obesity medicines, and innovative treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's and eczema [4] - Eli Lilly has a strong track record of dividend growth, having increased payouts by 200% over the past decade, although its forward yield is 0.7% [5] Group 2: Shopify - Shopify specializes in e-commerce, providing a comprehensive platform for small and medium-sized merchants to establish online stores and manage various business functions [6] - The company holds over 10% market share in the U.S. e-commerce space, with 2024 revenue reaching 8.9 billion, a 26% increase from the previous year, and a net income of $2 billion [7][8] - Shopify benefits from high switching costs for merchants, creating a competitive advantage, and has significant growth potential in the e-commerce sector, where online sales accounted for only 16.4% of total retail sales in Q4 [9][10] - The company's focus on long-term growth and increased profitability positions it as a strong investment opportunity [11]