The Motley Foolยท2025-04-03 09:05Market Overview - The Nasdaq Composite index has fallen over 11% since the beginning of the year, raising concerns about the economic outlook due to trade wars and tariffs [1] - Despite the downturn, this period may present opportunities for long-term investments [1] Investment Opportunities Amgen - Amgen's shares have increased by 17% in 2025, yet it remains a relatively inexpensive healthcare stock, trading at just under 15 times next year's estimated earnings [3] - The company reported a 19% growth in revenue last year, reaching $33.4 billion, with significant contributions from blockbuster drugs like Repatha and Prolia, which generated $6.6 billion in sales [4] - Amgen is developing a promising injectable GLP-1 treatment for weight loss, MariTide, which could enhance its stock value upon approval [5] PayPal - PayPal's growth has been modest, with a 4% increase in the last quarter of 2024, attributed to a challenging economic environment [7] - Despite a 2% year-over-year decline in earnings to $4.1 billion, the brand remains strong and trusted among consumers [7] - The stock is currently trading at 13 times its estimated future earnings and has dropped over 24% this year, presenting a potential recovery opportunity as economic conditions improve [8] Baidu - Baidu is the cheapest stock on the list, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 10, and its stock price has risen by 8% this year [9] - The company is heavily investing in artificial intelligence, with its AI chatbot Ernie Bot reaching 200 million users and plans to release an updated model this year [10] - Despite a 1% decline in sales to $18.2 billion in 2024, Baidu's AI cloud business is growing at 24%, indicating strong future growth potential [10][11]