The Motley Fool·2025-12-22 07:30Group 1: Novartis - Novartis is a strong long-term investment candidate due to its innovative pipeline and diversified product offerings, with 10 products generating over $1 billion in sales each as of September 30 [4][5] - The company has shown resilience against patent cliffs, with a revenue increase of 8% year-over-year to $13.9 billion and earnings per share of $2.25, which is 9% higher than the previous year [6][7] - Novartis has a solid dividend history, increasing payouts for 28 consecutive years, currently offering a forward yield of 3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [10] Group 2: Shopify - Shopify has experienced a 50% stock increase this year, driven by strong financial results and a vision to build a sustainable 100-year company [11] - The platform is a leader in the e-commerce market, providing customizable templates and a range of services that facilitate efficient business operations for merchants [12] - Shopify's market share grew from 10% at the end of 2023 to 12% by the end of 2024, benefiting from high switching costs for merchants [14] - The company has improved its profitability, achieving net income in three out of the last four quarters, positioning itself well for continued dominance in the e-commerce sector [15]