3 Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026 and Hold Forever

Core Viewpoint - Dividend stocks tend to outperform non-dividend-paying stocks over the long term, making them a valuable addition to any long-term investment portfolio [1] Group 1: Visa - Visa is recognized as a strong investment, favored by notable investors like Warren Buffett, due to its straightforward business model of processing transactions and charging fees [3] - The company benefits from a strong competitive advantage, including a well-known brand and significant network effects, making it difficult for merchants to ignore Visa as a payment option [4] - Visa has promising growth prospects, with trillions of dollars still transacted in cash and checks annually, alongside the growth of e-commerce driving demand for digital payments [6] - The company has increased its dividend by 379% over the past decade, despite a forward yield of 0.8%, indicating its reliability as a long-term hold [7] Group 2: Novartis - Novartis has a strong track record of increasing dividends for 28 consecutive years, reflecting its stable and reliable business model [8] - The pharmaceutical company boasts a diverse portfolio with over 10 products generating annual sales exceeding $1 billion, allowing it to mitigate revenue losses from patent expirations [9] - Novartis is well-positioned to benefit from increasing healthcare spending, particularly due to an aging population, and offers a forward dividend yield of 2.8% [12] Group 3: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms is recognized for its growth potential, supported by a vast ecosystem of over 3.5 billion daily active users across its platforms [13] - The company leverages extensive user data to enhance targeted advertising, solidifying its position in the digital ads market [14] - Meta is investing in artificial intelligence to improve user engagement and streamline ad processes, which could enhance its revenue generation capabilities [15] - Although it has just initiated a dividend with a yield of 0.3%, Meta's increasing earnings and cash flow suggest potential for future dividend growth [18]