2 S&P 500 Stocks to Own for Decades and 1 We Ignore Anthony Lee Mon, October 12, 2026 at 6:07 AM EDT 3 min read ^GSPC STE ABNB EQT Explore stocks on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn't mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it's stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
Even among blue-chip stocks, not all investments are created equal - which is why we built StockStory to help you navigate the market. Keeping that in mind, here are two S&P 500 stocks positioned to outperform and one that may struggle.
With a mission critical role in preventing healthcare-associated infections, STERIS (NYSE:STE) provides infection prevention products, sterilization services, and medical equipment that help healthcare facilities and life science companies maintain sterile environments.
Annual revenue growth of 7.4% over the last two years was below our standards for the healthcare sector
Adjusted operating margin failed to increase over the last five years, indicating the company couldn't optimize its expenses
Low returns on capital reflect management's struggle to allocate funds effectively
At $214.45 per share, STERIS trades at 18.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with STE, check out our full research report (it's free).
Founded by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia in their San Francisco apartment, Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB) is the world's largest online marketplace for lodging, primarily homestays.
Nights and Experiences Booked have grown by 9.3% annually, allowing for more profitable cross-selling opportunities if it can build complementary products and features
Healthy EBITDA margin of 35.6% shows it's a well-run company with efficient processes, and its operating leverage amplified its profits over the last few years
Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends
Airbnb's stock price of $166.09 implies a valuation ratio of 16.4x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free.
The largest natural gas producer in the United States by daily volume, EQT (NYSE:EQT) produces natural gas and natural gas liquids from wells drilled in the Appalachian Basin.
Impressive 15.3% annual revenue growth over the last ten years indicates it's winning market share this cycle
EBITDA margin expanded by 20.6 percentage points over the last five years as it scaled and became more efficient
Robust free cash flow margin of 30.8% gives it many options for capital deployment
EQT is trading at $52.63 per share, or 17.1x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it's free.
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren't just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.
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Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,552% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
