2 Stocks I Plan to Hold for the Next 20 Years

By Geoffrey Seiler – Mar 19, 2026 at 11:00AM ESTKey PointsEnergy Transfer is poised to be an AI data center winner.Enterprise Products Partners has been the most consistent pipeline stock over the years. If you're looking for some high-yield stock you can hold for a long time, say, like 20 years, look no further than the energy midstream space. I've held shares (technically units) of both Energy Transfer (ET +1.96%) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.38%) for more than a decade, and I can see holding them for another 20 years. Both are midstream companies structured as master limited partnerships (MLPs). While this comes with a little added paperwork come tax time, MLPs have the added advantage that much of their distributions are treated as return of capital and are thus tax-deferred until you sell the units. So instead of paying taxes on the distribution, they reduce your cost basis. MLPs are pass-through entities that aren't taxed at the corporate level, so they generally pay handsome distributions that they continually look to increase. Meanwhile, the pipeline businesses that are the core of their operations act as energy toll roads and generate very steady, visible cash flow. This, along with the preferred tax treatment, makes them great stocks to own for the very long haul. Let's dig deeper into why Energy Transfer and Enterprise are two of my favorite midstream MLPs. Image source: The Motley Fool.

Energy Transfer Energy Transfer operates one of the largest and most diversified midstream operations in North America. The company is well-positioned in the Permian Basin, the most prolific oil basin in the U.S., and home to some of the lowest-cost natural gas. With natural gas demand booming as energy needs increase, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), Energy Transfer has seen its growth project backlog swell. Two of the company's biggest projects are transporting natural gas from the Permian to high-demand areas. One pipeline will head west and serve the Arizona and New Mexico markets, while the other will traverse Texas to support the state's growth in AI data centers and energy needs. It also has several projects directly with data center operators, as well as with the utilities that serve them. ExpandNYSE: ETEnergy TransferToday's Change(1.96%) $0.36Current Price$19.02Key Data PointsMarket Cap$64BDay's Range$18.71 - $19.0752wk Range$14.60 - $19.30Volume226KAvg Vol16MGross Margin12.27%Dividend Yield7.10% Energy Transfer is in growth mode, but it also carries a robust 7.2% yield with plans to grow its distribution at a 3% to 5% clip annually. Its balance sheet is in some of the best shape it's been in during its history, and it has a high distribution coverage ratio (1.8x last quarter). Meanwhile, the stock is cheap both historically and compared to peers, trading at a forward enterprise value-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) multiple (the most common way to value pipeline stocks) of just 8.6 times. To put that in perspective, the average pipeline MLP traded at a 13.7x multiple between 2011 and 2016. With one of the best asset bases to benefit from data center energy demands, a high yield, and an attractive valuation, Energy Transfer is one of my favorite stocks to own for the long term.

Enterprise Products Partners The stock I've held the longest in my portfolio is Enterprise Products Partners, which I've owned since 2008. It's a sleep-well-at-night stock that has consistently raised its distribution year in and year out for the past 27 years, regardless of economic or energy conditions. ExpandNYSE: EPDEnterprise Products PartnersToday's Change(0.38%) $0.14Current Price$37.18Key Data PointsMarket Cap$80BDay's Range$37.11 - $37.4052wk Range$27.77 - $38.22Volume873KAvg Vol4.4MGross Margin12.86%Dividend Yield5.87% The company is conservative by nature, which has served it well over the years. It ramped up its growth project capital expenditures (capex) last year, which it has projected will help lead to double-digit EBITDA and cash flow growth in 2027. Meanwhile, it has dialed back its spending this year, which will give it ample cash flow to pay down debt and buy back units. The stock currently carries a 6% yield, and it increased its distribution by nearly 3% year over year last quarter. Its distribution is also well covered (1.8x last quarter), and it has one of the best balance sheets in the midstream space with leverage of just 3.3x. Given its consistent nature and constantly rising payout, Enterprise is a stock I plan to continue to hold for a very long time.Read NextMar 19, 2026 •By Keith Speights3 No-Brainer Energy Stocks to Buy Right NowMar 19, 2026 •By Thomas Niel3 of the Best Energy Stocks to Buy Right NowMar 18, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo3 Monster Dividend Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 YearsMar 17, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo4 Dividend Stocks to Double Up On Right NowMar 17, 2026 •By Austin Smith3 Ultra High Yield Energy Stocks Paying 5% to 11% That Most Investors OverlookMar 16, 2026 •By Justin PopeIs Energy Transfer Stock a Buy Right Now?About the AuthorGeoffrey Seiler is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology, consumer goods, healthcare, energy, and materials stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Geoffrey was a senior equity analyst at Raging Capital Management, a $600 million long-short hedge fund. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Haverford College.TMFFindProfitStocks MentionedEnergy TransferNYSE: ET$19.03(+1.96%)+$0.37Enterprise Products PartnersNYSE: EPD$37.16(+0.32%)+$0.12*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.