3 Stocks I Plan to Hold for the Next 20 Years

By Keith Speights – Apr 18, 2026 at 4:46AM ESTKey PointsAbbVie is a Dividend King that has proven its ability to adapt to change.Amazon has built an exceptionally sticky product ecosystem and is continually expanding into new markets.Enbridge's pipelines and natural gas should enjoy strong demand for the foreseeable future.Warren Buffett once said that his "favorite holding period is forever." I agree with his general sentiment -- especially given that his favorite holding period applied only to "outstanding businesses with outstanding managements." Since I don't expect to be alive and kicking forever, though, I wouldn't go quite as far as Buffett. However, I can think of at least three stocks that I plan to hold for the next 20 years. Image source: Getty Images. 1. AbbVie AbbVie (ABBV 0.29%) markets a long lineup of medicines for treating autoimmune diseases, cancer, migraines, and more. Twelve of the company's drugs generated at least $1 billion in sales last year. I suspect that most of those products won't rank among AbbVie's biggest winners 20 years from now. Patent expirations open the door for biosimilar and generic competition. Scientific advances will likely lead to more effective treatments over the next couple of decades. ExpandNYSE: ABBVAbbVieToday's Change(-0.29%) $-0.61Current Price$208.38Key Data PointsMarket Cap$369BDay's Range$207.82 - $212.3552wk Range$168.54 - $244.81Volume9MAvg Vol7.1MGross Margin70.12%Dividend Yield3.23% However, AbbVie has proven it can adapt to change. As a case in point, the company quickly returned to growth after its longtime best-seller, Humira, lost U.S. patent exclusivity. The two successors to Humira -- Rinvoq and Skyrizi -- now rake in more sales combined than Humira did at its peak. AbbVie is also a member of the Dividend Kings, a group of stocks with 50 or more consecutive years of dividend increases. Any company that can deliver such an impressive track record of rewarding shareholders has a good chance of surviving and thriving over the next 20 years. 2. Amazon Amazon (AMZN +0.26%) is the world's largest consumer discretionary stock by market cap. But to call Amazon a consumer discretionary company doesn't do it justice. It's also the top cloud services provider, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), a growing player in healthcare, and much more. ExpandNASDAQ: AMZNAmazonToday's Change(0.26%) $0.66Current Price$250.36Key Data PointsMarket Cap$2.7TDay's Range$250.11 - $256.1952wk Range$165.28 - $258.60Volume2.3MAvg Vol52MGross Margin50.29% Few companies are as ingrained in my day-to-day life as Amazon. I interact with the company's products and services when I work (many websites are hosted in AWS), read (I use Amazon Kindle), and watch TV (Prime Video). And it seems as if Amazon delivers packages to my doorstep nearly every day. One key reason why I plan to own Amazon stock for the next 20 years is that I know many others like me use the company's products in myriad ways. Amazon has built an exceptionally sticky ecosystem. It would be very difficult for rivals to dethrone this e-commerce and cloud king. Meanwhile, Amazon is busy expanding into new markets, including satellite internet and robotaxis. 3. Enbridge Enbridge (ENB +0.19%) operates the world's longest network of pipelines for the transportation of oil and liquids. The company is also the biggest natural gas utility in North America by volume. ExpandNYSE: ENBEnbridgeToday's Change(0.19%) $0.10Current Price$52.67Key Data PointsMarket Cap$115BDay's Range$51.72 - $52.7752wk Range$43.59 - $55.44Volume5.5MAvg Vol5.3MGross Margin32.74%Dividend Yield5.20% I don't see fossil fuel use diminishing significantly over the next two decades. Actually, I suspect it will grow (especially for natural gas and natural gas liquids). Enbridge's pipelines and natural gas should enjoy strong demand for the foreseeable future. The company's dividend is another reason I plan to hold the stock. Enbridge has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years. I fully expect that it will join AbbVie in the Dividend Kings club in 19 years. Read NextApr 17, 2026 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerThe Market Is Chaos -- but Buying Enbridge Right Now Could Change Your FutureApr 14, 2026 •By Matt DiLalloBest Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to InvestApr 8, 2026 •By Leo SunEnbridge Is Still Under $61. Here's Whether Long-Term Investors Should Pounce.Apr 7, 2026 •By Lou WhitemanBest Oil Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in ThemApr 7, 2026 •By Keith SpeightsHold These 3 High-Yield Pipeline Stocks Forever and Let the Income Roll InApr 5, 2026 •By Matt DiLalloBest Pipeline Stocks for 2026 and How to InvestAbout the AuthorKeith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.TMFFishBizStocks MentionedEnbridgeNYSE: ENB$52.69(+0.23%)+$0.12AmazonNASDAQ: AMZN$250.36(+0.26%)+$0.66AbbVieNYSE: ABBV$208.38(-0.29%)-$0.61*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.