A No-Drama 2026 Stock List: 5 Names Built to Hold, Not Trade

Two of the bigger investing channels on YouTube, Let’s Talk Money! with Joseph Hogue, CFA and BWB – Business With Brian, sat down to build a “master list” for 2026. The idea was simple. Pick 5 stocks both of them would buy, then leave alone for the year.

Brian shared a bit of his story too. He served in the military, started his career later than most people, and still managed to retire at 46 after working at places like Amazon and Target. 

Joseph also talked about learning the hard way through multiple market cycles, starting back in 1999. That’s why the list leans toward big names with strong cash flow and real staying power.

Here are the 5 stocks they landed on.

Broadcom (AVGO)

Broadcom made the cut because it touches a lot of the AI data center stack, not just one piece. Brian pointed out the company designs specialized chips and helps hyperscalers with custom AI accelerators. 

Joseph also liked it because Broadcom has “inputs” across the data center, including networking, which many people overlook.

The VMware acquisition was another key part of the case. It adds a software layer with high margins, and the early results already look meaningful. Broadcom also has a large cash position and strong margins, which matters for a stock meant to sit in a portfolio without constant babysitting.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW)

Joseph framed cybersecurity as one of the few IT budget categories that rarely gets trimmed, even in tougher years. Companies can delay new software tools, but they can’t ignore ransomware and security threats.

Palo Alto got picked because it has scale and it plays across multiple cybersecurity segments. It’s big enough to buy its way into new areas too, including identity management. 

Brian agreed quickly, and mentioned he already owns it himself. The point here was balance. Strong market position, solid profitability, and exposure to a sector that keeps growing.

Walmart (WMT)

This pick was the “non-tech anchor” of the group. Joseph called Walmart a category killer with more levers than many investors realize.

He talked about pricing power and how retailers often keep some of the benefit when input costs fall. He also brought up Walmart’s ad business and the Vizio acquisition, with the idea that screens become another place to sell attention. 

Brian liked the pick even though he said he normally avoids retail stocks, and he highlighted Walmart’s growing online presence and how easy it is to work with on the marketplace side.

This one is meant to be steady. It’s not there to double overnight. It’s there to compound and hold up when the market gets messy.

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Amazon (AMZN)

Brian’s argument for Amazon centered on AWS re-accelerating as demand for AI infrastructure rises. He also mentioned that there are a lot of large companies that attempted to develop their own AI technology and then discovered that they actually need the hyperscalers anyway.

Joseph agreed and mentioned that Amazon is a “category killer” in more than one space, e-commerce, cloud, and ads. The concept is that Amazon doesn’t need optimal circumstances to continue making progress. They will continue even if one area is not going well because another area will be.

Nvidia (NVDA)

This was the obvious one, and both of them treated it that way. Brian called it almost impossible to leave off a 2026 “set it and forget it” list, mostly because Nvidia still controls the core of the AI compute market.

They also talked about Nvidia expanding beyond GPUs into software and enterprise tools. Joseph added a simple point that often says more than a long thesis: the margins. Nvidia’s profitability shows pricing power, and pricing power is what lets a company stay ahead when competitors try to catch up.

Moreover, they also debated Nebius (NBIS) and SoundHound (SOUN). Nebius got pushback due to the leasing model risk and how hyperscalers can drop partners once their own capacity is built out. SoundHound got rejected mainly due to cash burn and the fear that bigger players can copy the voice AI lane fast.

So the final list stayed focused on proven winners.

The Final 5 “Set It and Forget It” Stocks for 2026

Broadcom (AVGO), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Walmart (WMT), Amazon (AMZN), and Nvidia (NVDA).

It’s a simple blend. Two AI infrastructure winners, one cybersecurity leader, one retail giant with multiple profit engines, and one tech platform that keeps expanding. It’s not flashy. That’s kind of the point.

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