The Best Stocks to Buy Now for Long-Term Gains

Our latest list of the best stocks to buy now comes during the Dow Jones Industrial Average's remarkable, quadruple-digit rally.

The Dow has climbed more than 1,110 from 16,860 on March 1 to close past 18,000 on April 18 – a 6.7% gain. That was the first time the Dow closed above 18,000 since July 2015.

Don't be fooled, though. This is a classic bear market rally. And it's not going to last much longer…

That's why our best stocks to buy now list focuses on long-term gains. These stocks will perform well for years, even if the stock market enters a free fall again like it did between January and mid-February when the Dow dropped 10%.

But before we get to our stocks to buy now, let's look at why this bear market rally is ending soon.

You see, the Federal Reserve has been artificially inflating the stock market.

"Every time 'Mother Janet' promises to go slow, stocks move higher," Money Morning Global Credit Strategist Michael E. Lewitt said, referring to the Fed's dovish tone.

But the Fed will raise rates again soon – probably in June. When that happens, stocks will correct like they did earlier this year. That correction was shortly after the Fed's small, 0.25% rate hike last December.

Investors that play a long-term game in this scenario will fare best. By focusing on stocks that rise steadily over time, they avoid speculative stocks, which can get pummeled by knee-jerk market reactions to the Fed's policies. And our gurus have four new stock recommendations to help with this strategy.

Money Morning Resource Investing Specialist Peter Krauth knows one of the best investments to own before U.S. inflation goes into overdrive…

Director of Technology & Venture Capital Michael Robinson has two defense stocks to buy that take advantage of U.S. military spending…

Robinson also identified a cutting-edge tech stock that's at the forefront of a burgeoning, $1 trillion technology sector…

And Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald has several stocks to buy that will help investors through another recession…

Get all of these stocks picks here in our latest list of the best stocks to buy now…

Money Morning's Best Stocks to Buy Now

• We can feel prices rising everywhere – at the grocery store, the gas pump, and restaurants. Yet, the Fed seems to be completely oblivious. It has engaged in a historic level of quantitative easing – nearly $3.5 trillion in asset purchases – to push inflation back up to 2%. But at every single FOMC meeting, the Fed tells us inflation hasn't reached its 2% target. We can only expect our central bank to continue pursuing inflation, even as consumers suffer. Money Morning Resource Investing Specialist Peter Krauth has the perfect investment for investors looking to save their purchasing power. Find out more about his affordable and profitable strategy here…
• Deloitte Consulting LLP expects U.S. defense spending to surge this year. In fact, Deloitte estimates the defense industry's growth will outpace the quarterly GDP growth of both the U.S. and European Union. Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Michael Robinson recommends one of the best big defense stocks to profit from increasing global turmoil and defense budgets. This company has a ton of lucrative government weapon and aircraft contracts. From 2014 to 2015, the company had earnings-per-share growth of 6.6%. Find out more about this defense stock's potential in 2016 here…
• Robinson's defense stock picks don't stop there. His other pick has already climbed 22% in the past 12 months. This company grew its profit margins by a whopping 7.8% for fiscal year 2015. It also had an incredible 110% return on equity over the same time period. According to Robinson, this company "is set to be one of the best defense plays of the decade." Find out more about this company's bright future here…
• By now, most investors know what 3D printing is, and how fast the 3D printing sector has grown. And like all rapidly growing sectors, 3D printing has gone through "growing pains." But don't discount the entire industry. Robinson believes it's on track to become a $1 trillion sector that will disrupt everything from "your neighborhood jewelry artisan to the world's biggest vehicle manufacturers." Robinson likes one 3D printing stock in particular whose shares could soar 77% in the next 12 months. Find out more about this stock's long-term potential here…
• Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald believes the U.S. economy is in a recession, even if the Fed doesn't recognize it. That's because the way the Fed measures economic activity is flawed and doesn't reflect the current services-based systems. The Fed is still stuck in a century-old mindset when the United States had a manufacturing-based economy. With the economy dragging, Fitz-Gerald says one of the best ways to grow your wealth is to become a long-term investor. He has three stock picks that are powered by his Unstoppable Trends. Find out more about these stock picks and trends here.

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