In this article, we will take a look at 15 good stocks to buy. If you want to see more good stocks to buy, go directly to 5 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now.

A good stock to buy is a stock of a strong company that can grow earnings in the future.

Although a good stock to buy might decline in the near term, there would be a good chance that the good stock to buy would be higher in the long term given the company's normalized earnings potential and its competitive advantages. Ideally a good stock to buy would trade for a fair or attractive valuation.

Many good stocks to buy have historically been leading blue chips that have increased their earnings per share over time. Many of the same stocks make it to the Dividend Aristocrats list where the company has increased its annual dividend for 25 years or more. Many good stocks to buy also return capital back to shareholders through share repurchases. Good stocks to buy are generally less volatile than the general market although there can be exceptions.

Given that the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates significantly this year, the broader market has declined substantially with the S&P 500 down 15% year to date and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 6% year to date. Many stocks, including good stocks to buy, have also declined substantially as well. As a result, some blue chips with competitive advantages trade for fairly attractive valuations if the economy can grow as expected.

Recently, stocks have increased due to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's comments that the Federal Reserve might increase interest rates at a slower pace.

Nevertheless, Powell also said the central bank will still raise rates until it defeats inflation. He added, "Despite some promising developments, we have a long way to go in restoring price stability."

If economic data fails to meet expectations, the good stocks to buy could decline even further. Given the uncertainty, it could be a good idea for long term investors to own a well diversified portfolio of stocks across many different sectors.

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Methodology

For our list of 15 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now, we picked 15 companies with the right mix of scale, competitive advantages, and earnings growth potential.

We then ranked them based on the number of hedge funds in our database that owned shares of the same stocks at the end of Q3 2022.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is a leading tech company that provides infrastructure, software and consulting services for clients as they pursue a digital transformation for their businesses. In terms of the future, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) has a goal to eventually build quantum-centric supercomputers that are substantially faster than today's computers for some applications. In Q3, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) reported adjusted EPS of $1.81 on revenue of $14.1 billion versus the consensus of $1.77 on revenue of $13.51 billion. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) ranks #15 on our list of good stocks to buy.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) is a leading specialty industrial machinery conglomerate whose shares have trended higher in the long term given the strength of the company's businesses. Although the S&P 500 is down 15% year to date, Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) stock is up 5.1% in 2022. On December 1, Julian Mitchell of Barclays raised his price target to $229 from $212 and kept an 'Overweight' rating on Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON).

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a leading defense contractor that makes the F-22 and F-35. Given the growth in military spending over the years, demand for the latest and greatest defense airplanes has never been higher. With a stock price of over $483 per share, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) stock price is near an all time high as well. If Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) can maintain its technological leadership, the company has more growth in the future.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) has rallied from around $100 per share in 2015 to $273.4 on December 1, 2021 given the growth in the company's earnings per share. Although the stock isn't cheap with a forward P/E ratio of 26.14, bulls think the company's same store sales will continue to increase despite the weakening macro environment. Out of the 920 hedge funds in our database, 53 owned shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) at the end of Q3 2022, ranking the company #12 on our list of good stocks to buy.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

Based on its past history over the last 10 years, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) hasn't been a good investment given the struggles at GE Capital and the pandemic affecting aerospace companies. Nevertheless, it seems that General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) has a chance to be a solid stock for the future given the company is more of a leading industrial. Although there could still be downside if there is a recession or if aerospace slows further, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) has long term potential given its normalized earnings power.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68

Leading retailer Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) ranks among the potential good stocks to buy given its substantial scale and earnings power. Despite the inflation headwind, analysts think Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) will earn $6.04 per share in 2023 and $6.59 per share in 2024. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shares also have a dividend yield of around 1.46%.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69

Given the inflation headwind, shares ofThe Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) stock have fallen 8.4% year to date. Nevertheless,The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) has many leading consumer product brands that could rebound if the Federal Reserve wins its battle against inflation. In terms of Wall Street, analysts think The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) will overcome its headwinds with expected EPS of $5.81 for 2023, $6.23 for 2024 and $6.73 for 2025.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a pharmaceutical giant whose shares have surged over 36% year to date to near an all time high. Analysts expect substantial earnings growth in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s future with Wall Street expecting EPS of $7.80 in 2022, $9.17 in 2023, and $12.20 in 2024. 75 hedge funds in our database owned shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), ranking the company #8 on our list of 15 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85

Healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) ranks among the potential good stocks to buy given its substantial normalized earnings power and its forward P/E ratio of 17.24. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has a strong history of increasing its dividend and returning capital back to shareholders. Furthermore, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is held by many smart money funds with 85 hedge funds in our database holding shares at the end of Q3 2022.

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 110

Megabank JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) ranks #6 on our list of 15 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now given 110 hedge funds in our database held shares at the end of Q3 2022. Although the company's earnings might not meet expectations next year if there is a recession, analysts believe JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) will grow its EPS in the long term given its growing market share and its earnings power.

Vltava Fund commented onJPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in a Q3 2022 investor letter,

We regard JPM to be the strongest and best- managed bank in the world. It is a leader in investment banking, commercial banking, credit cards, and asset management. Its size (the largest bank in the USA, with nearly USD 4,000 billion in assets) and diversification give it a strong competitive advantage that is compounded by its cost advantages and the high costs to clients associated with switching banks. JPMs management prides itself on running the only large bank to avoid major instability over the long term. JP Morgans quality and strength first became fully evident in 2008 under the leadership of its CEO Jamie Dimon. Not only did JP Morgan help to stabilize the market by taking over the failing Bear Stearns in the spring of that year, but throughout the Great Financial Crisis it was the only big US bank that did not require government assistance and it was highly profitable even in the difficult year of 2008. A well-functioning and efficient bank can be a very good long-term investment, because the interest compounding effect works well here. JPMs return on equity (ROE) is well into the double digits and this puts it in a good position to continue producing better long-term returns than does the market. JPM has been very profitable even during years when interest rates were close to zero. The current and perhaps not temporary return to somewhat more normal, higher interest rates should have a significantly positive impact on the banks interest income and overall profitability.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now isoriginally published on Insider Monkey.

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15 Good Stocks to Invest in Right Now - Yahoo Finance