Top 7 Reasons to Start Investing Early

There are many advantages to start investing early in life. If an investor builds their portfolios in their 20’s or even 30’s, they can start wealth creation sooner. This TradingSim article will explain to investors the top 7 reasons to build a portfolio even if they’re new to investing in stocks.

Why do people put off investing?

The recent bear market has scared people from investing in the stock market. The recent headlines about the economic downturn could make people hesitant to invest. However, investing can be the best way to build wealth during a turbulent time in the stock market. Kelly Welch, wealth advisor at Girard, advises people to start investing early regardless of the current economic uncertainty.

“Timewise, you may wait for the market to settle down, but no one knows when or if this will happen with any certainty. But if you sit on the sidelines, you’re not in the game,” said Welch.

Here are seven reasons that starting investing early can be beneficial for wealth creation.

1. Starting investing early gives people time to build wealth

When people start investing early, they have extra time to wait out the volatility of the stock market. Financial expert Suze Orman says that new traders should invest in the VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market) ETF. When investing in stocks vs. ETFs, ETFs, or exchange-traded funds can be a safer option for new investors.

“When the time is right, I would be dollar-cost averaging every single month with a specific sum of money into the ETF with the symbol VTI. And do it at a discount brokerage firm where there are no commissions whatsoever,” said Orman.

Staring investing early in ETFs can help build wealth

She recommends dollar-cost averaging for investing early. In dollar-cost averaging, investors put a set amount of money into a stock for a long period of time. Starting investing early with a set amount of money each month can help build wealth sooner.

Orman also recommends saving money when investors are younger. She contends that if investors start investing early, they won’t have to play invest more money when they’re older.

“I would much rather see you invest a specific amount of money when you are young, a lesser amount of money, than waiting and have to invest five or six times [as much] when you are older,” said Orman.

Orman also said that it doesn’t matter how much an investor puts in the stock market as long as they start early.

“The key isn’t the amount, the key is the time,” said Orman.

Compound interest helps increase profits

Compound Interest

In investing, compound interest is a key reason to start investing early. By investing early, an investor can increase profits over the long run.

Albert Einstein noted that “ Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it… he who doesn’t … pays it.” Compound interest is the interest added to an investment’s initial capital and interest that accrued over prior periods.

Here are two examples of how investing early can pay off and increase compound interest.

Malcolm starts investing in a retirement account at 28 with a 7% annual rate of return. He invests $5,000 a year until he retires at 58. After 30 years, he has $150,000 in his account.

Janelle starts investing early at 18 in the same retirement account with the same 7% rate of return. She invests the $5,000 a year also until she retires at 58. After 40 years, she’s accumulated $200,000.

Because Janelle started investing early and kept faithfully setting money aside, she gained more income in retirement than Malcolm. While investments are volatile, a slow and steady investment can help to increase income regardless of what happens in the stock market.

Starting to invest early can help young people meet financial goals

If investors start in their 20s, they can take a small amount of money and make it grow. Anthony Pellegrino, founder of Goldstone Financial Group, notes that starting to invest early can even lead to an early retirement.

“The consequence of waiting to invest is significant”If you start investing when you’re 22 and average an 8% rate of return, you can save as little as 12% of your salary, including an employer match, and be ready to retire by the time you’re 62,” said Pellegrino.

When investors start investing early in their 20’s, they can reach financial goals other than retirement. Even if an investor wants to buy a home, investment income at an early age can help a trader reach that goal quickly. Daniel Hill, president of Hill Wealth Strategies, said putting money aside early can help investors achieve their goals.

“Typical thinking at this age is to wait, simply because they have time. While having time is true, I discourage my 20-something clients from waiting because the sooner they begin saving, the sooner they can obtain their financial goals,” said Hill.

“Shorter-term goals, like building a safety net or setting aside a down payment for your first home, should be invested more conservatively,”  added Hill.

2. Investing early leads to automatic savings

Dollar-cost averaging and starting investing early can start with retirement accounts like 401ks. Robert Farrington, founder of College Investor, noted that automatic saving through is a great way to start investing early.

“The easiest way to get started investing is to do it automatically, just like a 401k. If you want to contribute the max to your Roth IRA each year, set up direct deposit from your paycheck to automatically deposit $192.30 (if paid bi-weekly) into your IRA account. Most brokers offer this option, but you can simply ask for the broker’s routing number and then your account number,” said Farrington.

Regular 401K contributions help build wealth

401k

Graham Williams is the co-founder of Optimist Retirement Group and a financial expert. He advocates matching a 401k contribution from an employer to gain the most income from investments.

“Maximize your tax-deferred, employer-matched investment options first before investing in other options. The combination of dollar-cost averaging, tax savings and a potential employer match creates the ultimate compound interest machine,” said Williams.

If investors want to start investing early in a passive way, contributing to a 401k or other kind of retirement account is key.

Starting to invest early can involve picking value stocks like IBM

Divam Mehta is a certified financial planner with Mehta Financial Group. He advocates that investors start investing early, no matter how little the amount.

The idea is to just get started,” Mehta says. “Allocate a fixed amount that will automatically be invested into an investment account from a checking account. Make it part of the monthly budget.”

3. It’s never been easier to start investing early

With trading apps like Robinhood, it’s never been easier to invest. If new investors are unsure of where to begin, they can start with value stocks with reliable returns. Robinhood co-CEO Baiju Bhatt notes that the app has made it convenient to start investing early.

“It’s really more convenient for people to have one app on their phone that is the go-to for that activity.  We see an opportunity as we add more services and features to Robinhood to really be on that one app for all customers’ finances,” said Bhatt. 

With investing apps, Bhatt feels early investors can feel that they are more in control of their finances.

“We’ve seen a major paradigm shift for broader financial services. People that previously didn’t feel like the markets were for them are for the first time feeling a sense of inclusivity,” said Bhatt.

With the stock market crash of March, many traders felt it was a good time to buy the dip and purchase stocks at rock-bottom prices. There was also an increase in early investing because of the government stimulus checks that were issued this past spring.

Tim Welsh, founder and CEO of wealth management consulting firm Nexus Strategy, also notes that the increased government income helped new investors. He also noted that Robinhood and other trading apps lowered the barrier of entry to making investments.

“The access to trading, there are no barriers to entry anymore, its on your phone, you can buy whatever you want, fractional shares are available so if you can’t pony up $1,400 to buy one share of Google you can still own the FANG stocks,” said Welsh. 

Financial experts notes growth of trading apps in starting investing early

Citi chief U.S. equity strategist Tobias Levkovich wrote in a note to clients that there was an increase in “new investors who sense a generational-buying moment but do not have much background in the equity space.”

Levkovich also wrote about traders started investing early in tech stocks like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Apple stock is a key tech stock for traders who start investing early

“We have heard anecdotally about younger individuals with less market experience viewing the March plunge as a unique time to start portfolios and often crowding into the tech arena, purchasing the stocks whose services or products they know and use,” wrote Levkovich.

Acorns lets people use spare change to start investing early

In addition to stock trading apps like Robinhood, Acorn is another app that lets people start investing early. In contrast to Robinhood offering stocks to trade in a volatile stock market, Acorns takes a more subtle approach. For people who want to start investing early, they can take as much little as a dollar a month to micro-invest in ETFs. New investors can even take spare change from purchases to invest in the stock market.

Noah Kerner, CEO of Acorns, noted that it’s important for young people to start investing early and to learn from the current economic downturn.

“Take in what’s happening right now, and don’t forget it. When the dot-com bubble happened … and when the Great Recession happened in 2008, everybody felt it. And everybody said the same things: ‘This is unprecedented. I’m never going to forget this moment. ‘And then time passes and people forget,” said Kerner.

Kerner also wants new investors to buy stocks while they’re at affordable prices.

“When there’s a sale in fashion, people go and buy things. When the market is on sale for 30% to 35%, that’s when you get in,” said Kerner.

Kerner also advises people who start investing early to set aside money consistently.

“Invest regularly. No matter what, even if it’s a very small amount, try to keep going. That’s why we focus on spare change. Just try to do a little bit so that you can keep the momentum going and you can keep benefiting from compounding,” said Kerner.

Stash another app that enables early investing

Stash is another app that lets people micro-invest to start investing early. A Stash spokesperson spoke about the company’s mission to help people who are starting investing early.

“The intention was, and continues to be, focused on customer growth, brand awareness, and to help reach more Americans who need our help in creating a better life, no matter their network or net worth,” said the Stash spokesperson.

Brandon Krieg, Stash’s co-founder and CEO said in a statement that Stash wants to help people who want to start investing early.

“We are very fortunate to bring together world-class investors, to help accelerate Stash’s goal of bringing digital banking, investing plus financial education and advice to the millions of middle-class Americans working hard every day to make ends meet,” said Krieg.

“This massive group has attempted to make financial progress within a system that simply does not serve their best interests or meet their needs. It’s time for them to reconsider the current financial servicing industry as the ‘status-quo’ and take control of their financial life with the customer-obsessed solutions we provide at Stash,” added Krieg.

Stash’s success leads to partnerships with large-scale investors

Because Stash has increased its customer base, it’s partnered with Lending Tree to help people start investing early. Lending Tree CEO Doug Lebda, Founder and CEO of LendingTree, touted its partnership with Stash.

“Stash’s mission to help Americans achieve financial progress is complementary to ours in every way, and we’ve been impressed with Stash’s speed of execution and commitment to positive customer outcomes,” said Lebda.

“The focus on meaningful financial progress is so relevant, especially in today’s economic environment which has only been amplified by the current pandemic. Giving customers a way to make real strides in achieving financial security is incredibly powerful to our combined missions.”

Robinhood, Acorn, and Stash are just some of the apps that make it easier for people to start investing early.

4. Starting to invest early can lead to better risk management

If investors start investing early, they can handle the risks of investing better. While younger investors shouldn’t buy stocks without thorough research, stocks that are popular growth stocks with potential can be lucrative.

Since young investors are buying stocks on Robinhood, CNBC’s Jim Cramer approves of some of the risks that they are taking. He especially thinks it makes sense to start investing early in stocks like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) if people are financially able to pick the stock.

Tesla is a top stock for Robinhood traders who start investing early

“If you’re a younger investor, it makes a ton of sense to bet on the only car company that’s so popular it doesn’t need to advertise,” said Cramer.

Starting investing early can pay off if they buy cheap or relevant stocks

Cramer also approves of early investors buying stocks when their prices tumble, like American Airlines (NYSE:AA). Buying stocks when they are cheap can pay off if the stocks eventually rebound.

“This is another one where I get the temptation. The stock’s down close to 70% from its highs. It’s a big bounce-back candidate if the government bails out the industry — and we always bail out the air industry,” said Cramer.

In the wake of COVID-19, many young investors also poured money into pharmaceutical stocks. One investor, Rodney Henderson, invested in medical stocks because of the potential of drugs to treat the coronavirus.

“While the coronavirus was happening, I think the biggest uptrend in stocks that was going on was in pharma. A lot of companies that are going to improve our lives after the coronavirus,” said Henderson.

Drugs like Moderna could potentially be a treatment for COVID-19. Because of the experimental vaccine’s potential, Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said the stock is a buy for new investors.

He said the valuation of Moderna could be “$35B[billion] on MRNA[Moderna] if it does have a novel mRNA platform that generated a COVID vaccine in less than a year would be worthy of praise, in our view”.

“We believe the[Wall] Street will be surprised to the upside if the Covid-19 vaccine works, gets approved by early 2021, and there are multi-billion dollars of purchase orders from USA and around the world,” added Yee.

When starting investing early, investors can pick stocks with more volatility. They can take more risks because they will have more time to recover any losses.

5. Starting to invest with established stocks can lead to more income

If starting to invest early, trusted tech stocks are a strong option. Lindsey Bell, chief investment strategist at Ally Invest, advises people who start investing early to pick stocks that they’re familiar with, like Google (NASDAQ:GOOG).

Google is a well-known stock for people who start to invest early

“If you’ve never invested in the market before, you should ease into it. You’ll need to get used to it before you feel comfortable with the up and down swings the market can make. Invest in something you understand,”  said Bell.

Citi’s main U.S. equity strategist Tobias Levkovich noted that many young investors are buying tech stocks that they know. They have been purchasing the stocks since the quarantine.

“We have heard anecdotally about younger individuals with less market experience viewing the March plunge as a unique time to start portfolios and often crowding into the tech arena, purchasing the stocks whose services or products they know and use,” said Levkovich.

Financial experts advise people to do research before starting investing early

Many financial analysts advise people to conduct research on companies before starting to invest early. John Paul Engel is president of Knowledge Business Consulting. He wants investors to invest in companies that have strong profits and balance sheets.

“Look for a company out of favor that has significant assets, not on its balance sheet. For example, a company with a lot of patents, or a company with a lot of real estate,” said Engle.

“Also before everything else I always consider the management of a company. If the team has a history of success chances are good they will be successful in the future,” added Engle.

Diversified portfolio pivotal to start investing early

In addition to investing in stocks, financial experts advocate having a diversified portfolio. When starting to invest early, people should choose a wide variety of stocks to build their portfolios. Rob Cavallero, chief product officer at RobustWealth, said young investors should invest in a variety of stocks.

“One big mistake to avoid as a 20-something investor is holding concentrated positions in trendy investments. During the dot-com bubble, investors chased expensive internet stocks, and a lot of people got hurt. Stick with a diversified portfolio of low-cost funds invested in conventional asset classes, at least initially,” said Cavallero.

Amin Dabit is a certified financial planner. He advocates people who start investing early have a mixture of stocks and bonds in different industries. Dabit says a diversified portfolio will help shield new investors from large losses.

“During a bull market, it can be easy to forget that the market delights in surprises. The best safeguard against market cycles, while still benefiting from the upside, is through committing to a well-diversified portfolio and long-term focus,” said Dabit.

What should new investors have in a diversified portfolio?

While there is no set age, there should usually be an allotment of assets investors should add based on age. For younger people ready to start investing, there is a certain percentage favored by Dan Egan, a financial advisor. Egan is Betterment’s director of behavioral finance and he recommends they predominately invest in stocks and some bonds.

“For long term goals, those with time horizons over 20 years or more, we recommend setting your portfolio to 90% stocks and 10% bonds,” said Egan.

Lacey Cobb, director of portfolio management at Personal Capital, wants people to start investing early with a large portfolio of a wide variety of stocks.

“A good rule of thumb is to own at least 30 stocks. We also generally suggest people avoid allocating more than 4% of their portfolio to any single stock,” sais Cobb.

Example of Walt Disney Stock with earnings of $1.62
Disney stock is a top established stock to start investing early

Egan also advises investors to diversify their portfolios with international stocks to possibly increase returns.

“It’s important to include international stocks in order to benefit from growth overseas, especially when it happens while the U.S. stagnates,” said Egan.

“While the U.S. stock market currently makes up approximately 50% of total market capitalization, international stocks and bonds are playing an increasingly large role in portfolio investing as more and more economies grow to maturity around the globe,” added Egan.

BetaShares CEO Alex Vynokur said that if new investors want to take risks, they can focus on stocks in two specific industries.

“If you want growth, up to half of your equities portfolio should be invested in growth opportunities, and this means technology, where opportunities can be found in a combination of global technology leaders. I also think a growth portfolio can include investments in other sectors, such as healthcare,” said Vynokur.

By starting investing early in established value stocks and a diversified portfolio, investors can have a good start to their portfolios.

6. Starting to invest early leads to patience and profits

When starting to invest early, new investors can learn that patience can pay off. Andy Garrison, senior wealth advisor with Mariner Wealth Advisors says it’s crucial to invest now so people can have less financial stress late on in life.

“Don’t waste time trying to pick the next Apple; just get money invested. The big picture is if you start investing now, you may be able to work a lot less over your life because you’re letting your money do the heavy lifting over time,” said Garrison.

“Treat your investment account like an angsty teenager that needs some time and space to grow. It might act up from time to time, but in the end, it’ll all work out,” added Garrison.

Investing early means that you don’t have to time the market

When investing early, many people want to try to outsmart the market to try to make a bigger profit. However, it’s unwise to try to time the market and guess what will happen next to get short-term gains.

Tyler Gray is a financial advisor at SageOak Financial. He advises against trying to outsmart the markets and to choose stocks based on long-term returns.

Starting to invest early shouldn’t involve timing the market

“Don’t try to time the market — you will not succeed. It is impossible to understand, take into account and predict all of the forces that affect short-term market movements. Instead, stick with winning long-term investments that you carefully and methodically research,” said Gray.

Princeton University professor Burt Malkiel noted it’s impossible to predict what will happen in the stock market.

“Nobody, and I mean nobody, can consistently predict the short-term moves in the stock markets,’ said Malkiel.

Malkiel advises people who start investing early stay in the market for the long-term.

“There’s a lot of people who get it right sometimes. But nobody gets it right consistently. Don’t try to time the market. You will get it wrong. Ride things out. Be well diversified,” added Malkiel.

Millennials saving more as they start investing early

While many think people who start investing early are irresponsible, many millennials are investing and saving more money worldwide. In Australia, BetaShares CEO Alex Vynokur notes that more young people are investing early and saving more money as a result.

“But what we found particularly interesting is seeing a younger demographic buying throughout the crisis – both as the market is falling and also on the way up,” said Vynokur.

“Many are investing either once a week or once a month and it’s been interesting to see how this demographic, which is generally Millennials, are displaying a lot more discipline than people traditionally have given them credit for,” added Vynokur.

Financial experts advise long-term strategy to start investing early

Tim Welsh, president of Nexus Strategy, advocates that investors buy stocks and hold them. He thinks that selling stocks in a panic is not best for people who start investing early. Welsh advocates people who start investing early to have patience with their investments.

“There’s buy and hold for a reason and anyone who’s inexperienced and is just clicking around and buying and selling based on the movements in the markets on a daily basis really have no chance to be successful,” said Welsh.

Philippines-based COL Financial services CEO Dino Bate advises young investors to stay the course when they start investing early.

“Investing in the stock market is really for the long term — it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme where you make money overnight. It’s buying good quality companies that will grow your money as they grow their businesses,” said Bate.

When people start investing early, they can learn to have more discipline and patience to withstand economic volatility and increase their wealth over the long run.

7. Starting to invest early can lead to early retirement

Investing early can have another benefit in a shorter time-an early retirement. With estimates saying that people need $1 million to retire, investing early can help people have more financial freedom.

For some young people, the FIRE( financial independence, retire early) movement is an enticement to start investing early. Many people have found success by making wise investments to retire early.

While the FIRE movement may not a realistic goal of every investor, if investors put extra money into their portfolios sooner, retiring comfortably could be a result.

Starting investing early can help start FIRE

Jackie Cummings Koski is a single mother who retired a millionaire after maxing out her retirement account contributions. While saving or investing half of her income to retire isn’t for everyone, Koski said investing early helped her achieve financial freedom.

“You’re not going to be saving or investing unless in your mind you believe it will make a difference. It may take a while to really get your head around things like me, but it happens, and when it does, it is very, very powerful,” said Koski.  

If investors start investing early in stocks like Microsoft, they can possibly retire earlier

Chris Mamula is a FIRE advocate who says that investing as much as they can if they want to retire early.

“50-50, stock-to-bond portfolio probably won’t work because you have such a long timeframe and need to account for inflation,” said Mamula.

Money expert J.P. Livingston also stresses that starting to invest early is crucial. She also advocates contributing the maximum amount to workers’ 401k’s to build wealth in addition to cutting spending.

“At some point, your money pile grows to a size where focusing on growing your nest egg will have a much more material impact to your net wealth than further reductions on your spending,” said Livingston.

She also said that when investing early, it’s important to pick investments that can gain income in a tax-exempt 401k.

“Ideally, the investments that must actually realize gains and income (for example, selling options, getting dividends that aren’t tax-exempt) should go in the tax-advantaged accounts,” said Livingston.

Investing early can lead to financial security in crises

When people start investing early, they’re able to weather any economic emergency. FIRE advocate Steve Adcock and his wife Courtney investing as much of their income as they could. Because of the increased early investments, the Adcocks were able to have enough saved during the recent recession.

“Since we’ve quit our jobs so early in life, we felt like having the extra cash outside of investments was a great way to reduce risk during recessions and other market collapses,” said Adcock.

“In fact, we lived off of that emergency fund during the COVID-19 market crash in March and April so we didn’t need to sell even a single share of stock to maintain our standard of living,”  added Adcock.

If early investment is a goal, then starting investing early is a must for people who invest in stocks.

Low-cost index funds can help people who start investing early

Many FIRE advocates investing in index funds as a way to passively grow income. When people start investing early and want to retire early, low-cost index funds are a key low-risk investment. Low-cost index funds are mutual funds that usually track the S&P 500. Noted investor Warren Buffett also recommends low-cost index funds for early investors.

“Consistently buy an S&P 500 low-cost index fund. I think it’s the thing that makes the most sense practically all of the time,” said Buffett.

Derek Horstmeyer is an associate professor at George Mason University School of Business. He said that if people start investing early in low-cost index funds, they can be an efficient way to earn more money.

“Index funds are still the best bet in this terrible roller-coaster environment. The single greatest factor in long-run returns for a fund are the fees paid,” said Horstmeyer.

“With index funds now with expense ratios down at close to zero, this is still far better than any actively managed fund. Further, active management notoriously does poorly in volatile periods since they are bad market timers – this is another reason to stick with indexers,” added Horstmeyer.

Starting investing early is key to financial freedom

While starting investing early in this current economy seems risky, it’s actually a safe way to handle money. By putting aside money in stocks, index funds, or 401ks, investors can build a portfolio that can help them have a safe financial haven. With just a small amount to invest, people can start a path to building wealth.

With TradingSim’s blog and access to practice simulated trading strategies, new investors can make the best stock choices for them. When people start investing early with the best information available to them from TradingSim, new investors can begin on their path to financial independence.

Beginner Investor

Investing for beginners can seem like a daunting task. However, with the proper analysis, new investors can make the best choices to build their portfolios. This TradingSim article will walk beginning investors through how to start building and rebalancing their portfolios. Portfolios are a collection of stocks and other assets. This article will also help investors pick the best stocks for an investment strategy.

Why should people start investing?

There are many reasons why people should start investing and building a portfolio by investing in stocks. Stocks are a piece of a company that helps people feel ownership of a corporation. If stocks are performing well, an investor’s wealth will increase as well.

Many people start short-term investing for a quick profit, like day trading stocks. Some want to invest for long-term goals, like buying a house or for eventual retirement. Regardless of the reason, beginning investors should set some money aside in an investment account to build wealth creation and save for their futures from the returns. Returns are the profits from stocks.

What financial terms should investors know?

Financial Terms

Some popular terms are used on Wall Street. Here are some of the most common ones.

  1. New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the main stock exchange in the U.S. Many stocks are traded on this platform from 9:30 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST. Many stocks trade under ticker symbols like GM. GM’s symbol is yes, GM. So, if an investor is looking for GM stock on a ticker, the symbol would look like this:(NYSE:GM).
  2. Nasdaq(NASDAQ). Nasdaq is the second-biggest stock exchange in the world. Many large tech companies are traded on this exchange, including Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG).
  3. Value stocks are stable, low-cost stocks that sell below their worth.
  4. Growth stocks are stocks that usually outperform the general stock market. They are often more volatile, but have higher returns, or profits, for investors.
  5. A bull market is when the market is rising by more than 20%. If a financial analyst is bullish on a stock, that means they think the stock is worth buying and its stock price will increase. If a stock’s price increases, that makes it more valuable and gives more returns to investors.
  6. A bear market is when the stock market falls by more than 20%. When a financial analyst is bearish on a stock, that means that they think the stock should be sold and its stock price will fall. When a stock price declines, the profitability decreases and gives fewer returns to new investors.

What platform should beginning investors choose?

Millennial investors who are comfortable with risk should find independent trading apps like Robinhood easier for them to use. However, more risk-averse beginning investors may want more financial education along with their investments. In that case, they may want to use more traditional brokerage firms like TD Ameritrade. Those firms often have zero-commission costs for U.S. stocks. However, there are fees to trade foreign stocks.

Robo-advisors can also be used in investing for beginners. For novice investors who want a hands-off approach, robo-advisors like Ellevest offer investment services through algorithms. They take investors’ financial goals and builds a portfolio based on the information. The robo-advisors’ fees are usually 0.25% of an investor’s portfolio.

How much money is needed for investing for beginners?

While there used to be a certain amount needed to invest with brokers, online trading apps have greatly reduced that number. Some investing apps like Robinhood have zero commission fees. However, they charge a $5 fee for an upgraded membership to have access to invest on margin. Investing on margin means borrowing from a trading platform to invest in stocks. Sounds crazy, but whoever would have thought 20 years ago we would need membership software companies like Wellyx to manage gym members.

Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary notes that investing can be enhanced by setting aside money from income. He suggests beginning investors start putting money into the markets instead of buying unnecessary items. He suggests setting aside $100 a week for investment.

“What I’ve learned to do, and what has really helped me in maintaining growth in my own personal investing is, anytime I pick up something I’m going to buy, I say to myself, ‘Do I really need this?’ Because if I don’t buy it, the money is going to be invested and make money every year for me while I’m sleeping,” said O’Leary.

New investors should always have an emergency fund set aside. When investors have emergency funds for stocks, there isn’t as much of a rush to buy or sell stocks based on rash decisions.

Should investing for beginners follow the stock market?

In a bear market, stock prices plunge by 20%. In a bear market, stocks rise by 20%. While some investing for beginners may involve emotions at first, research is key. Because the stock market has so many ups and downs, new investors should not panic sell their stocks in this current recession.

Despite the COVID-19-caused recession, financial expert Suze Orman says that now may be the best time to invest. She said that the cyclical nature of the stock market means that investors should stay the course.

“You will never, ever, know the bottom. You will never, ever, know the top. Fortunes are going to be made out of this time. So just stay calm. I can guarantee you that if you stay in and you just stick with it, three years from now you will be very, very happy that you did,” said Orman.

While monitoring the stock market is crucial, new investors shouldn’t just buy or sell stocks based only on the way the stock market is moving.

What taxes do investors pay for stocks?

Taxes are due when investors sell their stocks for a profit. Those taxes are capital gains taxes. There are two types of capital gains taxes. Short-term capital gains are taxed at a higher rate than long-term capital gains.

Capital losses are the opposite of capital gains. When investors sell an asset for less than they paid for, they have to pay taxes on those losses. However, reporting the capital losses can help with lowering a tax bill. If an investor sells one stock at a profit, the losses can be subtracted from the gains to lower the tax liability.

What options are best for investing for beginners?

There are many options that new investors can choose other than stocks. Below are some of the most popular ways that they can get started with building their portfolios.

Coca-Cola stock is a top stock for investing for beginners

Bonds often a safer investment for new traders

In addition to stocks, beginning investors can buy bonds through trading apps or brokerage firms. Investors can also purchase bonds through the U.S. Treasury’s website.

When the Treasury issues government bonds, When investors choose bonds, they are giving a loan to the government. The government promises to pay an investor back with interest when the bond matures. There are Treasury bonds that investors can hold for two, five, 10, even 30 years.

If an investor wants to know which bond to buy and when to sell, they should identify their financial goals. Robert Johnson, professor of finance at Creighton University, notes that new investors should only buy two-year bonds if they have short-term goals.

“It’s driven largely by one’s time horizon. For example, if one is accumulating a down payment for a home and plans on accessing the funds in say, two years, one should not invest in a 10-year bond. If you mismatch the maturity and the time horizon, you run the risk of losing money even though Treasury securities are risk- free,” said Johnson.

Corporate and municipal bonds another way to invest

Municipal bonds are another option for investing for beginners. Municipal bonds are government debt securities that are bought by investors. The bonds are loans to the government that are used to fund local roads, bridges, and libraries.

In addition to municipal bonds, new investors can buy corporate bonds. Corporations issue bonds to increase capital to fund expansion. With corporate bonds, there are often higher yields than with bonds or CDs.

However, beginning investors have to watch to ensure that corporate bonds have high credit ratings. If corporate bonds are rated AA or AAA, then they are the safest options for beginning investors.

In addition to stocks, bonds are a safe way to increase wealth. Bonds are much more low-risk than stocks, but the payout isn’t as high as it is with stocks.

Stocks and bonds can lead to diversified portfolio

When investing for beginners, they can buy a mixture of stocks and bonds. The blend of assets can lead to a portfolio that is evenly balanced. If an investment portfolio has too many stocks, investors can lose a lot of money if the stock market tumbles.

The “100 rule” usually informs investors on how much to invest in stocks and bonds. If an investor is 30 years old, subtract 30 from 100. In that instance, a new investor allocate 70% to stocks and 30% to buying bonds. With that balance of stocks and bonds, a beginning investor can build their portfolios.

CD’s another low-risk way to invest

Certificates of deposit (CD’s) are another low-risk way to invest for beginners. These certificates are usually issued by banks and offer higher interest rates than regular savings accounts. Similar to bonds, CD’s are fixed instruments that must be held for a certain amount of time.

For example, a one-year CD at Chase Bank can be purchased at 1.25% interest. If a beginning investor waits a year and redeem the CD, an investor will receive the investment with interest. When an investor makes an early withdrawal, there are usually penalties to pay.

ETFs another option for investing for beginners

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are another investment option for starting investors. The funds are a collection of assets, usually stocks in one specific industry. When trying to decide whether to choose stocks vs. ETFs, diversification is best. Choosing both stocks and ETFs can lead to a more balanced and possibly more profitable portfolio.

401 K’s are common entryway for investing for beginners

For many beginning investors, their employer-based 401K’s are their first introduction to the stock market. With 401K’s, a percentage of an employee’s paycheck is invested in an employer-provided retirement plan. The employee’s contributions are usually invested in mutual funds. Mutual funds are companies that pool money together to buy shares of a collection of stocks and bonds.

Many 401K’s are great ways for investors to save for retirement by delving into the stock market. They are tax-free except if employees make withdrawals from the funds. Beginning investors should ideally invest 10% of their income into 401Ks to increase wealth creation and have more income when they retire.

What criteria should be included for stocks for new investors?

New investors shouldn’t just blindly choose stocks. They should look for certain factors to determine that the stocks they buy are the best to help build income.

  1. High dividends. Dividends are quarterly payments that companies pay to stockholders every quarter. These payments are usually proof that the stock is a reliable one that offers extra income to investors.
  2. Track record of profitability. When investing for beginners, they should pick stocks that have strong profits for many quarters. Checking a company’s earnings report every four months to determine a corporation’s profitability.
  3. Diversity in business. The best stocks for new investors should not just focus on one industry. For example, an investor only has hotel stocks. If the hotel industry falls, then an investor’s portfolio suffers as well. It’s important to pick stocks that have diverse interests that are better able to survive the unpredictability of the stock market. Stocks like Uber(NASDAQ:Uber) that have diverse interests as ride-sharing and food delivery service Uber Eats are better choices for investing for beginners.

If an investor just wants to stick to stocks, here are 10 of the best options for investing for beginners.

1. Berkshire Hathaway is top stock for investing for beginners

Berkshire Hathaway(NYSE:BRK-A) is a dependable stock that can pay off for a new investor. The firm is led by legendary investor Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway has made investments in reliable and profitable stocks.

Berkshire is a company with diverse holdings that are some of the most prominent companies in the world. Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express are just some of Berkshire’s investments. Buffett himself touted his company’s stock.

“I happen to believe that Berkshire is as about as sound as any single investment can be in terms of earning reasonable returns over time,” said Buffett.

Berkshire itself is a low-cost stock with high value. Many see Buffett’s investments as a sign of how important a company is. Berkshire’s latest investment in the Dominion Energy natural gas company adds to the company’s impressive portfolio.

“We are very proud to be adding such a great portfolio of natural gas assets to our already strong energy business,” said Buffett.

Berkshire Hathaway stock the best stock for investing for beginners

Darren Pollock, a portfolio manager at Cheviot Value Management, invests in Berkshire because he that the investment shows that the company is willing to make investments to build up its weak parts of its portfolio.

“I’m inspired to see that, given that he’s bearish, he’s still willing to make acquisitions where he thinks it makes sense and where it meets Berkshire’s hurdle points,” said Pollack.

Berkshire Hathaway is a buy for financial experts

Berkshire is a buy because of its large cash reserve. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman purchased many shares of Berkshire stock because of its healthy cash reserves. A good cash reserve means that a corporation is profitable and withstand an economic downturn.

“Berkshire’s discounted valuation, large excess cash balances, and substantial margin opportunities at several key operating subsidiaries provided an attractive investment opportunity,” said Ackman.

Ackman also believes that Berkshire can overcome the COVID-19-caused recession.

“We[investors] believe that Berkshire will not be materially negatively impacted as a result of the [coronavirus] crisis. Rather, we believe that Berkshire will emerge from this crisis as a more valuable enterprise as the market decline will enable it to invest a substantial portion of its cash,” said Ackman.

Berkshire Hathaway’s strong record of choosing top holdings to invest in and large cash flow make the company’s stock a great choice for beginning investors.

2. AT&T

AT&T(NYSE:T) is another good stock for investing for beginners. The telecommunications company has been around for over a century. AT&T has evolved to become a communications giant that pays high dividends to investors.

AT&T has high dividend payout to investors

AT&T’s dividend yield each quarter is 6.8%, which makes it a Dividend Aristocrat. That means that the stock is one of THE highest-paying stocks that pay dividends. The dividend yield means that the stock will give reliable extra income to new investors.

AT&T a top stock for investing for beginners

AT&T’s 5G adoption makes it a top stock for new investors

In addtion to its reliable dividend payments, AT&T stock is a good buy for investing for beginners because of its early adoption of new technology. Chris Sambar is executive vice-president of AT&T’s Technology Operations. He noted that the recent quarantine led to the company’s strengthening its 5G network.

“While many of us have been working from home for the past three months, AT&T’s network team continued to build and test our network so that we could emerge from this season with stronger, broader 5G coverage for our customers across the country,” said Sambar.

“Whether it’s getting you back to work, back to school, or back to play, we’ve got you covered with the fastest wireless speeds in the nation,” added Sambar.

With its high-paying dividend and expansion of 5G technology, AT&T stock is a top choice for investing for beginners.

3. Google

Google’s(NASDAQ:GOOG)’s parent Alphabet is another top stock for investing for beginners. The company’s revenue increased 13% during the COVID-19 crisis. Google is the most dominant search engine and its diverse interests in self-driving cars and media ventures like YouTube make the stock one to choose for new investors.

Google is a buy for a top stock for investing for beginners

Many financial experts pick Google as a stock to invest in because of its diversified interests. Giverny Capital Hedge Fund rates Google as a buy, meaning that it encourages investors to purchase Google stock.

“Our largest holding at inception is Alphabet, representing 7.7% of the portfolio. The Google search engine advertising business strikes us as possibly the best business model on the planet. Management has used Google’s enormous profit engine to reinvest in the research and development of artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, cloud computing and other platforms for the future,” said Giverny Capital.

Google stock is key stock for investing for beginners

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak also is a good stock to add to investors’ portfolios.

“We[Morgan Stanley] are particularly positive on its emerging e-commerce products (shopping listings, virtual show rooms, deep linking, etc), focus on [small and medium-sized businesses], and efforts to drive digital transformation in the healthcare and education industries,” said Nowak.

Google’s investment in varied businesses and stable ad revenue make the stock a good choice for investing for beginners.

4. Apple

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the most valuable companies in the world with its ubiquitous devices. The tech company’s stock is a good investment for beginning investors because of its innovation.

Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan thinks Apple stock is worth buying because the company is making its own chips for its computers. Because Apple is making its own chips for its computers in-house, it saves money and increases the corporations’ profitability.

“Perhaps the biggest takeaway from today’s event was the reassurance that Apple is still driving innovation and new ways to use technology hardware and software,” wrote Mohan in a note to clients.

Apple stock a good stock for investing for beginners

Mohan also thinks Apple is a good buy for investing for beginners because of the increased uses for its devices. He praises Apple’s “AirPods incorporating surround sound and spatial audio, the Watch supporting more health workouts, tracking user dance movements and tracking sleep.”

A Deutsche Bank analyst also thinks Apple is a strong buy for investing for beginners.

“Overall, we feel comfortable that AAPL(Apple) should continue to offer upside for investors,” noted the analyst.

Apple is at the forefront of technology because of its ability to innovate. Beginning investors should add Apple stock if they want to invest in a stock that’s always on the cutting edge.

5. Amazon is key stock for investing for beginners

While Amazon(NASDAQ:AMZN) is a pricey stock, the investment is well worth it for investing for beginners. The e-commerce giant has grown during the nationwide quarantine. Because of its diverse interests in e-commerce, cloud technology, and its Alexa devices, Mark Tepper of Strategic Wealth Partners rates Amazon stock as a buy.

“It’s the best diversified post-COVID play. They’re literally in every single business that’s going to thrive on a going-forward basis. You’ve got e-commerce, cloud, digital advertising, personal assistance,” said Tepper.

Amazon stock the week of March 19

Tepper also believes that Amazon’s stock price should stay at its current hefty price because of the Federal Reserve giving money to many troubled banks and businesses.

“Normally, during periods of heavy investment for Amazon like they’re seeing right now, the multiple comes down, but apparently that doesn’t matter anymore when the Fed’s dishing out trillions of dollars like it’s going out of style. So, I think the best pick right here would still be Amazon,” added Tepper.

Amazon stock is a good choice for investing for beginners if they’re able to purchase one high-priced stock for long-term returns.

6. Microsoft

Microsoft stock (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a tech stock that would be good for beginning investors. The corporation has performed well with its Azure cloud technology. Amana Mutual Funds Trust rates Microsoft stock as a buy because of its diverse interests in cloud technology and popular Xbox gaming devices.

“Microsoft led the major technology stocks, enjoying multiple advantages. Strong growth from its Azure Cloud Services business will almost certainly continue as stay-at-home accelerates the transition to buy online. Nor would we rule out a bump in Xbox sales!” said Amana Mutual Funds.

Microsoft stock is robust for investing for beginners

Sextant Capital Corporation also notes that many more retailers will use Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services as they sell more merchandise online. The upcoming announcement of new Xbox games later this summer may also drive sales of Microsoft hardware and will also help make Microsoft an attractive stock for new investors.

“If the pandemic leads retailers to ramp up their online competency, they will likely require cloud services and will be equally likely to not want to give that business to Amazon. Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services will happily accommodate. Remote work may be driving software demand higher and it seems likely that hardware demand (read Xbox) increased during the quarter,” said Sextant.

In investing for beginners, Microsoft is a fairly reliable stock.

7. Visa

Visa (NYSE:V) is a relatively stable stock with a high dividend of 0.62% every quarter. The credit card company is part of the movement to a cashless society. Visa could be a good stock for investing for beginners because it’s at the forefront of digital payments. During the coronavirus, many people are using credit cards more.

Chief financial officer Vasant Prabhu noted that many consumers are using digital payments as social distanced shopping increases.

“There is certainly a growing tendency to not want to use cash. And also, of course, not even just a tap your card, the aversion to cash could be persistent, which means that even face-to-face transactions or penetration of digital forms of payment could be growing in a permanent and structural way faster than it might have prior to the crisis,” said Prabhu.

International growth make Visa a top stock for investing for beginners

Chief Product Officer Jack Forestell noted that 13 million Latin American customers used Visa cards for the first time in March.

“We’re seeing a massive acceleration toward e-commerce adoption,” said Forestell.

Visa is also expanded internationally by adding a payment feature to the popular social media network WhatsApp in Brazil. Through its Visa Direct payment system, people can send money to each other through the app. Visa touted the deal in a statement.

“Using our technology to open up avenues like WhatsApp for more people to shop and pay each other digitally is an incredibly powerful proposition that we’re excited to bring to life,” wrote Visa in a press release.

Visa’s international expansion and use of the most current technology makes the stock a top choice for investing for beginners.

8. Disney an established stock for investing for beginners

Disney (NYSE:DIS) is a world-renowned brand that’s a top choice for investing for beginners. While the coronavirus crisis has shut down many Disney theme parks, the slow re-opening of the economies could help Disney rebound. For new investors, Robert Bacarella, the founder of Monetta Financial Services recommends Disney stock because he believes it can recover from recent economic lows.

“Look to companies that provide services and products you use and which you believe should return to normal profitability once this pandemic is behind us. We currently don’t know the extent of the damage, but we do know that people will eventually shop again, go to restaurants, fly and even plan a trip to Disney or go on a cruise,”  said Bacarella.

Example of Walt Disney Stock with earnings of $1.62
Example of Walt Disney Stock with earnings of $1.62

Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich also believes Disney stock is a buy when its theme parks re-open. She also thinks the corporation’s stock is worth purchasing because of its successful Disney Plus streaming service, especially its recent premiere of the Broadway blockbuster Hamilton. Disney also added many more viewers through ESPN’s Last Dance documentary about Michael Jordan and the ’90s Chicago Bulls. (ESPN is a Disney property.)

“Although Covid-19 pressures should continue to weigh on near-term financials, we believe Disney is positioned to grow stronger through the crisis (e.g., a faster Disney+ rollout, better long-term theme park margin potential and improved ESPN programming appeal) and numerous catalysts exist to drive growth higher,” said Reif Ehrlich.

Disney+ makes stock solid choice for new investors

Bob Chapek, Disney’s CEO touted the success of Disney + since it launched last year. The recent quarantine led the service to grow to 50 million subscribers.

“In late March as planned and despite COVID-19, we had an incredibly successful launch of Disney+ in Western Europe, followed by a highly successful launch in India. We announced in early April that in just five months, we had surpassed 50 million subscribers globally, a significant milestone for us. We’ve been quite pleased with the growth that we’ve seen in the four weeks since then and there is more to come,” said Chapek.

The diverse entertainment services that Disney offers Even though Disney’s stock price has fallen, the lower price could make the quality stock a more affordable option for new investors.

9. AbbVie

Pharmaceutical stocks are usually blue-chip stocks for investing for beginners. Blue-chip stocks have steady growth and reliable dividends. AbbVie(NYSE:ABBV) is a drug manufacturer that had sales increase by 10% in the first quarter of 2020.

The blue-chip stock is from a company that manufactures Humira, which treats arthritis. AbbVie’s acquisition of the lucrative Botox maker Allergan should also help AbbVie remain a steady stock for investing for beginners.

Financial analyst Gina Sanchez says Humira’s possible expanded uses and Allergan purchase make AbbVie a good stock for new investors.

“They[AbbVie] have a tremendous ability to potentially expand the uses of existing products that have already been approved, but also the potential for Humira to get expanded uses as well,” she said. “And, of course, the tie-up with Allergan along with other expanded product pipeline[s]. I think all those things, regardless of the politics, are going to be very, very positive for AbbVie,” said Sanchez.

Todd Gordon, managing director at Ascent Wealth Partners, also thinks AbbVie stock is a good buy for investing for beginners. He also thinks that the diversification of revenue will help increase its profits.

“The acquisition of Allergan was a great way to diversify revenue streams. They have large, private cosmetic drugs like Botox. And then European regulators cleared the deal with the U.S.,” said Gordon.

AbbVie’s stock is a good one for new investors because of its widely-used medicines and recent acquisitions that can expand its profits.

10. Clorox a good defensive stock for investing for investors

Clorox(NYSE:CLX) is a defensive stock that’s best for new investors. When investing for beginners, defensive stocks usually are strong regardless of an economic downturn. They usually have items that people will always need, such as Clorox’s cleaning products.

Clorox stock skyrocketed 40% during the COVID-19 crisis as many people were quarantined and throughly disinfecting their homes. Lisah Burhan, the company’s vice-president of investor relations spoke about the company’s positive Q3 (third quarter) 2020 results.

“Sales were up 11% for the quarter driven mainly by 60% volume growth as we saw very high demand from not just our cleaning and disinfecting products, but also our household essential household products. Growth was broad-based with double-digit volume increases in every single region,” noted Burhan.

Financial experts think Clorox is long-term stock for new investors

DA Davidson financial analyst Linda Bolton Weiser says that Clorox will be a good stock for new investors to buy even after the coronavirus crisis subsides.

“Indications are that heightened awareness of the role of disinfecting in public health may be more lasting than following past global health crises,” said Bolton Weiser.

Bolton Weiser also thinks that Clorox stock and sales will continue to rise in 2021.

“We believe habits around disinfecting are changing for the long term, and that Clorox’s sales may NOT decline in the high-single digits in the second half of fiscal 2021 as the consensus is projecting,” said Bolton Weiser.

Clorox stock the week of March 19

She also believes that increased demand will continue after the panic buying of the coronavirus ends.

“The majority of the higher demand for disinfecting products is coming from incremental household penetration, not just stockpiling or higher use by existing households,” said Bolton Weiser.

Burhan also agreed that new customers are buying Clorox continuously, not just once.

“While early, we’re encouraged to see from our data that the majority of the higher demand is coming from incremental households rather than just stockpiling or higher usage from existing users. With the pandemic expected to have a sustained positive impact on consumers’ disinfecting and hygiene habits, we’ll invest further in our brands, turn incremental usage into loyalty,” said Burhan.

Clorox is a relatively safe investment for new investors. The company’s products are household staples that people will repeatedly purchase. That stock is a good choice for investing for beginners.

Investing for beginners requires time and research

While investing in the above stocks can be lucrative, it won’t be easy. Investing for beginners requires time and patience. By choosing wisely and conducting research, new investors can pick the best stocks for them. By testing investment strategies and reading financial news blogs on TradingSim, investors can find the top stocks to help them have their best financial futures.

Value stocks can seem like a bargain to investors, but can become a valuable part of an investor’s portfolio. This article will explain what value stocks are, how they differ from growth stocks, and how TradingSim can help investors find the top 10 value stocks to invest in.

What is a value stock?

A value stock is a bit like a stock on sale. Value stocks tend to trade at lower prices than other stocks.  In addition to being cheap, value stocks tend to have less-than-average growth than other stocks. They also tend to have low valuations in relation to earnings and cash flow.

Value investing can be a great choice for risk-averse investors who want to slowly wade into the investing waters.  Value stocks also tend to have dividend payments to investors every quarter. Also, with the Dow Jones in such volatility, these value stocks could be a safer alternative to faster-paced growth stocks.

How is a value stock different from a growth stock?

Here are some differences between growth stocks and value stocks.  The comparison of value stocks versus growth stocks shows vast differences.

Growth stocks usually

  • have high valuations. Tech stocks, like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), often have a sky-high valuation in the billions. Amazon has a record-shattering $1 trillion valuation.
  • have high P/E ratios. Growth stocks usually have a P/E ratio of 16 and higher. Netflix’s ( NASDAQ:NFLX) P/E ratio has skyrocketed to trading for 86 times its earnings.
  • steadily rising stock prices.  Growth stocks like Zoom ( NASDAQ:ZM) have stock prices that surged 200%  above its listed IPO price of $ 36 per share.
  • strong growth rate. Many growth stocks have better-than-average projected future earnings. Growth stocks also tend to outperform the overall S&P 500.
  • more available cash flow. Easily available cash flow is usually a sign that a company has a growth stock.
  • don’t pay dividends to investors.  Growth stocks from corporations tend to reinvest money back into corporations. They don’t usually offere quarterly dividends to investors.
  • many growth stocks are in tech or other growing industries. Teledoc (NYSE: TDOC) is a growth stock that rose 18% just over the past month.  The telehealth company is successful because of its innovation in medicine. Teledoc’s stock is also performing well because of its timely use by patients during the coronavirus crisis.
  • riskier for investors. Growth stocks can rise higher than the overall market, but can fall faster into a bull trap when the market declines into a bear market as well.

Value stocks are less volatile than growth stocks

In contrast to growth stocks, value stocks usually

  • have low price-to-earnings ratios (P/E). Value stocks, like MetLife(NYSE:MET) have a rock-bottom P/E ratio of 5.10. Life insurance stocks often have a low P/E ratio below 16.
  • have a slower growth rate in more established industries. Growth stocks tend to increase quickly in innovative new fields. Tech stocks,  like Tesla (NYSE: TSLA) especially, may have wild swings on the stock market because of production issues ( or Elon Musk’s comments).  However, value stocks usually grow at a slower pace and are in industries that have been around for decades. BP(NYSE:BP)  is a giant in the oil industry and is a value stock with less drastic change in its stock price.
  • pays dividends to investors.  In addition to BP, another oil stock, Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a high-paying dividend stock. Chevron pays investors a 7.5% dividend to investors.
  • are undervalued. Semiconductor maker Qualcomm(NYSE: QCOM) has undervalued stock because it’s overlooked, but will be vital to the future. Even though Qualcomm stock is in the $66 range, the stock should rise soon. Since Qualcomm is making chips that will be used in 5G technology, the corporation’s stock will likely benefit from this in the future.
  • are less risky than growth stocks. Value stocks are usually less volatile and have steady returns for investors. Even though IBM (NYSE:IBM) stock has dropped, the stock is still a solid value stock. IBM is moving into cloud computing with its acquisition of software company Red Hat. The stock will likely remain a safe bet for investors who are looking for value stocks.

Top 10 Value Stocks for Investors

For investors that want low-risk investing , this value stock list has venerable stocks that have high-yield dividends. Here are 10 stocks that are some of the top value stocks to add to a portfolio.

1. Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett is the OG investor and his Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-A) and (NYSE:BRK-B) is the top value stock on Wall Street. The Oracle of Omaha has been choosing stocks since the Beatles were a new group. His conglomerate has chosen some of the best value stocks to invest in, and Buffett’s corporation itself is a must-pick stock.

Berkshire Hathaway started in 1929, but didn’t become a viable company until Buffett took over the corporation in 1965. His investment strategy was to buy undervalued companies, then let them grow. As a result of value investing, Buffett’s fortune has grown to almost $70 billion. 

Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson says Berkshire Hathaway is a top value stock because of Buffett’s wise choices.

“I’m being even more conservative because I’m not factoring in the value Warren Buffett will likely create as he puts his $128 billion cash hoard to work amidst this chaos: buying back his own stock in size, buying other stocks, and negotiating deals with desperate companies,”  said Tilson.

“It’s an incredible collection of high-quality businesses… it’s run by the greatest investor of all time… and it has the ultimate, Fort Knox-like balance sheet: $128 billion in cash and short-term investments, $19 billion in bonds, and roughly $200 billion in liquid, blue-chip stocks,” added Tilson.

This TradingSim chart shows Berkshire Hathaway’s trajectory the week of March 19, 2020.

Berkshire Hathaway stock

Berkshire Hathaway has a low P/E ratio of 5.46, which makes the company’s undervalued shares a value stock for investors.  While most value stocks offer dividends, Berkshire doesn’t. Buffett noted that he’d rather reinvest in his companies to improve the efficiency of his investments. For investors interested in value investing, Berkshire Hathaway is a must.

Buffett only buys stocks he likes for the long haul

Berkshire Hathaway is a value stock because of its investment in other blue-chip stocks. Buffett is known for his quotes about cautious, long-term investing. One quote about long-term investing is especially timely with the stock market slowing down now:Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.”

Buffett also loves to quote Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing. “Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that price is what you pay; value is what you get. Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down,”  said Buffett.

Buffett doesn’t just chase trading trends. He only invests in companies he believes in for a long time. Even though his stock picks may seem too safe, they pay off in the long run. His recent $549 million investment in Kroger grocery stores in February has been very savvy. The recent run on grocery stores like Kroger during the COVID-19 pandemic has made Berkshire Hathaway’s investment a good buy.  Buffett has the Midas touch when it comes to picking stocks. His time-tested value investing in top corporations make Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway a top value stock.

2. Apple

One of the value stocks that Berkshire Hathaway invests in is Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). The tech giant is a value stock because of its lower-than average P/E of 20. For the largest tech company in the world, Apple is ironically undervalued compared to other tech stocks like (NASDAQ:FB). Even though Apple is a tech company, it’s also seen as a hardware company since it produces iPhones and Apple Watches.

The company has a hallmark of a value stock, strong earnings reports. Apple’s last earnings report saw the company earn a record- shattering $91.8 billion.  Apple’s ample cash glow gives the stock a characteristic of a growth stock. However, the company’s $58.9 billion in cash flow    in fiscal year 2019 helped pay its $14.1 billion dividend payout to investors.  That’s an impressive 6.5% yield. Apple is a reliable value stock that investors should add to their portfolio.

Coronavirus will impact Apple, but stock will bounce back

The COVID-19 crisis has hit every corporation, especially Apple. Many Chinese factories that make Apple devices have been shut down in February. However, the pandemic is slowing in China and factories are starting to reopen. Apple is also set to launch its 5G iPhone in the fall, which should help Apple stock recover from its current losses. Apple recently noted that even though iPhone sales are down in China, there is still growth in sales in other countries. This TradingSim chart shows the volatility in Apple’s stock.

Apple stock

“Outside of China, customer demand across our product and service categories has been strong to date and in line with our expectations, ” said Apple.

Wearables make Apple a value stock

Even though Apple stock is currently down, Apple devices are still going strong. Many homebound people are Facetime on their iPhones and iPads to stay connected to each other (and to the games they’re addicted to playing). Apple Watches and other wearable device sales rose 17% in 2019.  The ability of Apple to innovate in technology gives value investing in Apple a benefit to investors.

Craig Johnson, chief marketing technician at Piper Sandler, said Apple is still a value stock because of customer loyalty. He noted that even through the last economic downturn 10 years ago, customers still bought iPhones.

“People are still going to step up and they’re going to buy the iPhone. You know, when this gets relaunched and gets released for the 5G iPhone, they’re going step up and buy it. We saw the iPhone get released in 2007 and 2008 in the middle of the crisis there. Consumers still were able to open their wallet and buy these things,” said Johnson.

Apple can withstand the current market volatility and COVID-19 crisis because of its ample cash flow, innovative new products, and a devoted customer base.

3. Coca-Cola

Another value stock Buffett believes in is Coca-Cola( NYSE:KO). Buffett owned the stock since hip-hop was a new category of music.  The soft drink company is a value stock because of its high dividend and its steady cash flow. Coca-Cola made billions by selling its soda. Then the corporation pivoted to sales from water and low-calorie drinks and increased sales. The beverage company’s earnings for Q4 2019 were $9.07 billion and the stock rose 22% over the past year. However, CEO James Quincey noted that Coca-Cola has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The supply chain is creaking around the world. There are flash points when it’s getting a little harder to get ingredients through, whether it’s delays at the borders, the big changes in channel mix,” said Quincey.

Coca-Cola stock

The corporation also noted that the 2020 guidance would be impacted by restaurant closures and sport events cancellations. Coca-Cola sells many of its beverages in dining establishments and during games.

“[S]ince our last guidance update, local market policies and initiatives to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 have significantly increased. These initiatives include the direction to refrain from dining at restaurants,” said Coca-Cola.

However, Quincey noted that Coke’s workers are “doing a great job at adapting” to the changes brought on by COVID-19.

Coca-Cola dividend consistent for investors

The company’s dividend may be small at 3.5%, but it’s very consistent. The dividend has risen for an astonishing 57 straight years. For a value stock that proves that slow and steady investment pays off, investors should choose Coca-Cola.

4. ExxonMobil

In addition to Coca-Cola and Apple, ExxonMobil ( NYSE:XOM) is an established value stock for investors for many reasons. One reason investors can pick ExxonMobil to implement their value investing is its well-paying dividend.  ExxonMobil had $6.6 billion in free cash flow last year. The oil corporation paid $14.6 billion in dividends to investors in 2019.  Like many value stocks, ExxonMobil is an undervalued stock that has a high-yield dividend of $3.48 per share. That’s an impressive 9% dividend for investors.

ExxonMobil will survive oil crisis

ExxonMobil has been hit by two crises. The ups and downs of the stock market has affected the Dow Jones overall. However, oil companies have been rocked by the decline in oil prices. Saudi Arabia is overproducing oil to drive down prices and spite rival producer Russia.

As a result, the volatility of the stock market and oil prices have dropped to about $30 a barrel. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods announced that ExxonMobil will reduce capital expenditures to reserve its cash flow.

“Based on this unprecedented environment, we are evaluating all appropriate steps to significantly reduce capital and operating expenses in the near term. We will outline plans when they are finalized,” said Woods. This TradingSim chart shows ExxonMobil’s stock trajectory over the past few weeks.

ExxonMobil stock

Despite the reduction in spending, Woods said ExxonMobil will survive the current uncertainty in the oil industry. With refinery expansion around the world, ExxonMobil is poised to recover from this current setback.

“We are confident that we will manage through these challenging times by taking deliberate action to keep our people safe, our environment protected and our company strong,” said Woods.

ExxonMobil is a value stock before oil companies recover

ExxonMobil is a bargain value stock for investment. Investors could buy the stock while the oil industry is in turmoil. Then they could reap the benefits when the economy and oil industry recovers. Oil will likely bounce back above $30 a barrel if Saudi Arabia compromises with Russia and other oil-producing countries in OPEC ( Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries) to reduce its oil output. If the economy recovers, the oil company will rebound and ExxonMobil will remain a value stock.

5. Johnson & Johnson

Just as ExxonMobil has been an established stock for almost a century, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is another value stock with longevity. The multinational corporation has been around for a century and has been a reliable stock for value investors. The company’s stock pays a healthy 2.6% dividend and increases every year.  The corporation has survived a scandal about asbestos in their talcum powder to remain a value stock. For investors that want a safe value stock, Johnson & Johnson is a safe pick-especially in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Johnson & Johnson stock rises on coronavirus vaccine hopes

The world’s biggest healthcare product producer is racing to create a vaccine for COVID-19. The company has signed a $1 billion deal with the U.S. government to create 1 billion doses of a possible vaccine for the respiratory disease. Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky expressed optimism that the company can create an effective vaccine to slow the disease.

“We have very good early indicators that not only can we depend on this to be a safe vaccine base but also one that will ultimately be effective based on all the early testing and modeling we’ve been doing. This is a bit of a moonshot for J&J going forward, but it’s one we feel is very, very important for use to be doing at this period in time,” said Gorsky.

Johnson & Johnson stock the week of March 19

Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that it “is committed to bringing an affordable vaccine to the public on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use.”

The hope of a vaccine has raised investors’ confidence in the stock. Johnson & Johnson stock has jumped 8% as a result of the news. Johnson & Johnson’s stock shows that an established company can weather any storm and persevere. By providing medical devices and other badly needed products during this health crisis, Johnson & Johnson has proven to be a value stock that will withstand Wall Street volatility.

6. JP Morgan Chase

Just as Johnson & Johnson is a health product institution, JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) is a banking institution that has a value stock. Chase’s P/E ratio is 8.68, making it an undervalued stock that’s perfect for value investing. Chase had a positive earnings report in Q4 2019 with profits of $8.52 billion. CEO Jamie Dimon said in a statement that the company can withstand Wall Street’s ups and downs.

“While we face a continued high level of complex geopolitical issues, global growth stabilized, albeit at a lower level, and resolution of some trade issues helped support client and market activity towards the end of the year,” said Dimon. This TradingSim chart shows the volatility of Chase stock during the week of March 19.

Chase Stock the week of March 19

Chase stock has also been helped by the Federal Reserve injecting $1 billion into banks  as part of the Fed trying to revive the economy. With that security, Chase can loan more to customers. Customers themselves will need to take out loans more than ever with the struggling economy. Before the coronavirus crisis, Chase was opening more branches and investing more in banking apps.  Now the bank can be an option for consumers during this time of economic uncertainty. Chase is a top value stock for investors looking for a solid bank stock to add to their portfolios.

7. Walmart

While many banks have value stocks, the nation’s biggest retailer also has a reliable value stock. Walmart(NYSE:WMT) has succeeded by selling many essential products and become a value stock because of its strength during the COVID-19 crisis. The nation’s largest big-box store was a top stock to financial experts like Jefferies analyst Christopher Mandeville. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Mandeville praised Walmart for its financial strength.

“WMT[Walmart] exhibited just how well the company is leveraging its physical scale/digital presence and financial stamina to push the boundaries of retail, using innovative tech and learnings from abroad. With clear momentum in grocery and a sustainable productivity loop in place, WMT[Walmart] now pivots to better general merchandise, one item alongside enhanced fulfillment practices that is critical to long-term e-com success,” said Mandeville.

Walmart thrives during COVID-19 outbreak

After the COVID-19 outbreak,Walmart has become an essential resource by staying open during the pandemic.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon noted that the corporation has seen e-commerce sales grow by 35% over the last few months.

“We continue to see good traffic in our stores. We’re growing market share in key food and consumables categories, especially with its online grocery delivery service. including fresh,” said McMillon.

Goldman Sachs analyst Kate McShane noted that Walmart will help customers by keeping stores open and by delivering groceries as well.

Walmart stock

“In the short term, we expect demand to remain robust, even if panicked buying subsides, given the companies’ mix of essential/grocery. Further, these stores will likely remain open (versus over half of retail in the U.S. that is currently closed), even in states that have “shelter in place” rules,” said McShane.

Walmart dividend makes stock attractive to investors

Like many value stocks, Walmart has a well-paying dividend for investors. Walmart’s payout to investors tops 2% and has steadily increased for an impressive 47 years. Walmart’s consistent dividend payouts make the retailer’s stock a stable value stock for investors.

8. AT&T

AT&T(NYSE:T) is another top pick for value investors. The telecommunications company has been a great value stock. The corporation is a “dividend aristocrat” that consistently raises dividend for investors every year. The current yearly payout to investors is a hefty 6.5%.

AT&T also will keep many of its stores open during the coronavirus pandemic.  The corporation said that it’s critical for customers to stay connected during the quarantine orders nationwide.

AT&T stock the week of March 19

“Connectivity is always essential to our customers — doctors and nurses, first responders, governments, banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, and others delivering vital services.”It’s even more critical during a public health crisis that’s challenging everyone. In fact, as a critical infrastructure provider, AT&T views it as our civic duty to step up and keep our customers and communities connected,” said AT&T.

5G technology and streaming could help AT&T stock

The lastest Wi-fi technology could also help boost AT&T stock. 5G technology will soon come to many phone customers that subscribe to T-Mobile ( which is owned by AT&T) could benefit from having 5G devices. With faster streaming on devices, AT&T could have a lock on the 5G market once the technology takes off.

In addition to 5G technology, AT&T stock could rise once it enters the streaming wars. The corporation plans to launch HBO Max, which will fan favorites like Friends and The Boondocks.  When the service debuts in May, HBO Max could help AT&T stock grow if gains a lot of viewers. AT&T stock could rise after launching the streaming service. AT&T stock could be ideal for value investors looking for a long-established stock pick.

9. Disney

Just at AT&T is evolving to meet new communications needs, Disney is adapting to new forms of entertainment. The entertainment conglomerate has been struggling during the COVID-19 crisis because of the closure of its theme parks. However, Disney+has been a bright spot for the corporation. The streaming service has attracted 28.6 million subscribers since its launch in November. The international expansion of Disney+ in Europe should help the corporation’s earnings in the long run. Minal Modha, consumer research lead at Ampere Analysis, noted that Disney has to appeal to kids that love Frozen 2  and adults who want to binge watch Star Wars: The Mandalorian. 

“It will now be key for Disney to ensure it retains these customers with a mix of new Disney Plus originals and new release movie titles,” Modha said in a statement. “Furthermore, while there is still room for growth among both the two core demographic groups, it will be imperative for Disney Plus in the longer term to broaden out its content offering to appeal to a wider audience.”

Hulu, another Disney-owned streaming service, is also an area of growth for the company with 30 million subscribers. Even though many sports events are canceled, ESPN+ still has 6 million subscribers. With many people being quarantined, Disney’s popular movies can enjoy a greater audience and possibly increase its stock price.

Disney dividend is no Mickey Mouse amount

Disney can be a daily stock pick for investors because of its ability to withstand the current Wall Street volatility. The corporation’s dividend payout is consistent for investors. Because Disney’s net income grew to $10 billion in 2019, its dividend payout to investors is 1.8%. While that figure is smaller than other companies’ yields, it’s still a steady increase year after year. Disney stock is a top stock pick for value investing.

10. Weight Watchers

Another value stock may be the least likely. Weight Watchers(NYSE:WW) isn’t just for your fluffy Aunt Margaret anymore. The company has grown from a weight-loss company predominately for women to a wellness company for all genders. Since Oprah purchased 5 million shares of Weight Watchers, the company has added 6 million more subscribers. “The Oprah effect” of her magic touch helping businesses has helped Weight Watchers.

Weight Watchers has also evolved because of its new marketing campaigns to reach more male customers. DJ Khaled has become a spokesperson and another one- big male superstar, that is- is aligning with the brand. The Rock joined Oprah on her Weight Watchers tour to promote the rebranding of the corporation. The revamp to focus more on holistic health instead of weight loss appears to have worked. Chief Financial Officer Nick Hotchkin, said that tour helped drive Weight Watchers awareness up with potential customers. The success also drove the corporation’s earnings up to $29 million in its last earnings report.

“We believe this high visibility has had a halo effect well beyond those who are in the audience.In addition, the tour helped reinforce our brand transformation, showing how WW is your partner in both weight loss and wellness. Member recruitment so far in 2020 has been well above the prior year, as expected, and is reflected in revenue and earnings growth guidance for full year 2020,” said Hotchkin.

Weight Watchers may benefit after quarantine

With many people cooped up inside and stress eating during the quarantine, Weight Watchers could benefit after the nationwide quarantine ends.  When the COVID-19 crisis passes, people will be eager to be more active and become healthier. Morgan Stanley analyst  Lauren Cassel says that Weight Watchers could add more subscribers after the end of the nationwide quarantine.

“Once the ‘cocoon’ phase ends and shelter in place measures are raised, we[Morgan Stanley] see WW as a potential beneficiary of changes in consumer behavior. We anticipate a heightened focus on health, wellness, and weight loss after weeks of gym closures, stress eating, and limited physical activity.”

In addition, Cassel said that “the extent to which existing subscribers are currently showing greater interest and spending more time engaging with the app during the cocoon phase could lead to better retention curves for these subscribers over the medium term, which we incorporate into our $47 Bull case valuation. Bottom line, we think WW’s value proposition is actually stronger post-COVID-19 than it was before,” Cassel said.

“WW’s value proposition is actually stronger post virus than it was before”, said Cassel.

Weight Watchers stock the week of March 19

The wellness company has had its stock rise 17% last week while the S&P only gained 11%. Weight Watchers can be an affordable option for investors who want to cash in on wellness. 

Weight Watchers stock is a bargain for investors

The wellness company is undervalued and is selling for only 8 times its earnings. The stock will likely continue to rebound and be a great pick for value investing.  Unlike other value stocks, Weight Watchers stock doesn’t pay a dividend. However, Weight Watchers stock is a value stock that investors can choose if they want a stock that is capitalizing on the wellness trend.

Value stocks are safe stocks in volatile stock market

Value investing may seem boring, but can pay off in the long run. In this time of economic instability, value investing can be a great way for investors to build a slow and steady growth in their portfolios.  Growth stocks and cryptocurrencies may get more attention, but value stocks can stand the test of time.  For investors taking a long-term view and that can exercise patience, value stocks are a safer option.

Diversification is key in value investing

Even though many value stocks are in similar established fields, there is still room for diversification. Value investing can consist of investing in life insurance stocks, bank stocks, and even tobacco stocks. Altria (NYSE:MO) is a long-established stock that offers a strong dividend. By diversifying a value stock portfolio, investors can get bigger returns in their investments.  If the bank industry is struggling, diversification in another field can help create a healthier portfolio.

Conduct research before investing in value stocks

Research is important to find the best stock for investors. By using TradingSim’s analysis and trading simulations, investors can find the best value stocks for them.  Investors can take advice from Warren Buffett, but ultimately have to decide for themselves what value stocks are best for them. With TradingSim’s charts and guidance, value investing can be rewarding- and maybe even profitable.