7 Long-Term Stocks to Buy to Tap Into a Hidden Bull Market With the earnings season looming, investors are scrambling to identify the best long-term stocks to buy. Hopes for a soft landing for the economy have largely faded away after the third consecutive 75-basis-point interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, other than the energy sector, recession fears have restrained forward-looking guidance for most companies. Many Wall Street names will likely find it difficult to outpace previous earnings reports. As a result of the gray clouds over the economy, the benchmark SP 500 Index has lost over a quarter of its value year to date. While stocks can still decline from these levels, many of the best long-term stocks to buy are currently trading close to their 52-week lows. History has repeatedly shown that while the stock market goes down faster than it goes up, in the long-run broader indices go up more than they go down. Therefore, the recent market downturn represents an important buying opportunity for patient investors with a long-term horizon.