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Best Blue-chip Stocks to Buy Now

Blue-chip stocks (or “blue chips”) are large businesses that dominate their respective sectors and are often popular among portfolios seeking some stability.

Read my guide to find out 10 of the best blue-chip stocks to buy now.

Also consider: Compare UK trading platforms to buy shares

Top 10 blue-chip stocks to buy in December 2024

Remember: this list is not a personal recommendation and does not constitute financial advice. Do not buy these investments solely based on what you read in this article. These picks do not constitute personal recommendations or financial advice.

3M logo

1. 3M

MMM, or 3M, is an industrial giant founded in 1902 that is well-known for manufacturing work equipment for labour jobs and other vital areas of infrastructure.

It operates in four main sectors, including:

  • Safety and industrial
  • Transportation and electronics
  • Healthcare
  • Consumer

Its products cover a broad range of areas within the sectors it caters to and it’s hard to find something it doesn’t provide – from picture-hanging hooks to industrial abrasives for automotive manufacturing, 3M has almost any commercial product you can think of.

3M is also heavily involved in introducing new inventions and products to help industries. In fact, it tries to earn at least 30% of its revenue from items it introduced within the last four years, while allowing employees 15% of their paid time to work on personal projects, Admiral Markets reports.

The blue-chip company pays a 4.48% dividend yield to its shareholders while having a market capitalization (market cap) of $73.54 billion at the time of writing.

As of 17 November 2022, shares in 3M were worth $126.15 when markets opened.

Source: Yahoo Finance

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Amazon logo

2. Amazon

E-commerce is an industry that has truly blossomed within the last 10 years and continues to grow, with Amazon leading the way.

Amazon is an online shopping platform that emphasises express – often next-day – delivery to attract customers through convenience. On top of this, Amazon sells almost every product under the sun – indeed, it would be a true challenge to seek out an item not covered in its stock.

It has experienced huge growth alongside the expansion of e-commerce as an industry and showed its ability to survive harsh economic climates through its strong business performance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company’s astounding range of products, combined with rapid delivery, makes it a consumer staple for almost any type of goods.

Unlike some other blue-chip stocks, Nasdaq explains how Amazon does not pay a dividend to its shareholders, mainly because it prefers to use this money to grow and expand its business.

When US markets opened on 17 November 2022, Amazon shares were worth $95.37.

Source: CMC Markets

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AMEX Logo

3. American Express

Otherwise known as Amex, American Express is a credit card and financial services provider that has existed for more than 170 years.

It’s a giant in the financial world and is well-known for catering to high-end customers. Famously, it even has categories of credit cards exclusive to high net worth (HNW) individuals that are accessible by invitation only.

Amex’s priority of more exclusive customers could mean that it avoids some of the risks associated with lending credit to more vulnerable people. For example, this could help it to avoid defaults on loans it issues, boosting profits as a result.

Despite its longevity in the financial industry, it has managed to move with the times enough that over half of its new accounts in 2021 were opened by millennials and Generation Zs.

American Express’s main drivers of income are credit card fees and transaction processing fees, both of which are expected to rise with more new customers and a higher transaction volume.

In addition to this, it increased its dividend yield by 20% in 2022.

As of 17 November 2022, when markets opened, shares in American Express were worth $150.

Source: The Motley Fool

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Apple logo

4. Apple Inc

Using figures from Investopedia, as of 17 November 2022, Apple is currently the largest company in the world when measured by market cap.

In fact, throughout its existence, the technology giant has broken numerous stock market records – between 2018 and 2022, Apple became the first company to be worth $1 trillion, $2 trillion, and $3 trillion respectively. As a result, it’s certainly an example of a blue-chip stock.

Apple’s logo and brand image are ubiquitous around the world and the company is often held in high regard among its faithful customers.

Its line of technology goods including phones, computers, laptops, headphones, and more attract a global customer base that shop with Apple loyally. Such products feature regular new releases and updates to customers, too.

It also has multiple paid services that contribute to its revenue, such as music and video streaming, cloud storage, apps, and more.

When markets opened on 17 November 2022, Apple shares were worth $146.43.

Source: The Motley Fool

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Berkshire Hathaway logo

5. Berkshire Hathaway

When it comes to blue-chip investing, Berkshire Hathaway could be a useful lead to take example from.

It’s an American holdings company that invests in numerous large companies, often prioritising blue-chip stocks.

Some of its largest holdings include:

  • American Express
  • Apple
  • Coca-Cola

Berkshire Hathaway was started by Warren Buffett, a world-renowned investment specialist who is held in high regard in the industry. He is famous for his value-based approach, which explains the concentration of blue-chip stocks in the firm’s holdings.

As of 17 November 2022, Investopedia lists it as the most expensive stock in the world – one share in Berkshire Hathaway was worth $460,785.38 when markets opened. As a result, you’ll likely need to purchase fractional shares or trade CFDs or other derivatives to access this stock.

Source: CMC Markets

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The Coca-Cola Company logo

6. Coca-Cola

This beverage company almost needs no introduction as its products are so prominent in nearly every corner of the planet.

Coca-Cola has been a leader and pioneer of its industry as a global producer of soft drinks and syrups since starting in 1892.

While you may only associate the Coca-Cola drink with the company, it actually owns many other brands that you will have come across in your everyday life, including:

  • BODYARMOR
  • Costa
  • Fanta
  • Sprite

The company has a long track record of dividend yield with consecutive annual dividend increases dating back to the 1960s, putting it among the top 10 dividend stocks and making it one of the so-called “Dividend Aristocrats”.

When US markets opened on 17 November 2022, Coca-Cola’s share price was $60.19.

Source: The Motley Fool

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Johnson & Johnson

7. Johnson & Johnson

Started in 1886, Johnson & Johnson is a healthcare and consumer goods company that manufactures products including shower gels, baby wipes, moisturisers, and more.

A fundamental aspect of human life is staying clean and hygienic, which is something that fares well for the continued longevity of Johnson & Johnson’s success.

It is a financially-sound company with a AAA debt rating, meaning it has an extremely strong capacity to meet its financial needs.

Johnson & Johnson is worth around $400 billion and pays a 2.6% dividend, which could be attractive to you if you are seeking a regular income from your portfolio.

When markets opened on 17 November 2022, shares in Johnson & Johnson were worth $173.

Source: Admiral Markets

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Mastercard logo

8. Mastercard

Mastercard is a leading, technology-focused credit card and payment services company that operates globally.

It could be one of the blue chips worth considering as it is likely to be sheltered from supply chain issues that slow down the revenues of other companies.

It’s possible that, since Mastercard makes most of its revenue through customer fees for using its products, there are few physical aspects to its business model that could be vulnerable to such pressures.

On top of this, with the digitisation of payment sectors still advancing, the move away from physical chequebooks and paper payments is one that Mastercard will likely continue to benefit from.

When markets opened on 17 November 2022, shares in Mastercard were worth $339.

Source: US News

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Nike Logo

9. Nike

Nike is one of the most globally recognised sports brands and generates revenue by manufacturing sports clothing and equipment.

The company also sponsors many different athletes and teams across sports like football, basketball, and baseball, to name just a few.

In first-quarter earnings from the 2023 financial year, Nike reported results higher than analysts expected it to, with earnings per share at $0.93 and revenues of $12.7 billion. These trumped the forecast of $0.91 earnings per share and $12.3 billion in revenues.

Projections of second-quarter results have been a little more mixed as a result of the hostile business environment that many companies are facing.

Even so, with the FIFA World Cup taking place this winter, it could offer a further boost to its higher-than-expected mid-year results.

As of the US market open on 17 November 2022, shares in Nike were worth $104.11.

Source: Nasdaq

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Walmart Logo

10. Walmart

Walmart is an American superstore and retail giant. It is the largest retailer in the world and, when measured by revenue, CompaniesMarketCap ranks Walmart as the largest company in the world.

It has over 10,500 stores across the globe that have allowed the company to remain in strong competition with rising e-commerce demands.

In fact, Walmart has made a conscious effort to boost revenue growth in the face of e-commerce, and even offers a Paramount streaming service for members of its Walmart+ subscription.

The over $360 billion market cap company offers a dividend of 1.7% while having a five-year dividend growth rate of 1.9%.

Walmart shares were worth $147.01 as of 17 November 2022, when markets opened.

Source: Yahoo Finance

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Please note

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

What is a blue-chip stock?

A blue-chip stock is a large company, often with a long track record of performance and a great reputation. The term originates from poker, with blue chips denoting the highest value of any kind of chip.

There is no consensus on a formula that discerns when a stock becomes a “blue chip”, although there are a set of characteristics that can indicate blue-chip quality.

Blue-chip stocks are usually considered to be companies that:

Pay dividends

Many blue-chip stocks pay dividends to their shareholders, which could provide a useful income for you while your money is invested.

The rate of dividends a certain company pays will vary and it is completely their choice on how much is offered. If dividends are a significant factor in choosing where to invest your money, you should make sure to research how, or if, each of your considerations pays dividends.

Have a large market share

Blue-chip companies are usually very large, international companies that take up a significant portion of their respective market. Because of this, the companies and their products are often household names across the world.

This doesn’t happen because they are considered blue-chip, but quite the opposite – they are considered blue-chip as a result of their dominant position among customers that encourages consistent cash flows.

Have a large market cap

Market cap measures the total value of all the shares in a given company. It’s calculated by multiplying the price of each share by the total number of shares.

Blue-chip companies are often held in high regard by investors, usually because of their strong history of stable growth. This means the value of a blue-chip company’s shares is usually quite high.

As a result of their size, many blue-chip companies feature on popular stock market indices such as the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500.

Are market leaders

Similar to having a large market share, blue-chip companies are often considered to be leaders in their sector or market.

Market leaders are, normally, companies that have been in operation for a long time and are somewhat of a “go-to” place within their industries.

Also consider: My guide to the Best Stock Trading Apps UK

What are the highest dividend-paying blue-chip stocks?

Blue-chip companies are often known to pay dividends, however not all do.

Dividends allow a company to share its profits with its shareholders – it is at a company’s discretion whether to pay dividends or not and how much.

Blue-chip stocks can often be expensive and normally experience gradual, long-term growth. This might mean you want some extra liquidity during your period of investment without selling your shares. In this case, dividends could be useful to you.

As of 17 November 2022, The Motley Fool lists Apple as having the highest-paying dividends among blue-chip stocks.

Is it wise to invest in blue-chip stocks?

It often depends on your goals as an investor – just because blue chips have the highest value doesn’t mean they should be treated as a failsafe.

Although blue-chip stocks tend to have histories of steady returns over long periods of time, this does not guarantee similar results for any investments you may make.

Whether or not it is wise to invest in blue-chip stocks may depend on your goals. For example, some may pay a quarterly dividend that could provide an important income. On the other hand, quarterly dividends may not be frequent enough for you to maintain your lifestyle, so it may be worth considering a stock with more frequent dividend payouts.

As you can see, the stock you choose to invest in depends on your personal circumstances and what you seek to gain from investing.

It’s important to remember that blue-chip stocks aren’t immune to negative economic conditions, so you shouldn’t consider them to be risk-free.

Are there blue-chip penny stocks?

Although blue-chip shares normally have an expensive share price, there are some penny stocks considered to be blue-chip.

Rolls-Royce is one example of this, having a market cap of more than £7 billion yet trading for just 87 pence, as of 17 November 2022.

Is Apple a blue-chip stock?

Apple is considered by many investors to be a blue-chip stock because of its global reach, consistent growth, large market cap, and brand recognition.

In fact, as of 17 November 2022, according to CompaniesMarketCap, it currently has the largest market cap of any company in the world at $2.3 trillion.

Meanwhile, Statista provides figures that show Apple selling over 230 million iPhones in 2021. This popularity with consumers is almost a surefire indication that Apple is a blue-chip stock.

Which blue-chip stock is the best?

There is no definitive “best” blue-chip stock. Rather, the best blue-chip stocks depend on your goals as an investor and your belief in a sector or company.

For example, if you have a conviction that technology stocks will perform well, or are passionate about some of the relevant companies, you may consider targeting your investments here.

Before investing, it could help to research a company’s performance and evaluate metrics such as:

  • Revenue growth
  • Cash flow
  • Dividend yield

Remember: all investing is inherent with risk, and you may get back less than you invest. If you’re unsure which blue-chip stocks are right for you, seek independent investment advice.

Best Blue-chip Stocks to Buy Now FAQs

What is the safest blue-chip stock?

There is no “safest” blue-chip stock as all investing is inherent with risk and no investment should be considered completely safe – your invested capital has the potential to lose value as well as gain value.

You should always consider this before making an investment.

Do blue-chip stocks pay dividends?

Yes, many blue-chip stocks pay dividends to their shareholders, although not all are guaranteed to do so.
It could be worth considering a company’s dividend structure before deciding to invest.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

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