The Best Stocks to Invest $1,000 in Right Now

By Courtney Carlsen | January 08, 2026, 6:25 PM

Key Points

  • Investing in the stock market is a great way to build long-term wealth.

  • Investors should seek out companies with strong business models that generate steady cash flow.

  • Companies with leading market positions and strong balance sheets can form a strong foundation for your investment portfolio.

Consistently investing in the stock market is one of the best ways to build long-term wealth and secure your financial future.

Whether you're drawn to high-growth opportunities or prefer the steady hand of value investing, one principle stands above all: The best investments are in companies with robust business models, reliable cash flow, strong balance sheets, and commanding market positions.

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With fractional shares, investors can diversify and gain exposure to top companies without having to purchase expensive shares. If you have $1,000 to invest, here are three high-quality stocks you can scoop up today.

A professional looks at a tablet overlayed by the image of a stock chart with three upward rising trend lines.

Image source: Getty Images.

Alphabet has taken a full-stack approach to AI

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) is the parent company of Google and operates a variety of businesses, including Google Search, digital advertising, YouTube, Android, and Google Cloud, as well as investments in Waymo (self-driving vehicles) and DeepMind (AI research).

Advertising revenue is a significant part of Alphabet's business, and many investors expressed concern last year about the company's risk of losing its dominant position in search to rapidly improving large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.

Those concerns have waned, as Alphabet has effectively integrated its Gemini LLM into its search engine results. In the third quarter, its Google Search and other ad revenues totaled $56.5 billion, a 15% year-over-year increase.

Beyond integrating Gemini into Google Search, Alphabet has taken a full-stack approach to AI. The company has designed and developed custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for neural network machine learning applications. Not only does Alphabet have its own AI models, but it also owns hardware specifically designed for them.

Alphabet has done an excellent job of investing across the AI value chain and integrating it into its already expansive technology platform. Given its role in the developing AI ecosystem, Alphabet is an excellent stock for long-term investors today.

Chubb: This global insurer is a cash-producing machine

Chubb (NYSE: CB) operates one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in the world. While the business may not be particularly exciting on the surface, Chubb offers investors the opportunity to invest in a well-run company that generates solid cash flows and rewards them with consistent dividend payments.

What sets Chubb apart is the scale of its insurance business and its ability to effectively balance risks and price its policies. Through the first three quarters of 2025, Chubb has earned $39.5 billion in net premiums and achieved a combined ratio of 82.4%. This is significantly better than the industry average, which stood at around 96.4% as of June 30, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Chubb is a cash-generating machine, generating $14.7 billion in free cash flow over the last 12 months. This is cash the company can use to support its dividend, which it has increased every year for the past 32 years. If you're searching for a resilient business with strong cash flows, Chubb is a solid choice.

A massive asset base provides BlackRock with steady revenue

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) operates as the world's largest asset manager, with assets under management (AUM) exceeding $13.5 trillion. This massive asset base provides BlackRock with a firm foundation, enabling it to generate a steady stream of recurring revenue through its extensive product offerings.

The company has benefited from long-term trends toward passive investing. Specifically, the rise in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been particularly beneficial to BlackRock whose iShares brand is one of the largest issuers of ETFs worldwide. Through its iShares ETFs, BlackRock allows investors to tailor their portfolio to specific themes across industries, sectors, geographies, and investment styles.

What makes BlackRock an intriguing stock is its massive platform and relatively capital-light business model to deliver strong margins. Over the last 12 months, the company generated $4 billion in free cash flow to support its dividend, which it has grown for 16 consecutive years. For investors seeking growth and income, BlackRock is another strong stock to hold for the long haul.

Should you buy stock in Alphabet right now?

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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 8, 2026.

Courtney Carlsen has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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