Apple, Microsoft lead Wells Fargo's list of top stocks 'for all seasons'

Wells Fargo Investment Institute published on Tuesday the list of “stocks for all seasons,” with tech giants Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sitting right on top of the roster.

Due to being considered reliable investments in both volatile and stable markets, Microsoft and Apple found their way to Wells Fargo’s multiple recommended list, including the Core, Diversified Stock Income Plan (DSIP), and Focus Lists.

The Core List is comprised of blue-chip, industry-leading companies that provide a foundation for a well-diversified portfolio. The DSIP List focuses on companies with reliable dividend growth, while the Focus List targets stocks expected to outperform the S&P 500 index over a 12-18 month horizon.

According to Wells Fargo, the Focus List serves as the reference point as it operates with this tactical time horizon of 12-18 months, while the Core and DSIP Lists operate on longer-term time horizons of five or more years.

“We believe companies that fit both time horizons can be viewed as solid investment options during periods of shorter-term volatility,” the bank's strategists said in the note.

In addition to Apple and Microsoft, other companies that are included in at least two of the three lists are Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Linde (NYSE:LIN), Danaher Corp (NYSE:DHR)., Visa Inc (NYSE:V)., Mastercard (NYSE:MA), and TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX), among others.

Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS)., Ecolab (NYSE:ECL), Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH), S&P Global, and Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) were also highlighted.

Wells Fargo Investment Institute publishes nine equity recommendation lists in total, each tailored with different time horizons, benchmarks, objectives, and criteria. Despite these variations, all lists share a strong preference for high-quality companies.