The markets have been in a tailspin for most of 2022. And we’re either in a recession already or about to be. The S&P 500 is more than 20% below its 52-week high. That puts the market firmly into bear market territory. And historically, a recession follows a bear market 70% of the time. So this isn’t a good time to look for quick gains. But many of the best long-term stocks are selling at a discount right now. That means now could be a good time to buy.

Look, it’s no fun when your portfolio is in the red. That makes it all the more difficult to consider investing. But as Baron Rothschild once said, “Buy when there’s blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own.”

The selloff in the markets has been going on for a while. We started to see it at the end of 2021. And bear markets are traditionally pretty short-lived. A little less than nine months is the average length. However, when the markets turned into bear territory in 2009 and 2020, they only lasted 62 and 33 days respectively. That means we could be near the bottom. If so, that would make now the best time to start picking up some of the best long-term stocks.

What investors should be looking for now are quality companies… Ones with strong financials and good leadership. Essentially, these are companies that will be able to withstand a recession and continued market volatility. And ones that won’t be impacted by rising interest rates amidst rising inflation. And we think we’ve found five companies that fit that bill to a “T.”

The Five Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy Now

No. 1: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)

Right now, Apple is trading just a couple bucks above its 52-week low. The company’s stock has been ahead of the curve and entered bear country nearly a month ago. Furthermore, the tech sector has absolutely taken a beating so far in 2022. But this Cupertino-based trillion dollar company has proven its ability to weather bigger storms.

Apple has persevered just fine amidst supply-chain issues. It’s managed to beat earnings per share estimates each of the past four quarters. This has helped it to become one of the safest dividend payers in the tech sector. And while it still has a long way to go to earn its place on the list of dividend aristocrats, we think that’s likely to happen. All of this is what makes Apple one of the best long-term stocks to buy and hold for years to come.

No. 2 Exxon Mobile (NYSE: XOM)

Exxon isn’t going to make any ESG investors’ list of top picks. But for those looking for profits, we think Exxon is an excellent choice. But the company isn’t all bad. Last March, the company issued a press release noting it would comply with sanctions against Russia. And it will not invest in new developments in Russia.

On top of this, Exxon recently received government approval for its Yellowtail offshore project in Guyana. The project is estimated to result in 250,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. And the president of Exxon Mobil Upstream said in a press release that the company is “… working to maximize benefits for the people of Guyana and increase global supplies through safe and responsible development on an accelerated schedule.”

Whether we like it or not, the world needs oil. And not just for transportation. It’s used to produce all sorts of household goods, medical supplies, sporting equipment and even health and beauty products. While that may change someday, that day is still quite a ways off. Meanwhile, the company has managed to raise its dividend every year for decades. All of this is what makes Exxon one of the best long-term stocks to consider adding to your portfolio.

No. 3 Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)

Intel is the largest semiconductor chip manufacturer in the world. But unlike competitors like Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM) or Analog Devices (Nasdaq: ADI) it’s trading in the double digits (around $37 per share). And it also boasts an impressive 3.9% dividend yield.

Beyond this, Intel’s P/E ratio is one of the best in the semiconductor space. This bodes well for a long and healthy financial future. The company also recently made major inroads in China. It just launched its first Arc A380 desktop GPU there. Beyond this, Intel plans to invest around $85 billion in the European Union over the next decade. The goal here is to expand R&D and manufacturing. Plus, it’s in the midst of building two cutting-edge chip manufacturing facilities near Columbus, Oho.

Intel is investing a lot of money in its future. And that’s almost always a healthy sign for a company. Even if the dividend yield and low P/E ratio weren’t there, we still think Intel would be one of the best long-term stocks to collect dust in your portfolio.