Got $3,000? 4 Tech Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

Investors might end up with a severe case of whiplash trying to keep time with the stock market’s gyrations. In 2020, it took the S&P 500 just six months to make up all the ground lost during its collapse at the start of the pandemic, and then it quickly went on to set new record highs. From trough to peak, the broad market index has doubled in value in less than 18 months. 

It shows the wisdom of always staying in the market because you never know what will spark a sharp reversal. It also means there’s never a bad time to invest — and always having money available, even small amounts, is a good strategy for everyone.

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A correction will eventually happen. It always does. But so does the recovery phase that more often than not turns into a raging bull market. If you discount the COVID-19-fueled decline two years ago, the stock market has been climbing inexorably higher for some 13 years since the end of the Great Recession.

Tech stocks have been a key reason behind that drive, though the market began turning against the sector late last year. While their values remain elevated from where they were, there are bargains still to be found, and the four following tech stocks are ones that you should buy and hold for the long term.

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JD.com

Like the rest of the world, Chinese consumers have embraced online shopping, and JD.com (NASDAQ:JD) is increasingly where they’re turning to shop. Active customers hit 552.2 million last year, up 25% from 2020, helping to drive third-quarter revenue to $33.9 billion, also a 25% year-over-year gain.

Part of the reason for its success is that unlike rival Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), JD.com is more of a marketplace for third-party sellers than a seller of goods itself, making it more akin to eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY).

Over the past year or so, however, China has become a risky place to invest as Beijing cracks down on tech companies and those it deems have become too successful. JD.com has so far escaped the scrutiny that’s fallen on Alibaba and others, and maintains it will continue to do so. So for investors who understand the risk involved should the government turn its sights on the e-commerce platform, JD.com is a tech stock that should offer generous returns for years to come.

Image source: Getty Images.

Cohu

For many investors, this stock might just as well be Co-who?, but Cohu (NASDAQ:COHU) is a fast-growing supplier of specialized testing and handling equipment for the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers. It’s also positioned to capture the biggest trends in the industry because of its exposure to the automotive industry, more devices tapping into the Internet of Things, and the rollout of 5G networks.

Semiconductor demand is at record levels in the auto industry alone as the global chip shortage has affected the production of vehicles all around the world. Cohu continues to add new auto manufacturers as…