Stock Market Sell-Off: 3 Stocks I'm Still Buying Now

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • Microsoft is still growing at a rapid pace.

  • Nvidia expects monster growth in 2026.

  • Taiwan Semiconductor is a key chip supplier.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Microsoft ›

Although the stock market has sold off a bit, it's really not as bad as some people think. A few negative days in a row may be worrisome, but the S&P 500 is only down a couple of percentage points from its all-time high, so to call this a full-blown market sell-off isn't accurate.

Now, if you want to rebrand it to a tech stock sell-off, that's more like it. Many tech stocks are down significantly from their recent highs, but most don't have a great reason to be there. I think these are the best stocks to buy now, and I've got three on my shopping list. I think each of these stocks will deliver excellent returns over the next few years, and should be bought hand over fist right now.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »

A person holds a tablet and stands outside against an urban background.

Image source: Getty Images.

Microsoft

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) was once the premier artificial intelligence (AI) stock to own. Its Azure cloud computing server powered several AI workloads, including those for ChatGPT. While it still does that and is delivering excellent results (Azure revenue rose 39% year over year), the market seems to want more. Apparently 17% companywide revenue growth to $81.3 billion and operating income increasing 21% to $38.3 billion just isn't enough.

I think the market has gotten a bit greedy about what it expects from big tech, and it will eventually come back around to valuing Microsoft at the higher premium it should trade at.

MSFT PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

MSFT PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

This is the lowest forward price-to-earnings ratio Microsoft has traded at over the past three years, and now is the time to make a move on it and scoop it up for cheap.

Nvidia

If you think Microsoft is doing well and looks like a bargain, then you're going to love Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Nvidia trades for a mere 24 times forward earnings -- not much more than the S&P 500, which trades at 21.8 times forward earnings. With those valuation levels, you may think that Nvidia's growth is done, but that's far from the case.

Just this week, investors learned that Amazon will spend $200 billion on capital expenditures, Alphabet will spend up to $185 billion, and Meta Platforms will spend up to $135 billion. That's over $500 billion in capital expenditures from just three companies, and Nvidia will receive a nice chunk of that revenue.

Wall Street analysts project 52% growth for fiscal 2027 (ending January 2027). When is the last time you could buy a stock with a clear bull case that's growing at a greater than 50% rate and is trading at a market-average valuation? It's a rare opportunity, and investors should buy Nvidia stock as a result.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Those AI hyperscalers have other computing unit options to select from, so not all of that pile of money will go toward Nvidia. However, whichever computing chip they select will likely have chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) in it, as it's the world's leading chip foundry. Companies like Nvidia don't fabricate any chips; they just design them. Taiwan Semiconductor is the primary chip producer, and its revenue dwarfs other foundries around the world.

Taiwan Semiconductor likewise expects strong growth in 2026, with management guiding for nearly 30% revenue growth in U.S. dollars this year. However, AI chips are expected to deliver particular growth, as management believes AI chip revenue will grow at nearly a 60% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2024 and 2029. That projection conveys strength not only for Taiwan Semiconductor but also for Nvidia, which is a major driver of that demand.

As the recent capital expenditure budgets for the hyperscalers indicate, we're still in the early innings of AI deployment. There is still plenty of growth to go, and these three stocks are genius ways to capitalize on the build-out.

Should you buy stock in Microsoft right now?

Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $429,385!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,165,045!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 913% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 196% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 12, 2026.

Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Is SaaS Dead? The Truth Behind the Software Meltdown, the Missing Floor, and the Peak That’s Not Coming BackOver the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen the same refrain everywhere: “SaaS has crashed this much, valuations must have bottomed, time to buy the dip.”On the surface, that sounds tempting. A lot
Author  TradingKey
5 hours ago
Over the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen the same refrain everywhere: “SaaS has crashed this much, valuations must have bottomed, time to buy the dip.”On the surface, that sounds tempting. A lot
placeholder
Bitcoin Realized Losses Rival Luna Crash Levels as Market Absorbs $2 Billion HitBitcoin network realizes $1.99 billion in losses, rivaling the 2022 Luna crash, though analysts view the $67,000 flush as a cyclical cleanse rather than a structural breakdown.
Author  Mitrade
8 hours ago
Bitcoin network realizes $1.99 billion in losses, rivaling the 2022 Luna crash, though analysts view the $67,000 flush as a cyclical cleanse rather than a structural breakdown.
placeholder
Financial Markets 2026: Volatility Catalysts in Gold, Silver, Oil, and Blue-Chip Stocks—A CFD Trader's OutlookThe financial world is perpetually in motion, but the landscape for 2026 seems to be shaping up to be particularly dynamic. For CFD traders navigating global markets, this heightened volatility could present a distinctive set of challenges and opportunities.
Author  Rachel Weiss
10 hours ago
The financial world is perpetually in motion, but the landscape for 2026 seems to be shaping up to be particularly dynamic. For CFD traders navigating global markets, this heightened volatility could present a distinctive set of challenges and opportunities.
placeholder
AUD/USD lurches into highs after NFP beats expectationsThe Australian Dollar surged to its highest level since August 2022 on Wednesday after the delayed US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report came in stronger than expected at 130K, well above the 70K consensus, though massive downward revisions to 2025 payroll data (898K lower for March 2025 alone) painted
Author  FXStreet
15 hours ago
The Australian Dollar surged to its highest level since August 2022 on Wednesday after the delayed US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report came in stronger than expected at 130K, well above the 70K consensus, though massive downward revisions to 2025 payroll data (898K lower for March 2025 alone) painted
placeholder
Should You Buy Bitcoin Now or Buy Tesla Which Holds Bitcoin? In 2026, Bitcoin (BTC) suffered a Waterloo-style sell-off, with prices quickly retreating to around $60,000 from a period high of nearly $98,000 at the start of the year. Bitcoin is once
Author  TradingKey
Yesterday 10: 14
In 2026, Bitcoin (BTC) suffered a Waterloo-style sell-off, with prices quickly retreating to around $60,000 from a period high of nearly $98,000 at the start of the year. Bitcoin is once
goTop
quote