3 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold for the Long Term

Stock market dips create rare entry points into high-quality growth companies with strong fundamentals. Investors eventually recognize companies that consistently gain market share. In other words, as markets recover, capital naturally flows toward businesses that consistently expand and capture market share.

While most stocks tend to do well when the market recovers, growth stocks usually produce higher returns. When pessimism switches to optimism, these companies don’t just rebound—they accelerate, driven by innovation and demand.

When sentiment flips from caution to enthusiasm, the biggest winners tend to stand out fast. Here are three growth stocks poised to outperform over the long run.

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1. Sterling Infrastructure

Sterling Infrastructure (NASDAQ: STRL) touts itself as a company that offers high margins and healthy cash flow. It builds and services the infrastructure that acts as the backbone of the economy, and that puts Sterling Infrastructure at the crossroads of the AI buildout.

Its E-Infrastructure Solutions segment gives it direct exposure to the AI market, which Grandview Research projects will maintain a 30.6% annualized growth rate through 2033. This growth, combined with Sterling Infrastructure's position as a market leader, may be enough to outperform the S&P 500 over the long run. Sterling Infrastructure showed investors that it's still growing, based on its 51% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025. E-Infrastructure led the way with 123% year-over-year sales growth, along with a 79% increase in the year-end backlog.

Sterling Infrastructure has maintained an annualized 38.8% revenue growth rate over the past five years. That growth, plus the AI market's projected CAGR, suggests that Sterling Infrastructure can maintain its promising trajectory. The 2026 revenue outlook also suggests more upside, with the midpoint suggesting 25.5% year-over-year revenue growth.

2. AeroVironment

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) has been a volatile stock in recent years and is presently undergoing a sharp correction. However, the drone maker is well-positioned for the changing nature of conflicts. The ongoing conflict with Iran has demonstrated how vital drones are for modern militaries.

This realization has already resulted in new orders for AeroVironment. The U.S. Navy recently selected the company to provide products and services to support "critical naval operations." It also received a $186 million U.S. Army Delivery order last February.

The company's recent acquisition of next-gen defense tech provider BlueHalo has already translated into surging revenue growth. Sales more than doubled year over year, while organic sales, which exclude the acquisition, were up 38%. Meanwhile, Grand View Research forecasts a 13% compound annual growth rate for the military AI market through 2030, highlighting a strong growth opportunity for AeroVironment. The stock dip does not align with AeroVironment's growing business, which may warrant buying the dip.

3. Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) offers liquid cooling solutions that enable AI chips to function and run effectively. That has resulted in a close, long-term relationship with Nvidia.

Nvidia chip sales translate into higher demand for Vertiv's services, which helped it generate $10.2 billion in sales throughout 2025. Vertiv also anticipates $13.5 billion in net sales in 2026, which would be a 28% year-over-year increase. A $15 billion backlog supports Vertiv's 2026 outlook.

Although Vertiv faces competition in the liquid cooling industry, Vertiv is one of the few companies that is focusing almost exclusively on this opportunity. Vertiv makes 80% of its revenue from AI infrastructure, while its closest competitor, Schneider Electric, only generates 30% of its revenue from data centers. Vertiv's increased focus lets it allocate more resources and talent to the AI opportunity, which can help it gain market share faster than its peers.

Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AeroVironment, Nvidia, Schneider Electric, Sterling Infrastructure, and Vertiv. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.