Key Points
-
These companies make solid long-term investments, and right now they are reasonably priced.
-
These retailers are keenly focused on value for their customers.
The month of September has been known to be a difficult one for investors. That’s because, over time, it’s been the worst month of the year for stocks — a phenomenon known as the September Effect. Of course, this doesn’t mean every September produces declines. Last year and the year before, the month of September delivered gains of 3.5% and 2%, respectively.
Still, investors have become more cautious in recent weeks amid the S&P 500‘s more than three-year climb and as valuations reached a new high. They’ve worried that higher inflation could weigh on the consumer’s wallet and that this, along with tech companies’ spending on artificial intelligence (AI) may hurt corporate profits. This backdrop could put pressure on the S&P 500 in the coming weeks.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again.In 2009, a “Double Down” signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same “Total Conviction” signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
With this in mind, let’s check out three stocks to buy and hold even if there’s a stock market sell-off in September.
1. Costco
Costco(NASDAQ: COST) has what it takes to maintain steady earnings growth in any economic environment. This warehouse giant offers customers essentials such as food and gas at rock-bottom prices, so it’s a key destination when times are tough. In fact, during such a period, customers may shop even more at Costco to take advantage of deals and amortize the membership fee.
And this brings me to another important point. Costco generates most of its profit from these fees, so the company makes money before shoppers even set foot in a warehouse to shop. That’s one big advantage. The second is the fact that Costco’s renewal rate in its biggest market — the U.S. and Canada — has been steadily higher than 90%. So membership revenue is something investors can count on, offering them visibility on earnings down the road.
Costco generally trades at a premium compared to other retailers, but today, valuation has come down, leaving it close to the level of Walmart. This is a great time to scoop up the stock and hold on for the long term.
COST PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
2. Amazon
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is another player that’s likely to do well amid economic pressures. Like Costco, it offers consumers low prices on goods they need — on top of this, they can shop from the comfort of their own home. This is a model that’s worked well for the company over time, with annual revenue growing to a high of more than $700 billion in the most recent year. Amazon’s expansion into pharmacy, as well as the company’s commitment to fast delivery, has reinforced its popularity among consumers.
Amazon is also benefiting from its presence in the AI space thanks to its Amazon Web Services (AWS) business. AWS is generating tremendous growth as it furnishes customers with a variety of AI products and services, including Amazon’s own in-house-designed chips. In the most recent quarter, AWS reached an annual revenue run rate of $169 billion.
Today, Amazon trades for 20x forward earnings estimates, a steal — this, along with its leading e-commerce and cloud businesses, makes it an excellent long-term stock to buy right now.
3. Target
Target(NYSE: TGT) has reached a key period of transition. The retailer struggled to grow in recent years amid various challenges, but now is taking important steps along the recovery and growth path. Longtime executive Michael Fiddelke took on the chief executive officer role earlier this year and set out a plan — in the recent quarter, progress is already apparent.
During the three months, Target completed its biggest volume of merchandise resets in more than 10 years. The company also gained ground in its use of AI and in supply chain productivity, and over the past year, the retailer cut prices on more than 10,000 items in an effort to reinforce affordability. In the quarter, revenue advanced about 5% to more than $26 billion, and the company reported traffic growth of 3.6%.
Target shares remain at a reasonable valuation, at 15x forward earnings estimates, and the retailer’s focus on price as well as merchandise assortment should help this recovery story gain momentum. That’s why it’s an excellent stock to buy and hold even if the market sells off this month.
Should you buy stock in Costco Wholesale right now?
Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, 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 Costco Wholesale 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 $417,413!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,341,294!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% 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.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 13, 2026.
Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon and Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
