Blue-chip companies display robust business models that can ride the storm of economic uncertainty and continue to deliver impressive returns for investors through regular and increasing dividends.
These companies have large market capitalisations, representing their overall market valuations, and are popular choices for cautious investors thanks to their attractive risk-reward profiles. Meanwhile, more bullish traders also seek out US blue-chip stocks to diversify their share portfolio and to help provide stability during turbulent economic conditions.
Here is our choice for the five best US blue-chip and large-cap stocks to buy this year, balancing quality, scale, profitability, growth, valuation and business durability.
- Microsoft
- Visa
- JPMorgan Chase
- Apple
- Nvidia
Best US Blue-Chip Stocks Table
| Company | Microsoft (MSFT) | Visa (V) | JPMorgan Chase (JPM) | Apple (AAPL) | Nvidia (NVDA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latest price | US$412.66 | US$323.86 | US$300.00 | US$292.68 | US$219.44 |
| Market cap | US$3.07t | US$615.9b | US$803.9b | US$4.30t | US$5.33t |
| P/E | 24.6 | 28.3 | 14.4 | 35.5 | 44.9 |
| Forward P/E | 21.5 | 24.5 | 13.8 | 33.4 | 26.5 |
| Dividend yield | 0.9% | 0.8% | 2.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Revenue TTM | US$318.3b | US$43.0b | US$173.6b | US$451.4b | US$215.9b |
| EBITDA | US$184.5b | US$30.1b | n/a | US$160.0b | US$133.2b |
| Profit margin | 39.3% | 51.7% | 33.9% | 27.2% | 55.6% |
| ROE | 34.0% | 60.4% | 16.5% | 141.5% | 101.5% |
| Quarterly revenue growth YoY | 18.3% | 17.1% | 12.7% | 16.6% | 73.2% |
| Quarterly earnings growth YoY | 23.4% | 35.5% | 17.2% | 21.8% | 95.6% |
| Beta | 1.09 | 0.78 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 2.24 |
| Average price target | US$561.56 | US$398.31 | US$342.32 | US$305.28 | US$269.17 |
Lets dive in!
1. Microsoft: best all-round blue chip
Microsoft is the strongest all-round blue chip on this list because it combines enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, AI distribution, cybersecurity, gaming, productivity tools and a huge installed customer base. With Microsoft’s stock price having pulled back 8.15% over the past 12 months, the valuation is coming to a point where it is beginning to look cheaper than you might expect.
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As one of the few companies with the balance sheet, customer relationships and cloud infrastructure to monetise AI across both consumers and enterprises, Microsoft is setup to benefit from all that comes in the sector. It is not just selling one product cycle, but embedding AI into Microsoft 365, Azure, GitHub, security tools and business workflows.
The numbers support the case. Microsoft trades on a P/E of about 24.6, with a forward P/E of about 21.5. That is not cheap in absolute terms, but it is reasonable for a company with US$318.3 billion of trailing revenue, a 39.3% profit margin, 34.0% ROE and quarterly revenue growth of 18.3%.
The operating story also remains strong. Microsoft’s FY26 third-quarter revenue rose 18% to US$82.9 billion, while operating income rose 20% to US$38.4 billion, with management pointing to cloud and AI strength as the driver of the result.
The risk is that AI infrastructure spending is expensive, and investors are already expecting Microsoft to be one of the long-term winners. But compared with many AI-exposed names, Microsoft offers a better mix of profitability, diversification and staying power.
2. Visa: clean compounder
Visa is a global payments network, earning from the movement of money across cards, digital payments, cross-border transactions, merchant services and value-added services.
That makes Visa one of the cleanest business models in the market. It has high margins, global scale, low credit risk compared with banks, and a long runway as cash keeps losing share to digital payments. The Visa share price has similar to Microsoft pulled back 8.99% over the past 12 months, taking some of the valuation multiples lower.
The data as a result looks strong. Visa has a 51.7% profit margin, 60.4% ROE, quarterly revenue growth of 17.1%, and quarterly earnings growth of 35.5%. It trades on a P/E of about 28.3 and a forward P/E of about 24.5, which is not cheap, but it is far from extreme for a business of this quality.
Visa’s latest official result backs up the investment case. Fiscal second-quarter 2026 net revenue rose 17% to US$11.2 billion, driven by growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions. Payments volume rose 8% on a constant-dollar basis for the relevant period.
3. JPMorgan Chase: best value-quality financial
JPMorgan Chase is the strongest large US bank and one of the most important financial institutions in the world. It has leading positions in consumer banking, credit cards, investment banking, markets, commercial banking, payments and wealth management.
The appeal is that JPMorgan gives you blue-chip quality at a more reasonable valuation than most mega-cap technology stocks, even after a 15.36% gain over the past 12 months. JPM shares trade on a P/E of about 14.4, a forward P/E of 13.8, and offers a dividend yield of 2.0%.
The business also has real momentu, with TTM revenue at US$173.6 billion, profit margin of 33.9%, ROE is 16.5%, and quarterly revenue growth is 12.7%. For a bank of this size, that is strong.
The official operating picture remains solid. JPMorgan’s Q1 2026 materials showed net interest income up 9% year over year, while its investment bank also delivered strong growth, with investment banking fees up 28% in the quarter.
The risk is that banks are cyclical. Credit losses, interest rates, regulation and capital rules can all affect returns. But if you want one US bank as a long-term blue-chip holding, JPMorgan is still the cleanest choice.
4. Apple: strongest consumer ecosystem
Apple remains one of the world’s best consumer franchises, with the iPhone, Mac, iPad, wearables, services, payments, apps and customer loyalty pushing the company to second in the market cap list. Apple’s share price is trading near highs after a 38.85% 12 month gain, with momentum firmly with the bulls.
The investment case is about brand power, recurring services revenue, pricing power, capital returns and installed-base monetisation. Apple is not the fastest-growing company on this list, but it remains one of the most durable.
The numbers show why investors still pay a premium, as Apple has US$451.4 billion in trailing revenue, a 27.2% profit margin, quarterly revenue growth of 16.6%, and quarterly earnings growth of 21.8%. ROE is extremely high at 141.5%, although that is partly influenced by Apple’s capital structure and buybacks.
Apple’s latest official result was strong. Fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 17% year over year to US$111.2 billion, while diluted EPS rose 22% to US$2.01. Apple also reported March-quarter records for total company revenue, iPhone revenue and EPS, while services revenue reached a new all-time high.
The main issue is valuation. Apple trades on a P/E of about 35.5, which is not obviously cheap for a company that still depends heavily on iPhone cycles. The investment case works best if you believe services, AI features, device upgrades and buybacks can keep earnings moving higher.
5. Nvidia: market leader
Nvidia is now a blue chip, but it is a different kind of blue chip. It is not a slow, defensive dividend compounder, but the central infrastructure company behind the AI buildout. After a 78% gain over the past 12 months, Nvidia shares have propelled the company to a $5.33T market cap, and comfortably the largest name on the market.
The company continues to dominate AI accelerators, data-centre GPUs, networking and the software ecosystem around accelerated computing. If AI infrastructure spending remains strong, Nvidia is one of the clearest beneficiaries.
The data is exceptional. Nvidia has US$215.9 billion of trailing revenue, a 55.6% profit margin, 101.5% ROE, quarterly revenue growth of 73.2%, and quarterly earnings growth of 95.6%. Those numbers are extraordinary for a company with a market cap of this size.
Nvidia’s latest official result underlines the scale of the move. Fiscal 2026 revenue was US$215.9 billion, up 65% from a year earlier. Fourth-quarter revenue was a record US$68.1 billion, up 73% year over year, and data-centre revenue was US$62.3 billion, up 75% year over year.
The risk is that Nvidia is the most expensive and volatile stock on this list. It trades on a P/E of about 44.9, has a beta of 2.24, and investor expectations are extremely high. Any slowdown in AI infrastructure spending, margin pressure, export restrictions or customer concentration concerns could hit the stock hard.
Still, among US blue chips, Nvidia offers the clearest growth story.
Summary
Blue-chip stocks are a smart choice for investors of all levels of expertise, from seasoned shareholders with a diverse portfolio to new investors wanting to kick off their investment journey. Many blue-chip companies are familiar names to investors, providing some ready reassurance to newbies while providing stability and the likelihood of solid long-term returns.
Meanwhile, more experienced shareholders will have seen their blue-chip stocks appreciate over time, showing staying power that many competitors lack while remaining relevant, innovative, and adapting to shifting market dynamics.
So, if you’re looking for large-cap stocks to buy in 2023 to diversify your portfolio or provide stability during uncertain times, any of these five blue-chip stocks would be a brilliant investment in 2023.
