Why I have these stocks in my portfolio
Every investor has their own strategy. Some seek stability, while others focus on dividends or value investing. My portfolio is built around a different philosophy: I want to own companies that are benefiting from the most significant economic and technological changes of this generation.
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital payments, e-commerce, software, healthcare, and blockchain are transforming the way the world works. Rather than speculating on the next big trend, I try to find companies that have already proven they can create value while continuing to grow for years to come.
These are the companies I trust the most.
MercadoLibre: Latin America's Hidden Tech Giant
When investors are looking for the next big winner, they often turn to Silicon Valley. Yet one of the most impressive growth stories is taking place thousands of miles away.
MercadoLibre started out as a simple online marketplace but has grown into a comprehensive digital ecosystem. The company manages online stores, payment processing, logistics networks, lending, and even banking services.
What appeals to me most is that MercadoLibre is benefiting not only from the growth of e-commerce, but also from the digitization of the entire financial system in Latin America. In many regions, millions of people still have limited access to traditional banks. Mercado Pago fills that gap.
While many developed markets are gradually reaching saturation, Latin America is still in the relatively early stages of its digital transformation. This gives MercadoLibre an exceptionally long growth trajectory. To me, this isn’t just another e-commerce company, but an investment in the economic development of an entire continent.
Meta Platforms: Where Attention Turns into Profit
Few companies are as deeply intertwined with the daily lives of billions of people as Meta.
Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are among the most widely used digital platforms in the world. What many people underestimate, however, is just how much Meta’s position is strengthened by artificial intelligence.
Every improvement in Meta’s AI models translates almost immediately into better ads, higher engagement, and increased revenue. Because the company has access to an unprecedented amount of data, it can continue to refine its algorithms.
I also see a lot of potential in WhatsApp. Despite its massive user base, its commercial rollout is still in its early stages. If Meta succeeds in developing the same monetization capabilities as it has with Facebook and Instagram, it will create another powerful growth engine.
Meta combines scale, profitability, and innovation in a way that few companies can match. That is why it remains one of my strongest convictions.
Alphabet: More Than Just Google
Much of the discussion surrounding Alphabet these days revolves around one question: Will AI replace Google?
I think that question is being asked the wrong way.
Alphabet has an ecosystem that goes far beyond just the search engine. Google Search, YouTube, Android, Maps, Gmail, and Google Cloud are all among the most widely used digital products in the world. Most competitors would be happy to have just one of these platforms.
Furthermore, Alphabet itself is one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence. The technology on which many modern AI systems are based was co-developed within Google.
Where others see a threat, I see opportunities. Alphabet has the resources, the data, and the talent to continue playing a leading role in the AI era.
Amazon: a company that keeps reinventing itself
Amazon is still often viewed as just an online store. That’s like judging an iceberg based on what you see above the water.
Under the surface lies AWS, the world’s largest cloud infrastructure. Thousands of companies run their digital operations on Amazon’s servers. As AI requires more computing power, that infrastructure only becomes more valuable.
In addition, Amazon is emerging as a major player in digital advertising and continues to refine its logistics network.
What appeals to me is that Amazon consistently manages to enter new markets. The company has proven time and again that it can reinvent itself. That ability makes it particularly valuable for long-term investors.
TSMC: The Backbone of the AI Revolution
When people talk about artificial intelligence, the focus is usually on Nvidia. But behind nearly every advanced chip is a company that is far less well-known.
TSMC.
The company manufactures the most advanced semiconductors in the world and has built up a technological lead that took years to develop. It is nearly impossible for competitors to catch up quickly.
Whether the AI winner ends up being Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, or a completely new player doesn’t really matter to TSMC. Everyone needs chips.
This makes the company one of the most essential links in the entire technology sector.
Hims & Hers: Healthcare the Way Consumers Expect It
The healthcare system is known for its bureaucracy, long wait times, and complex processes.
Hims & Hers is trying to completely turn that around.
Through a digital platform, patients can seek medical care, receive treatment, and order products without the usual barriers. The company is building a healthcare system centered on ease of use, speed, and accessibility.
What appeals to me is that the company is responding to a clear societal trend: consumers expect the same digital experience from healthcare as they do from Netflix or Uber.
When a multi-hundred-billion-dollar industry begins to digitize, exceptional opportunities often arise. For me, Hims & Hers is one such opportunity.
ServiceNow: The Quiet Winner of Digital Transformation
Not every great company makes the front page every day.
ServiceNow is a perfect example of this.
The company’s software helps organizations automate processes, streamline workflows, and boost productivity. That may sound less spectacular than AI chatbots or self-driving cars, but it creates tremendous value for customers.
Once integrated, ServiceNow often becomes an essential part of business operations. This leads to strong customer relationships and recurring revenue.
To me, this is exactly the kind of company that can quietly build shareholder value over many years.
Shopify: Doing Business in the Internet Age
Behind thousands of successful online stores lies the same platform.
Shopify has become the go-to platform for entrepreneurs who want to sell online without relying on major marketplaces.
While Amazon is building its own shopping mall, Shopify provides the tools that allow entrepreneurs to open their own stores. That difference really appeals to me.
As more commerce moves online, the demand for reliable digital infrastructure is also growing. Shopify is right in the middle of that trend.
Microsoft: Quality in its purest form
Some companies don't need a complicated explanation.
Microsoft has been one of the world’s leading technology companies for decades and seems stronger than ever today.
With Azure, the company plays a key role in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. At the same time, Office, Windows, and other software products continue to generate substantial cash flows.
Microsoft doesn’t need to take any spectacular risks to keep growing. Its combination of stability, innovation, and profitability makes it one of the most well-rounded companies in the world.
Visa: a small portion of every transaction
The best companies are often the ones that make money without consumers even noticing.
Visa is perhaps the best example of this.
Every day, millions of payments are processed through the Visa network. The company doesn’t have to run stores, manufacture products, or bear much credit risk.
Yet it earns revenue from virtually every digital transaction that passes through its network.
As long as the world continues to move toward electronic payments, I expect Visa to continue to benefit from this trend.
S&P Global: A Trusted Name
Ultimately, financial markets are all about information.
S&P Global delivers exactly that.
From credit ratings to market data and indices, S&P Global’s products are an essential part of the financial system. Many institutional investors simply cannot do without this information.
This ensures a strong competitive position and a highly stable business model.
It may not be the most exciting stock in my portfolio, but it is one of the most reliable.
Salesforce: software that helps businesses grow
Almost every successful company has one thing in common: it understands its customers.
Salesforce helps organizations do just that.
By bringing sales, marketing, and customer management together on a single platform, it becomes easier to build lasting customer relationships. As companies collect more data, the value of such systems also increases.
As a result, Salesforce has become a key component of the modern business world.
Netflix: From Streaming Service to Entertainment Empire
Netflix has changed the way people watch TV forever.
What began as a disruptive player has since grown into a global entertainment platform with hundreds of millions of users.
Advertising, gaming, and new forms of content are creating additional growth opportunities. At the same time, Netflix benefits from economies of scale that are difficult for new competitors to match.
That makes the company more attractive than many investors realize.
Alibaba: A Contrarian Story
Sometimes the best opportunities arise when investors lose confidence.
In recent years, Alibaba has faced geopolitical tensions, stricter regulations, and negative market sentiment. As a result, its stock has underperformed many U.S. technology companies.
Nevertheless, Alibaba remains a dominant player in e-commerce, logistics, and cloud computing.
I view Alibaba as a stock with higher risk, but one whose valuation reflects a great deal of pessimism. If the market regains confidence, that could serve as a powerful catalyst.
Duolingo: Learning Through Play
Education changes slowly, but when change does occur, it can be profound.
Duolingo has proven that learning doesn't have to be boring. By combining game elements with technology, the company has created a product that users keep coming back to every day.
In addition, artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for personalized education, an area in which Duolingo is exceptionally well-positioned.
The company combines a strong brand with a huge market, which is exactly what I look for in growth companies.
Crypto: an option for the future
In addition to stocks, I also maintain a limited exposure to cryptocurrency through the VanEck Crypto Leaders ETN and the VanEck Ethereum ETN.
I do not view these positions as the core of my portfolio, but rather as an investment in a technology that may play a significant role in future financial systems.
If blockchain technology continues to develop as many advocates expect, these positions offer interesting asymmetric opportunities. If expectations are not met, the impact on the overall portfolio will remain limited.
Closing Remarks
When I look at my portfolio, I don’t see a collection of stock symbols. I see companies that are building infrastructure for the digital economy, managing payment networks, developing software, modernizing healthcare, and driving the AI revolution.
Not every stock will outperform the market every year. Nor does it need to. My goal is to own exceptional companies and give them enough time to let their value creation pay off.
After all, wealth isn’t built by constantly trading, but by growing alongside the world’s best companies over many years.