The second half of 2025 offers a chance for investors to shake off the cobwebs of tariffs and recession fears and focus on where the market is going, rather than where it has been. Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has been on a roller coaster, while Cognex (NASDAQ: CGNX) and First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) have sold off considerably year to date.

Despite these jarring moves, these three companies could be worth buying in the second half of 2025 and holding for years to come. Read on to find out why.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

Archer Aviation stock has soared since this time last year -- and it's poised to keep ascending.

Scott Levine (Archer Aviation): If you take a look at Archer Aviation stock's performance in 2025, you'll see it has logged a modest 3% gain (as of June 20). If you expand your perspective to the past year, however, you'll find a much different story -- a 222% gain.

In light of this, growth investors may feel like it's too late to hitch a ride with the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) stock, but there's no reason to think that Archer can't gain considerably more altitude.

Developing innovative aircraft -- such as Archer's eVTOL aircraft dubbed Midnight -- is no small feat. To ensure that the aircraft is safe, Archer is undergoing a rigorous certification process from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that's nearing its conclusion.

The company has received a variety of requisite certifications from the FAA and is currently working toward receiving Part 142, the final certificate it needs before commencing commercial operations. Management is optimistic about receiving the certification soon and projects it will start commercial operations in 2025.

Separate from the FAA certification, Archer continues to make progress in securing partnerships. Most recently, it announced an agreement (valued at up to $18 million) to deploy its Midnight aircraft in Indonesia, which is the third agreement of its type. Archer has also inked agreements in the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

According to Business Research Insights, the eVTOL market is poised for significant growth. Whereas it was valued at about $1.2 billion in 2024, it's expected to climb to $20.1 billion by 2033.

For those scanning the skies for a growth stock with tremendous upside, Archer hits the mark.

Machine vision is the future of automated manufacturing

Lee Samaha (Cognex): If you looked at a three-year chart of revenue growth -- or rather decline, in this case, as Cognex's revenue is down 15.3% over the period on a 12-month rolling basis -- the last thing you'd conclude is that it's a "monster growth" stock. That said, the chart below provides a broader perspective.

CGNX Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts.

Unfortunately, the last few years have been challenging, with high interest rates pressuring end demand in two key markets -- automotive and consumer electronics. Meanwhile, the company's logistics end market (primarily e-commerce warehousing) experienced a boom during the lockdowns, only to face a correction in the following years.

Still, Cognex's long-term growth trend remains impressive, and management highlighted the opportunity ahead during its recent investor day event. In a nutshell, management expects a combination of underlying industry growth of 4%, with 6% to 7% growth on top of that from the increasing penetration of machine vision into automated processes. Throw in 3% growth from inorganic sources (Cognex is the industry leader, so acquisitions are likely), and it results in long-term growth of 13% to 14% per annum.

Those assumptions appear reasonable, considering the ever-increasing complexity of production, the need to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality control, the desire to reshore production to higher-labor-cost countries, and the increased value added to its solutions through artificial intelligence. It adds up to a compelling growth story -- if you can tolerate some possible volatility, given challenging near-term end markets.

A bright light in a cloudy industry

Daniel Foelber (First Solar): Solar stocks soared in 2020 due to a combination of low interest rates, favorable policies, government support, and a push for clean energy. Since then, however, many solar stocks have gotten crushed as these same factors that drove the industry higher have reversed course.

Borrowing costs now are elevated. And last week, the Senate Finance Committee proposed accelerating the reduction and removal of tax credits for solar and wind energy.

Solar-panel manufacturer First Solar plunged on the news in lockstep with the broader industry. But even when factoring in the sell-off, First Solar has been a standout and is actually outperforming the S&P 500 over the last five years. In contrast, the solar industry, as measured by the Invesco Solar ETF, is down over that period.

FSLR data by YCharts.

There are several reasons why First Solar has held its own despite immense industry pressure. For starters, it's profitable and has an impeccable balance sheet. It also doesn't manufacture in China -- an advantage if trade tensions mount.

The company has been expanding its U.S. footprint recently, including opening a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Alabama last year. These moves could pay off over the long run if government incentives and trade policy continue to favor companies that onshore their manufacturing and create U.S. jobs.

Despite these advantages, First Solar still relies on government subsidies and sustained commercial investment in solar. In its Q1 2025 earnings release, First Solar guided for $1.45 billion to $2 billion in operating income. But that figure assumes $1.65 billion to $1.7 billion in 45X tax credits.

The 45X tax credit incentivizes domestic production and sale of renewable energy components (like solar panels). Take away the tax credits, and First Solar's profitability and high cash flow are put in jeopardy.

Given the industrywide uncertainty, it's understandable investors may be on the sidelines with First Solar stock. But the company has what it takes to ride out the industrywide downturn.

Despite profitability pressures, First Solar still expects to finish 2025 with $400 million to $900 million in net cash (cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, restricted cash equivalents, and marketable securities, less expected debt). The company also has a massive order backlog that supports years of future cash flow (although that backlog could decrease if customers pull back on purchases).

Add it all up, and First Solar stands out as one of the best all-around buys in the industry for patient investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in Archer Aviation right now?

Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, consider this:

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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $881,731!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025

Daniel Foelber has positions in First Solar. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cognex and First Solar. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

We aren't even halfway through 2025, and already, it has been a roller-coaster year in the stock market. The major indexes incurred steep sell-offs, only to snap back like nothing happened.

Some investors may be looking for ways to take their feet off the gas by investing in stocks that distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders through dividends. Dividends are a great way to generate passive income, no matter what the stock market is doing. This can be a good approach for risk-averse investors, folks looking to preserve capital, or even investors who feel they have plenty of exposure to growth stocks and are looking to balance their portfolios.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

Here's why Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN), Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP) (NYSE: BIPC), and Clorox (NYSE: CLX) stand out as three dividend stocks to buy in June.

Devon Energy offers a sustainable dividend to energy investors

Lee Samaha (Devon Energy): Now, I know what you are thinking, and you have a point. How can an oil and gas exploration and production company be an ultra-reliable dividend stock? The answer lies in your degree of comfort with the price of oil.

To put matters into context, Devon Energy's management calculates that its "breakeven funding level" is $45 per barrel. In other words, that's the minimum price of oil the company needs to fund all its costs, operations, debt, and its fixed dividend.

Suppose you are comfortable with the implied assumption regarding the price of oil. In that case, you will be comfortable with the notion that Devon can sustain its current $0.96-per-share dividend, which translates to a dividend yield of more than 3%.

Moreover, based on the current price of oil of $63 per barrel, Devon could pay even more in dividends and/or continue buying back shares. Assuming a price of oil of $60 per barrel, management believes it will generate $2.6 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in 2025, a figure equivalent to 12.9% of its current market capitalization. In theory, that's what Devon's dividend yield could be if it used all its FCF to pay the dividend. All in all, Devon's dividend appears sustainable, barring a significant decline in oil prices.

Brookfield Infrastructure is a high-yield dividend stock that's on sale to start summer

Scott Levine (Brookfield Infrastructure): Building positions in trustworthy dividend stocks is a tried-and-true way for investors to fortify their portfolios. When reliable stocks like Brookfield Infrastructure -- along with its 5.2% forward-yielding dividend -- are available at a discount, therefore, investors would be wise to sit up and take notice. And that's exactly the opportunity that's now presented with shares of Brookfield Infrastructure trading at a discount to their historical valuation.

While investing in Brookfield Infrastructure doesn't offer a sizable growth opportunity like those artificial intelligence stocks or space stocks may offer, it does provide a conservative approach to procuring plentiful passive income. The company operates a massive portfolio of global infrastructure assets including (but not limited to) rail, data centers, and oil pipelines.

The allure of Brookfield Infrastructure for income investors is that the company generates ample funds from operations to cover its dividend payments.

BIP FFO Per Share (Annual) data by YCharts.

Over the past 15 years, the company has excelled at growing its funds from operations. From 2009 to 2024, Brookfield Infrastructure has increased its funds from operations at a 14% compound annual growth rate. While this doesn't guarantee the same results for the next 15 years, it's certainly an auspicious sign that should inspire confidence in management's ability to grow the business -- which is encouraging for those looking for passive income.

Currently, Brookfield Infrastructure stock is changing hands at 3.1 times operating cash flow, a discount to its five-year average cash-flow multiple of 4. Today's clearly a great time to load up on the stock while it's sitting in the bargain bin.

A safe dividend stock for passive-income investors

Daniel Foelber (Clorox): Clorox stock has been hit hard by a slower-than-expected turnaround, tariff risks, and cost pressures. But the maker of Clorox cleaning products, Kingsford charcoal, Burt's Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, Glad trash bags, and more could be a great high-yield dividend stock to buy for patient investors.

The great news for investors considering Clorox now is that the bulk of challenges related to its turnaround are likely over. The company's multiyear efforts to improve its internal operations -- known as its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system -- is set to begin adding cost benefits to Clorox in calendar year 2026.

Clorox's results have been improving. The company has achieved 10 consecutive quarters of gross margin expansion, showcasing better cost management even amid slower sales. Clorox expects to finish the fiscal year (ending June 30) with a 150-basis-point improvement in gross margin compared to fiscal 2024 -- even when factoring in tariff and cost pressures.

Clorox is heading in the right direction, but the stock may be selling off simply because investors have grown impatient with the company's multiyear turnaround. Another factor could be opportunity cost.

Clorox yields a hefty 3.8% and has 48 consecutive years of dividend increases -- but with three-month Treasury bills at 4.4%, some investors may prefer to go with the risk-free option.

Clorox is far from the only struggling high-yield consumer-focused brand to see its stock price around multiyear lows. Another example is Target, which has an even higher dividend yield than Clorox and has over 50 consecutive years of increasing its payout. Yet investors have grown impatient due to sluggish sales growth and weakening margins.

All told, Clorox is an excellent high-yield dividend stock for folks who want to participate in the stock market to collect passive income rather than go with non-equity products like T-bills.

Should you invest $1,000 in Devon Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in Devon Energy, 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 Devon Energy 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 $657,871!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $875,479!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025

Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Investors often gravitate to value stocks for their reliability and reasonable valuations.

Amid volatility in 2025, value stocks like Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B), Allegion (NYSE: ALLE), and American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP) are all outperforming the benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). But buying a stock just because it is doing well in the short term is a great way to lose your shirt.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

Here's why all three value stocks have what it takes to be excellent long-term investments and could be worth buying now.

Berkshire's competitive advantages are built to last

Daniel Foelber (Berkshire Hathaway): Berkshire Hathaway is up 10.4% year to date (YTD) at the time of this writing -- handily outperforming the S&P 500's slight YTD decline.

Warren Buffett grew Berkshire into a company with a market cap of over $1 trillion. And I think Greg Abel, who is set to become the new CEO of Berkshire at the end of 2025, can take Berkshire far beyond a $2 trillion market cap and outperform the S&P 500 in the process.

Berkshire has numerous advantages that position it to thrive over the long term. The company has a portfolio of top dividend-paying stocks like Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, and Chevron. It also has a massive cash position that it can use to pounce on investment opportunities. But the most valuable jewels in Berkshire's crown are its controlled assets.

Berkshire has been shifting its focus away from public equities toward its controlled businesses by growing its insurance businesses, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, BNSF railroad, and its various manufacturing, services, and retail segments. Combined, the value of Berkshire's controlled companies is worth much more than its public equity portfolio.

The controlled companies generate operating earnings, which Berkshire can park in cash or Treasury Bills, use to buy public stock, or reinvest back into its controlled businesses. And because Berkshire doesn't pay a dividend and only buys its stock when it deems it a bargain, the company is left with plenty of extra cash to put to work in its top ideas.

Berkshire earns insurance investment income on its float, which is the sum of premiums collected that haven't been paid in claims. Buffett often refers to this investment income as "free money," since Berkshire earns a return on the float. The float has gradually grown, ballooning to $173 billion as of March 31. Even if Berkshire simply invested the float in a risk-free asset yielding something like 4%, that would still be around $7 billion a year in "free" money. The float is just one of many ways Berkshire is well-positioned to compound its operating earnings for years to come.

Add it all up, and Berkshire has plenty of levers to pull to generate value and reward patient investors.

This company is helping keep America safe

Lee Samaha (Allegion): This doors-and-locks security company's stock is up 8.6% in 2025, compared to a slight decline for the S&P 500. This move highlights the business' underlying attractiveness and potential for long-term growth. Allegion's long-term development has several key drivers, including the opportunity to grow sales via the convergence of electronic and mechanical security products, the growing importance of safety and security (notably in the institutional sector), and the opportunity to continue consolidating a highly fragmented industry.

The increasing use of web-enabled electronics and services in locks and doors creates substantially more value for building owners because it allows them to monitor and control who has access to which areas, provides valuable data on workflows, and improves convenience.

The need for such features will only increase as urbanization trends create greater population density in cities, a statistic often linked to increased crime. As for industry consolidation, its key rival, Sweden's Assa Abloy, is a serial acquirer, and Allegion itself expects mergers and acquisitions to contribute 3% of its total long-term growth rate of above 7%.

Management expects the revenue growth rate to drop to double-digit growth in earnings. Wall Street analysts expect $8.42 in earnings per share in 2026 with $675 million in free cash flow (FCF), putting Allegion on 16.7 times earnings and 18 times FCF -- excellent valuations for a company with double-digit earnings growth prospects.

Plug American Electric Power into your portfolio and watch the passive income surge

Scott Levine (American Electric Power): While the S&P 500 has struggled to stay in positive territory, utility stock American Electric Power has charged considerably higher since the start of the year. As of this writing, shares have climbed more than 11% while the S&P 500 is down 1.3%. Despite its climb, the stock still sports an inexpensive valuation, appealing to those looking for a bargain. Besides value investors, those seeking passive income will also find their interests amped up with the prospect of owning the stock and its 3.7% forward-yielding dividend.

From its 4% year-to-date rise in February to the 17% year-to-date plunge in April, the S&P 500 has been on a roller coaster. During this turmoil, investors have sought the safety of rock-solid investments that represent minimal risk -- stocks like American Electric Power.

Because the company primarily operates as a regulated utility, it doesn't enjoy the freedom of raising rates when it wants. However, it guarantees certain rates of return. This low-risk business model may not spark joy in growth investors, but for those seeking conservative investments, it works just fine. Moreover, it lends credibility to management's target of providing an annual 10% to 12% total shareholder return, based on earnings-per-share growth of 6% to 8% and a dividend that yields about 4%.

With a lack of clarity regarding President Donald Trump's trade policy and geopolitical tensions continuing to run high, market volatility seems likely to continue to rattle the market's nerves for the foreseeable future, leading investors to the safety of utility stocks like American Electric Power.

With its stock trading at 8.8 times operating cash flow -- a discount to its five-year average cash flow multiple of 9.2 -- now looks like a good time to click the buy button on American Electric Power.

Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now?

Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, 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 Berkshire Hathaway 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 $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $828,224!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 979% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, and Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.