3 Unstoppable Dow Stocks to Buy Before October Ends
Key Points
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Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Visa each show durable demand that could continue to grow.
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Amazon’s revenue is surging, largely driven by insatiable demand for cloud services.
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Coca-Cola and Visa are reporting solid results, with both businesses chasing opportunities for long-term revenue growth.
Amazon(NASDAQ: AMZN), Coca-Cola(NYSE: KO), and Visa(NYSE: V) are three members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJINDICES: ^DJI) that continue to post solid financial results in 2026. These companies are unstoppable not because their share prices have been steady, but because each one has competitive advantages that can keep the business growing for years. Here’s why they look like solid stocks to buy now.
1. Amazon’s cloud backlog is growing at triple-digit rates
Amazon is famous for its online store, but most of its revenue comes from cloud computing, advertising, fulfillment services, subscriptions, and hardware devices like Kindle. The stock has returned about 10% so far this year, slightly ahead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s roughly 9% gain through mid-October, as of Oct. 15, 2026. Investors have worried about the heavy capital spending needed for cloud infrastructure, which is pressuring free cash flow.
But that spending is tied to the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) cloud services, with Amazon leading the cloud market. On the July 30, 2026 earnings call, CEO Andy Jassy said the cloud backlog stands at $496 billion and is growing in the triple digits year over year. Amazon’s total net sales grew 20% year over year in the second quarter, with analysts expecting full-year sales to be up about 15% over 2025.
The long-term cloud contracts included in the backlog provide Amazon with clearer visibility into future revenue. At the Oct. 15 close of about $255, the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 30, based on Wall Street’s 2026 consensus earnings estimate, and 24 times next year’s. Wall Street expects roughly 21% annual earnings growth over the next several years, according to consensus estimates. This valuation and growth could support market-beating returns over the next five years.
2. Coca-Cola is using digital tools to reach more consumers
Coca-Cola has a large portfolio of brands, including Powerade, Sprite, and Fairlife. The shares have returned about 34% year-to-date through mid-October, well ahead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. That outperformance still leaves room for more upside as the company begins to leverage AI tools to drive more demand.
Demand looks healthy despite a weak consumer spending backdrop. Organic (non-GAAP) revenue grew 6% year over year, excluding the impact of acquisitions, divestitures, and foreign currency changes. This reflects a diversified portfolio of top brands that can meet demand for many different occasions.
It is leveraging digital tools and AI to enhance its marketing campaigns and better engage consumers. This effort targets the large share of beverage consumption in developing markets that goes unpaid, creating a substantial long-term growth opportunity for the company.
At the Oct. 15 close of about $92, the stock trades near a 28 forward P/E and offers a high trailing dividend yield of close to 2.3% — more than double the S&P 500 average. The stock is unlikely to outperform over the long term at this valuation, especially given that earnings are expected to grow at only a single-digit annual rate. But this is a steady performer that offers a nice yield for investors seeking extra income.
3. Visa has captured only a small slice of its addressable market
Visa operates one of the world’s leading payment networks, which powers its credit and debit cards, Visa Direct, and other value-added services. The shares have returned about 15% so far this year, ahead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s roughly 9% gain through mid-October. Even after those gains, the stock is still fairly priced to reach new highs in 2027 and beyond.
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Recent results showed continued momentum even as the payments landscape shifts toward agentic AI commerce, where bots can shop and complete orders autonomously for consumers. Net revenue rose 14% year over year in the fiscal third quarter of 2026. At the September Goldman Sachs conference, CEO Ryan McInerney noted that in key areas such as issuer services, acceptance, and risk and identity, Visa has captured only low-single-digit shares of the available opportunity.
The growing adoption of AI agents is an opportunity for Visa to see even higher payment volume over time, since these bots still need traditional payment methods like credit cards to make purchases. McInerney said Visa is “very optimistic” about this opportunity.
At the Oct. 15 close of about $400, the stock trades near a 26 forward P/E. Wall Street expects earnings to grow at an annualized rate of 14% over the next several years. That combination of value and growth should fuel more gains over the next five years.
Should you buy stock in Amazon right now?
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John Ballard has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Goldman Sachs Group, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.