Shareholding investment opportunities in 2025: Beyond volatility

The Current Context: Tariffs, Uncertainty, and Opportunities

The 2025 stock market landscape presents a stark contrast to 2024. While last year saw historic returns, the US administration has imposed an unprecedented tariff package: a 10% base on all imports, rising to 50% for the European Union, a 55% cumulative rate for China, and 24% for Japan. This policy has triggered market volatility never seen before, with corrections across global indices from Wall Street to Asia and Europe.

The initial reaction was decisive: widespread panic, massive flight to safe assets like gold (which exceeds $3,300 per ounce), and violent adjustments in valuations. However, after the March-April correction, major markets have begun to recover, returning to all-time highs. This pendulum movement between declines and rebounds presents a complex but opportunity-rich scenario for those seeking to identify the best companies to invest in 2025.

Criteria for Choosing Profitable Stocks in 2025

In an environment of potential trade wars and high interest rates, selecting companies for a solid portfolio requires discipline. Investors should focus on:

Financial strength and adaptive capacity: In tense contexts, companies with robust margins, solid balance sheets, and operational flexibility prevail. Those that innovate and diversify geographically absorb external shocks better.

Exposure to global structural demands: Regardless of tariffs and cycles, certain sectors respond to permanent needs. Healthcare, technology, energy, and high-end luxury maintain demand even during recessions.

Geographic diversification: Companies with balanced presence across multiple regions reduce concentration risks. This is critical in 2025.

The Most Attractive Companies: Sector Analysis

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Innovation: Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a fascinating case study on volatility and opportunity. The Danish company, a global leader in diabetes and obesity, saw its shares plummet 27% in March 2025, the steepest decline since 2002. The reason: competitive pressure from rivals like Eli Lilly and disappointment with its Phase III candidate CagriSema.

However, behind this turbulence are solid facts. In 2024, sales grew 26%, reaching $42.1 billion. The acquisition of Catalent for $16.5 billion expanded production capacity. More importantly: in March 2025, it licensed LX9851 from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals for $1 billion, adding a new obesity mechanism with different features from its current products.

The gross margin of 43% remains robust, and its pipeline includes dual GLP-1/amylin molecules that have shown 24% weight loss in early studies. The global demand for therapies against diabetes and obesity continues to grow, positioning this company for positive long-term returns despite immediate competitive challenges.

Luxury and Premium Consumer Goods: LVMH

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the French conglomerate owning brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, Fendi, Bulgari, and Sephora, reported in 2024 revenues of €84.7 billion with an operating profit of €19.6 billion (margin of 23.1%). Despite this strength, shares fell 6.7% in January and another 7.7% in April after Q1 revenues disappointed with -3% YoY.

US tariffs of 20% (later reduced to 10% until July, with a threat to rise to 50%) directly impacted LVMH, which depends significantly on US sales. This stock correction has created more attractive prices for long-term investors.

The company continues to innovate: launched Dreamscape, an AI platform to personalize prices and experiences. Growth focuses include Japan (double-digit sales in 2024), Middle East (+6% regional), and India, where it will expand Louis Vuitton and Dior stores in Mumbai. The luxury market remains resilient because it responds to demand for high-quality tangible assets, especially in expanding emerging economies.

Semiconductors and Manufacturing: ASML and TSMC

ASML Holding, a Dutch company, is the only global producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines(, essential for manufacturing the most advanced chips. In 2024, it achieved sales of €28.3 billion with a gross margin of 51.3%.

In Q1 2025, it reported €7.7 billion in sales and a record gross margin of 54%, reaffirming expectations to generate between €30 billion and €35 billion for all of 2025. However, its shares fell ~30% over the past year due to: reduced capex from clients like Intel and Samsung, emerging Chinese lithography competitors, and new export restrictions from the Netherlands)which will reduce sales to China by 10-15%(.

Despite this, ASML maintains a near-monopoly position. Growing demand for advanced chips for AI and high-performance computing supports its necessity. The price correction presents an opportunity for investors seeking semiconductor exposure. The company projects gross margins between 51-53% for 2025, indicating sustained profitability.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company )TSMC(, with a market cap of $973.56 billion, has shown a YTD return of 18.89% )plus 13.43% in the last month(. As the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors, TSMC maintains high capex thanks to AI demand, differentiating itself from competitors reducing investments.

) Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Microsoft and Alibaba

Microsoft Corporation is the tech giant known for Windows, Office, Azure, and its strategic partnership with OpenAI. In fiscal 2024, it reported revenues of $245.1 billion ###+16% YoY(, operating income of $109.4 billion )+24%(, and net income of $88.1 billion )+22%(.

Early 2025, its shares corrected ~20% from all-time highs, dropping to $367.24 on March 31 and ending Q1 down -11%. The correction reflected valuation doubts, Azure’s relative slowdown, and macroeconomic pressures. The FTC is investigating practices of its cloud and cybersecurity units.

Despite this, in April, Microsoft reported solid Q3 fiscal results: revenues of $70.1 billion with a 46% operating margin. Azure and cloud services grew 33%. The company is aggressively investing in AI, announcing over 15,000 layoffs between May and July to redirect resources to these areas. Its strong financial position and leadership in enterprise AI position it well. The price correction offers an attractive entry point into a key digital transformation company.

Alibaba Group Holding, founded in 1999, dominates e-commerce in China through Taobao and Tmall, facilitates international trade via AliExpress, and operates cloud services. It announced a three-year plan to invest $52 billion to strengthen AI and cloud infrastructure.

In Q4 2024 )until December 31(, it reported revenues of ¥280.2 billion (+8% YoY)). In Q1 2025 (until March 31), it recorded ¥236.45 billion with an adjusted net profit +22%, driven by Cloud Intelligence +18%.

Alibaba’s shares have fallen 35% from 2024 highs, reflecting concerns over massive AI and cloud investments, plus trade tensions and domestic economic slowdown. However, after volatility (it rose +40% mid-February, then declined -7% in March), maintaining its position as China’s leading tech company with access to Asian AI demand. Buying at low prices now could be profitable.

( Energy and Commodities: Exxon Mobil and BHP Group

Exxon Mobil Corporation trades at $112 per share with a market cap of $483.58 billion. It has shown a YTD return of 4.3% )6.89% in the last month###. The company benefits from high oil prices and its financial discipline, remaining a global energy pillar.

BHP Group Limited, specializing in iron ore, copper, and nickel, trades at $50.73 with a market cap of $128.77 billion. YTD return of 3.46% (0.7% monthly). It leverages demand from emerging economies and the global energy transition, which require enormous copper volumes for renewable infrastructure.

Investment Strategy Adapted for 2025

In an uncertain environment, diversification is non-negotiable: spreading investments across sectors (technology, health, luxury, energy) and geographies (U.S., Europe, Asia) reduces concentration risk.

Second, maintain flexibility: Trade and economic policies can change rapidly. Investors must constantly monitor geopolitical tensions and adjust positions accordingly.

Third, combine safe assets with growth exposure: While maintaining exposure to growth companies, allocating a percentage to bonds or gold provides cushioning against extreme volatility.

Fourth, avoid panic: Historically, severe corrections are followed by recoveries. Selling in panic crystallizes losses. Disciplined investors who hold positions in fundamental companies end up winning.

How to Execute Investment in These Companies

Investors can access these opportunities in three ways:

Direct stock purchase: Through authorized banks or brokers, acquiring individual stakes in specific companies. Offers full control over the portfolio.

Investment funds: Include baskets of stocks, can be thematic (by country, sector), and managed actively or passively. Facilitate instant diversification, though limit individual selection.

Derivatives and CFDs: Allow amplifying positions with less initial capital or hedging risks. Require solid knowledge as leverage magnifies both gains and losses.

Final Reflection: 2025 and the New Normal

2025 will likely be remembered as the year the record-breaking rally paused and unprecedented volatility emerged. Investors cannot predict the future with certainty, but they can act with information, discipline, and adaptability.

The best companies to invest in 2025 are those with solid fundamentals, robust margins, constant innovation, and exposure to enduring global demands. Recent corrections offer more attractive prices precisely in these types of companies. The secret is not to guess the future but to build resilient portfolios that thrive across multiple scenarios, staying calm amid the inevitable volatility.