Which companies to invest in the stock market stand out in 2025 after tariff volatility?

The Context: Markets Under Pressure, but with Latent Opportunities

2025 has brought a radical shift to the global financial markets. While 2024 closed with historic returns, the first months of this year have been marked by unprecedented trade tensions. The US administration implemented a base tariff of 10% on all imports, with peaks of 50% on the EU, 55% accumulated on China, and 24% on Japan. The initial reaction was widespread panic: stock indices in the red from Wall Street to Asia, while gold reached all-time highs above $3,300 per ounce.

However, after the March-April correction, markets have begun a gradual rebound. Currently, major indices are trading near all-time highs, creating an opportunity for those looking to identify the best companies to invest in during this uncertain environment.

The Top Five Cases: Detailed Analysis of Companies to Invest in the Stock Market

1. Novo Nordisk: Leadership Under Pressure, but with Strong Catalysts

Shares fell 27% in March—its largest drop since 2002—this Danish pharmaceutical company remains a focus of attention. Its sales grew 26% in 2024, reaching $42.1 billion, driven by treatments for diabetes and obesity.

Intensified competition from Eli Lilly and its drug Zepbound raised doubts among investors. However, Novo Nordisk has executed key strategic moves: completed the acquisition of Catalent for $16.5 billion in December 2024, expanding production capacity, and in March signed an agreement with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals for $1 billion to license LX9851, an experimental drug with a different mechanism of action.

It maintains operating margins of 43%, and its pipeline includes amycretin, a dual GLP-1/amylin molecule that achieved 24% weight loss in early studies. The global demand for therapies against diabetes and obesity continues to grow, positioning Novo Nordisk for positive long-term returns.

Key Data: Current Price: $69.17; YTD Return: -19.59%; Market Cap: $241.55 billion USD

2. LVMH: Luxury Recalibrating, with Growth Focus in Asia

The French luxury goods manufacturer reported revenues of €84.7 billion in 2024 with an operating margin of 23.1%. However, its shares fell 6.7% in January and 7.7% in April after Q1 results showed modest growth of -3%.

US tariffs of 20% (reduced temporarily to 10%) significantly impacted its US business. Despite this, the company is strengthening its positioning through innovation: launched the AI platform Dreamscape to personalize prices and experiences, and is expanding digital channels.

The true growth catalysts are in Asia: Japan showed double-digit gains in 2024, the Middle East grew 6%, and India will host new Louis Vuitton and Dior stores in Mumbai. The current stock correction offers an attractive entry point for investors betting on a recovery in global luxury consumption.

Key Data: Price: €477.3; YTD Return: -25.24%; Market Cap: €237.19 billion EUR

3. ASML: Dominance in Semiconductors, Facing Headwinds but with Solid Structural Demand

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

Q1 2025 showed sales of €7.7 billion and a record gross margin of 54%, with an annual revenue guidance between €30 billion and €35 billion. However, shares have fallen approximately 30% from highs due to three factors: reduced spending by key clients like Intel and Samsung, emerging competition from Chinese companies in lithography, and trade restrictions from the Netherlands (which expects to reduce sales to China by 10-15%).

Despite these challenges, demand for advanced chips for AI and high-performance computing supports the structural need for its systems. The recent correction presents an entry opportunity into a key player in the semiconductor sector.

Key Data: Price: $799.59; YTD Return: 14.63%; Market Cap: $305.87 billion USD

( 4. Microsoft: Tech Giant Restructuring Toward AI

With fiscal 2024 revenues of $245.1 billion )+16% YoY### and net income of $88.1 billion (+22%), Microsoft leads the enterprise AI ecosystem through its partnership with OpenAI and its Copilot suite.

Shares corrected 20% from highs, hitting a low of $367.24 on March 31, raising doubts about valuation and the relative slowdown of Azure. Additionally, the FTC is investigating monopolistic practices in cloud and cybersecurity.

However, fiscal Q3 2025 showed a strong recovery: revenues of $70.1 billion, operating margin of 46%, and Azure grew 33%. The company is investing record amounts in AI and cloud, announcing over 15,000 layoffs (mayo-julio 2025) to redirect resources toward these strategic areas.

It maintains a robust financial position, and the correction offers an opportunity to gain exposure to a leading tech company at a more attractive valuation.

Key Data: Price: $491.09; YTD Return: 18.35%; Market Cap: $3.71 trillion USD

( 5. Alibaba: Chinese Recovery with Massive AI Investment

The Chinese tech company leads regional e-commerce and cloud computing. Reported Q4 2024 revenues of ¥280.2 billion )+8% YoY###, while Q1 2025 showed revenues of ¥236.45 billion with adjusted net profit growing 22%, driven by an 18% increase in Cloud Intelligence.

Shares fell 35% from 2024 highs due to concerns over massive AI and cloud investments, trade tensions, and local economic slowdown. Volatility included a 40% rebound until mid-February, followed by a 7% drop after March results were considered weak.

Despite uncertainty, the $52 billion three-year plan to strengthen AI and cloud infrastructure, combined with a ¥50 billion coupon campaign to revitalize domestic consumption, points to a structural recovery. Buying at lower prices now could be profitable over medium horizons.

Key Data: Price: $108.7; YTD Return: 28.20%; Market Cap: $259.53 billion USD

Full Outlook: 15 Companies to Invest in the Stock Market in 2025

Beyond the Top 5, investors will find diversified opportunities in other companies to invest in the stock market:

Energy and Commodities Sector: Exxon Mobil (112 $, +4.3% YTD) benefits from high oil prices with solid financial discipline. BHP Group (50.73 $, +3.46% YTD) focused on iron, copper, and nickel, capitalizing on demand from emerging economies.

Banking and Intermediaries: JPMorgan Chase (296 $, +23.48% YTD) stands out as the largest US bank, benefiting from high interest rates and diversification across commercial banking, investment, and cards.

Automotive: Toyota (174.89 $, -10% YTD) provides stability with leadership in hybrids and advances in electric vehicles. Tesla (315.65 $, -21.91% YTD) maintains a dominant position in EV growth and technological innovation.

Semiconductors and Manufacturing: TSMC (234.89 $, +18.89% YTD) is a key supplier of advanced chips with sustained demand for AI. NVIDIA (110 $, -17% YTD) dominates the AI chip market.

Tech Giants: Apple (212.44 $, -4.72% YTD), Amazon (219.92 $, +1.83% YTD), and Alphabet/Google (178.64 $, -5.16% YTD) offer a combination of stability, diversification, and constant innovation for solid portfolios.

Strategies to Identify Opportunities in 2025

In the current environment of tariff tensions, investors should apply specific criteria when evaluating which companies to choose for investment:

Comprehensive Diversification: Prioritize both sectoral and geographic exposure. Favor companies with a strong presence in domestic markets or business models less dependent on international trade.

Financial Strength and Adaptability: Seek companies with robust financial positions, solid operating margins, and proven capacity for innovation. Leaders in digitalization respond to structural and global demand, even amid uncertainty.

Geopolitical Monitoring: Maintain constant vigilance on political, economic changes, and conflicts. Flexibility and active risk assessment will differentiate between protecting capital and incurring avoidable losses.

Taking Advantage of Corrections: Present declines across multiple sectors offer opportunities to buy solid companies at more attractive valuations than at historical highs.

Ways to Invest in These Companies

Interested investors have multiple options:

Individual Stocks: Direct purchase through a bank account or authorized broker, allowing full control over portfolio selection.

Investment Funds: Thematic vehicles by country or sector, managed actively or passively, offering automatic diversification at the expense of less individual control.

Derivatives: Contracts for difference (CFDs) allow amplifying positions with less initial capital or hedging risks against volatility. In environments of more aggressive policies, diversifying between derivatives and traditional assets balances risks while maintaining long-term exposure to promising sectors.

It is critical to remember that derivatives require discipline and deep knowledge, as leverage magnifies both gains and losses.

Final Reflection

2025 will likely be remembered as a year of transition: from the record-breaking rally of previous years to near-unprecedented volatility and uncertainty. Past gains never determine future performance, and the current situation is unique, making market evolution predictions difficult.

Investors should therefore build sector- and geographically diversified portfolios, consider safe-haven assets like bonds or gold to offset potential losses, avoid panic during sharp corrections (often followed by rebounds), and stay informed about political, economic, and ongoing conflicts.

Rational, balanced, and well-founded investing remains the best defense in times of uncertainty.