<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>Bank of America's network continues to expand.</li><li>ExxonMobil returned $37.2 billion to shareholders in 2025, increasing its dividend yet again.</li><li>Alphabet is a modern blue chip stock, initiatng its dividend in 2024.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Bank of America ›</li></ul>Although the stock market has been in &#34;go&#34; mode during the past three years, 2026 is proving to be another story. The threat of rising inflation, a weak jobs market, and war in the Middle East are taking a toll on the market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&amp;P 500 are both in the red so far in March. Just as telling, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index, commonly known as the fear index, has climbed almost 80% since the beginning of the year. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »In times like these, it's natural to be concerned, and even to consider taking money out of the stock market in search of safe assets, such as gold or bonds. But I think that's a mistake. First, if you're a long-term investor, you could potentially run up a big tax bill by closing positions where you've had significant gains.Second, history shows us that the stock market is a consistent winner over time. Although short-term dips are inevitable, the market has historically rebounded and moved higher. Panicking now would deprive you of the opportunity to profit from the recovery.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTUwNi9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xMTYwOTc5ODI3LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="454" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTUwNi9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0xMTYwOTc5ODI3LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA"/>Image source: Getty Images. Instead, I think this is an ideal time to consider some tried-and-true investments. Blue chip stocks are those that have a long history of profitability and stability. These companies are most often market leaders, offer well-known products or services, and are often generous in returning money to shareholders through stock buybacks or dividends.Here are three ideal choices in today's market that cover three pillars of the economy: Finance, energy, and technology.<h2>The finance pick: Bank of America</h2>North Carolina-based Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) isn't the biggest bank in the U.S. (JPMorgan Chase gets that title), but it's a mammoth banking institution, nonetheless. Bank of America has more than 3,600 banking locations and 15,000 ATMs. Customers are increasingly connecting online, with 25 million active Zelle users who sent and received 474 million transactions in the fourth quarter, up 12% from a year ago. Bank of America offers consumer, business, and wealth management services, all of which are major revenue drivers. The bank's consumer banking segment generated net income of $3.3 billion and revenue of $11.2 billion in Q4, up 5% from a year ago. Its wealth management segment brought in another $6.6 billion in revenue and net income of $1.4 billion. Its global banking and global markets segments accounted for more than $3.1 billion in revenue. Bank of America has increased its dividend annually for the past 12 years, and currently provides a yield of 2.3%.<h2>The energy pick: ExxonMobil</h2>Nothing says &#34;blue chip energy stock&#34; like ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM). The integrated oil and gas company has vast operations that include its upstream production, midstream pipelines, and downstream chemical and refining.The size of ExxonMobil's business means that it can generate huge profits for its shareholders. Cash flow from operations in 2025 was $52 billion, which allowed ExxonMobil to deliver $28.8 billion in earnings. It posted free cash flow of $26.1 billion for the year, while it returned $37.2 billion to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends. ExxonMobil increased its dividend by 4% in December and has raised its dividend annually for the past 43 years. The payout currently offers a yield of 2.7%.<h2>The technology pick: Alphabet</h2>Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) only recently became a dividend stock, having declared its first dividend in April 2024. The payout's current yield of 0.3% pales compared to others on this list. But I consider Alphabet a modern blue chip stock, given its enormously popular businesses, its huge revenue and profit streams, its dominant market position, and the company's newfound commitment to dividends.Alphabet's Chrome browser and Google search engine are market share leaders. According to financial research firm MoffettNathanson, the company's YouTube video platform generated $62 billion in 2025, which moved it past Walt Disney to become the world's largest media company. Revenue in 2025 was $402.8 billion, up 15% from 2024, and net income of $132.1 billion rose 32% from a year ago. The company's free cash flow in the trailing 12 months is a whopping $73.2 billion.Alphabet is investing heavily in expanding its Google Cloud computing segment. But its hugely successful advertising business, powered by its internet dominance and YouTube, provides it with significant advantages that will allow it to become an emerging dividend stock that investors can count on for the long term.<h2>Should you buy stock in Bank of America right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Bank of America, 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 Bank of America 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 $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 15, 2026. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, JPMorgan Chase, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The stock market faces challenges in 2026 due to rising inflation, a weak jobs market, and geopolitical tensions. Despite recent downturns, long-term investors are encouraged to consider blue-chip stocks as stable investments. Recommended stocks include Bank of America, known for its strong consumer banking and wealth management services; ExxonMobil, a leader in the energy sector with a history of consistent dividends; and Alphabet, a modern blue chip with significant revenue from its advertising and cloud services. These stocks are seen as resilient options amid market volatility.

- The article discusses major developments in the stock market, noting a downturn in March 2026 due to rising inflation, a weak job market, and geopolitical tensions.  
- It highlights the financial strength of companies like Bank of America, ExxonMobil, and Alphabet, each recognized as blue-chip stocks that are making significant shareholder returns.  
- Furthermore, the piece emphasizes the importance of holding onto investments during market dips, advocating for long-term strategies as historical trends indicate market recoveries.

Best 3 Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy After This Month's Market Pullback