No investment in the equity markets (or anywhere else, for that matter) is entirely risk-free. However, some stocks look safe enough to allow investors to rest easy at night, knowing the shares are highly unlikely to experience significant losses. Though corporations in this category tend to have less upside potential, they have a place in the portfolios of investors with a long-term mindset.

Here are two strong candidates along those lines: Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA). Read on to find out why these healthcare stocks are worth holding onto for a long time.

A company doesn't last for more than a hundred years by accident. Johnson & Johnson has been around that long and has survived recessions, depressions, administrations from across the political spectrum, and more. That's made possible largely thanks to a culture of innovation that transcends any particular CEO or management team the company has had. Johnson & Johnson routinely develops important, lifesaving medicines and medical devices.

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Source Fool.com