If you want to dip your toe in the stock market and have $5,000 to invest, buying stocks you can hold for a long time makes sense. Moreover, the stocks you buy will need to be in relatively safe businesses. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment (HVAC) and parts company (NYSE: WSO) and leading auto safety company Autoliv (NYSE: ALV) fit these criteria. They are worth picking up for long-term investors. 

HVAC distributor Watsco is the leading player in a highly fragmented market. The company built its position (it's double the size of its nearest competitor by revenue) by following its "buy-and-build" strategy. This entails expanding geographically by acquiring smaller distributors and bringing them into the Watsco fold. It's a highly successful strategy because there are many benefits from scale, which the newly acquired distributor can benefit from. 

These benefits include greater parts availability and being part of Watsco's extensive network. In addition, Watsco has digital technologies (mobile apps, e-commerce sites, and digitized product information) that make it easier for contractors to order equipment -- a significant plus when customers are anxious to repair HVAC systems quickly. 

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Source Fool.com