Bear markets and bull markets come and go, so it's best to avoid building your portfolio around one specific market phase. Instead, pick up shares of companies with potential to grow your wealth over time. If you're a cautious investor, you might favor dividend players and companies with a steady earnings track record. If you're aggressive, you might go for younger players, ready to launch new products.

In both cases, you can find these sorts of stock in the world of healthcare. If you've got $5,000 to invest, or even less, now is a great time to pick up shares of three companies that, all together, may offer you a combination of growth and security. Depending on your comfort with risk, you can decide which one to weigh most heavily in your portfolio. Let's take a look at these top long-term buys to invest in now.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) brings you a solid track record of growth -- plus potential for more ahead. The big biotech is the worldwide leader in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, with its leading treatment, Trikafta, bringing in billions of dollars in revenue annually. That and other CF products also have delivered ongoing profit growth.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com