2 stocks I'd buy and hold for the next five years

Investors could be heading into a period of difficult and volatile times. Many markets and stocks are at historically high valuations but economic growth is by no means assured and we have a loose-cannon president in the US and Brexit negotiations in Europe to boot.

Today, I'm discussing two stocks I'd be happy to buy and hold for the next five years.

Thriving business

H&T Group(LSE: HAT) shares moved 10% higher to 295p in early trading today after the pawnbroker and personal loans specialist reported a "strong start" to its 120th anniversary year. It said this reflected "a strong operational performance and a favourable gold price."

For the six months ended on 30 June, H&T posted a 16% rise in revenue and a 64% increase in earnings per share (EPS). There was solid growth in its core pawnbroking operation and strong growth in its expanding personal loans business. In the latter, customers are flocking to products that are all below the regulatory caps on interest rates and fees "with the majority significantly lower than the cap."

So, in addition to the attractive counter-cyclical qualities of the industry in general, H&T is appealing, because its scale and sustainable business model is enabling it to thrive against a background of toughening regulation that is driving smaller, exploitative businesses out of the market.

Undervalued

Ahead of today's numbers, analysts had been forecasting full-year EPS of around 22p, giving an undemanding price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.4. With the company having already posted EPS of 13.1p for H1, I expect to see earnings upgrades, making the P/E lower still. I also expect to see a full-year dividend of at least 10.2p, giving a prospective yield above 3.4%.

I reckon this £110m AIM-listed company is undervalued and has the credentials to outperform the market in what could be testing times ahead for many companies.

More than a stock for traders

Fresnillo(LSE: FRES) -- the world's largest silver miner, as well as a significant gold producer -- is another stock I'd be happy to buy and hold for the next five years. The FTSE 100 giant has a market capitalisation of £11.2bn at a current share price of 1,520p.

The price is 23% below the 1,983p reached in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, showing that demand for the stock can rise rapidly when markets take a pessimistic turn. But Fresnillo is more than a stock for traders of short-term, sentiment-driven price movements. I believe its business fundamentals and prospects make it an attractive proposition for medium- and longer-term investors.

The company has high-quality, low-cost assets, which allow it to extract silver and gold profitably even at times when prices of the metals are depressed. And the future looks good for many years to come, because it not only has long-life producing assets, but also high-potential development projects and advanced exploration prospects.

Growth at a cheap price

Analysts are forecasting EPS of 63 cents (48.5p) for the current year, giving a P/E of 31.3. While the P/E is on the high side, earnings growth of 39% gives an attractive price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.8, which is nicely on the value side of the fair value PEG marker of one.

This makes Fresnillo's shares look very buyable to me, particularly as its earnings and dividends (current yield 1.5%) are both forecast to continue growing strongly next year.

Could H&T and Fresnillo help you make a million?

Reinvesting dividends can make a huge difference to the value of your portfolio over the long term. In fact, the experts at the Motley Fool have figured out a number of simple steps that could bring a seven-figure-sum stock portfolio within the reach of many ordinary investors. And they've published their findings in a FREE report called 10 Steps To Making A Million In The Market.

To enhance your wealth-making prospects, I urge you to read their straightforward step-by-step guide. There are no strings attached, so simply CLICK HERE for your free copy.

G A Chester has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.