IIn Chinese astrology, the Red Fire Horse represents energy, confidence, and the drive to push forward.
For investors, these traits translate neatly into what defines a strong blue chip stock — discipline, endurance, and the ability to keep moving when conditions get tough.
As markets remain selective, strength matters more than hype, and consistency beats excitement nine times out of ten.
Let’s take a closer look at three Singapore blue chips that embody resilience and long term durability heading into the Year of the Red Fire Horse.
What Defines a “Strong” Blue Chip
But first, what exactly is a strong blue chip?
The term ‘blue chip’ originates from poker, where blue chips hold the highest value.
In the stock market, blue chip stocks represent shares in companies that have proven earnings and steady cash flow generation.
Blue chip stocks are usually better able to endure economic downturns and market volatility, due to their capital allocation and balance-sheet strength.
Many also have a known track record of rewarding patience with regular dividends, returning cash to shareholders year after year.
Keppel Limited (SGX: BN4): The Market Leader
If you’re looking for a business that embodies the spirit of the Red Fire Horse, Keppel might be the pick for you.
The conglomerate’s share price reached S$12.42, its highest price in over 12 years, on 10 February 2026.
The stock continued its rally from last week when it was up 6.5% following its impressive full-year financial results for 2025 (FY2025).
Keppel’s latest net profit (excluding non-core portfolio gains and discontinued operations) rose 39% to S$1.1 billion, from $793 million a year ago.
The conglomerate said higher profits across all three of its wide-ranging business segments: infrastructure, real estate and connectivity, led the charge of its latest impressive performance.
Management proposed a special dividend of S$0.13 a share.
Including the interim cash dividend of S$0.15 a share paid in August, Keppel will pay out dividends totalling S$0.47 a share for FY2025, up 38% year-on-year (YoY).
Strong leadership, backed by disciplined execution and capital returns, keeps Keppel galloping when markets get muddy.
NetLink NBN Trust (SGX: CJLU): The Income Anchor
Just with its reputation building, maintaining and operating Singapore’s fibre network infrastructure alone, NetLink NBN, or NetLink, has the makings of a textbook income anchor.
NetLink delivered a steady set of 9MFY2026 results, with revenue edging up 1.6% YoY to S$313 million.
This comes despite a 11.8% dip in net profit to S$65.4 million from higher depreciation and costs tied to network expansion.
Its EBITDA held firm at S$215.5 million with a robust 68.8% margin, underscoring the stability and reliability of its operating cash flows despite a higher cost base.
NetLink’s distributions have risen steadily from S$0.0244 per unit in FY2019 to S$0.0271 per unit in 1HFY2026 — a roughly 11% uplift over six years.
Despite a modest dip in net profit, the trust’s foundations remain steady.
Residential connections came in at around 1.5 million, similar to the year before.
Non-residential connections fell to 52,574 from 53,454.
With rising revenue and largely stable connections underscoring the value of predictable cash flows over short term earnings noise, NetLink is well-positioned to be a new anchor in portfolios this new year.
Venture Corporation Ltd (SGX: V03): The Growth Champion
In the Year of the Fire Horse, strength favours the dark horses — steady businesses with room to grow, such as Venture Corporation, or Venture.
Venture Corporation is an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company that caters to a wide variety of industries, such as MedTech, Life Sciences, and Electronics.
In 3Q2025, it delivered S$627.2 million in revenue and a solid net profit of S$55.6 million, maintaining a healthy 8.9% net margin despite near-term softness in consumer segments.
The company also has an excellent track record of paying consistent annual dividends, thanks to its non-existent debt and a cash position in excess of S$1 billion, as at 30 September 2025.
It maintains a steady S$0.75 per share payout in most years and delivers a yield of around 4.5% with its latest payout.
Venture plans to introduce new products, coming off fresh wins in test and measurement, semiconductor equipment, and life sciences, which continue to fuel reinvestment led growth.
Venture’s quiet resilience and reinvestment discipline today lay the groundwork for sustained earnings growth and long-term returns.
Get Smart: Strength Is the Best Zodiac Sign
The Year of the Red Fire Horse celebrates confidence and momentum.
In investing, those qualities come from durable businesses, not bold predictions or crystal balls that never seem to work.
Blue chips provide stability during market swings, deliver income and growth across cycles, and spare investors the stress of perfect timing or heroic speculation.
Smart investors focus on blue chips with the stamina to run the long race, whatever the year brings.
Markets may sprint, but wealth is built at a steady trot.
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Disclosure: Joseph G. does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
