Buying a stock is like owning a small stake in the business that it represents. Great businesses are the ones that grow steadily over time and help to compound your wealth many times over. Such businesses, however, are not easily found, and it's necessary to study a business over some time to assess how it handles crises and competition.
The best stocks are those that offer tantalizing future prospects and have strong franchises. A dominant position within an industry allows a market leader to wrestle market share away from smaller players, thus strengthening its competitive position over time. And management should be forward-looking and able to come up with strategic initiatives to continuously grow the business.
Here are two stocks with the above attributes that I plan to hold for the rest of my life.