Long-term equity investors should never lose sight of the fact that there’s a company behind every stock they buy, sell or hold. Stocks can be used merely as trading vehicles to be bought and sold for technical reasons to capture short-term gains, but investors with a long-term view should always consider the company behind the share. In other words, very often the best companies are also the best stocks.
Companies that stand the test of time and gain the respect of Wall Street and Main Street are committed to the kind of success that can be sustained over years, decades and even centuries. Those are the kinds of companies that make the best investments for individuals and institutions.
The companies on today’s list fit that bill. Each has had – and will continue to have – its ups and downs, but each one is a proven long-term winner over many market cycles and through all kinds of economies. Here are five of the best companies to invest in today.
This post originally appeared at U.S. News & World Report.