Stocks that can survive and thrive for long periods -- say, beyond 20 years -- are a special breed. These companies typically display one or several of the following characteristics: innovative abilities, leadership in a major industry, a strong moat, or exciting growth potential. That's not an exhaustive list of traits such corporations can have, but they are among the most important.

To find businesses that display them, it can be helpful to start by looking at companies that have already passed the test of time. Let's look at two examples: (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). Beyond the strong prospects they offer, these two well-known businesses are also excellent dividend payers worth holding on to for good. 

Few companies are more popular than Microsoft. That's an important advantage in and of itself -- it means the company's brand is well known and enjoys relatively high consumer trust.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com