There's no secret to long-term investing. Buying high-quality stocks with solid growth prospects, sound financials, and a good management team can lead to compounding returns for decades if you are willing to hold on to them.

In March of 1986, investors had an opportunity to buy one such company for the very first time, when Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) had its initial public offering (IPO). Back then, the company was selling revolutionary database software, but it has since evolved to offer an entire portfolio of cloud-based products spanning financial management, supply chain management, and human resources. Now, it's tackling a new frontier: artificial intelligence (AI).

The company's relentless appetite for innovation has led to a surging stock price over the last 37 years, and had you invested $1,000 in its stock in 1986, here's exactly how much money you would have today. 

Continue reading

Source Fool.com