Though there are no guarantees in the stock market, some companies have such strong business characteristics that investing in them stands to produce excellent returns -- at least, for those who don't expect results overnight. Such companies often have one or more of the following traits: They are  leaders in their respective industries, they boast competitive business edges, and they have solid growth prospects.

Let's consider two examples: Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) and MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI). For those with $2,000 to spare -- money that isn't being saved for bills or emergencies -- here's why putting that money in these companies makes a lot of sense.

People love to travel. The hospitality industry, which includes travel, accommodations, and activities, is worth tens of billions of dollars. Airbnb seeks to make people's trips easier by providing home rentals and activities on its platform. The company is a leader in this niche. The pandemic years were difficult for Airbnb, but it has rebounded nicely since and generally records excellent financial results.

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Source Fool.com