Equity markets generally move upward over the long run, but not all individual stocks do. Earning solid returns over a decade or more requires purchasing shares of excellent companies that consistently deliver strong financial results. Fortunately, there are many options to choose from among the hundreds of publicly traded corporations.

Two companies that look particularly attractive for long-term investors are Adyen (OTC: ADYE.Y) and (NYSE: V). Let's see why these corporations can turn an initial capital of $15,000 into $50,000 in 10 years -- for those counting at home, that amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%.

Making digital payments online or in person seems straightforward. Customers simply have to swipe their cards at a point-of-sale system (or a payment gateway, the online equivalent thereof). However, there are several intermediaries between the customers and their banks, which ultimately issue the payments. The entire process is complex enough, but Adyen simplifies it for its customers by combining several of those intermediaries.

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Source Fool.com