Maintaining a portfolio of multiple stocks is just a smart idea. Diversification reduces the risk of unexpected developments and provides more opportunities for upside while also limiting the overall impact of stock-specific setbacks. The Motley Fool recommends building your portfolio to eventually hold at least 25 different long-term stocks at a time.

On the flip side, most investors find that a small number of stocks end up becoming the core of a portfolio. These are the positions with strong, reliable performances that make them worth holding forever.

With that as the backdrop, here's a closer look at three such companies that could serve as the pillars of a million-dollar portfolio. Note that none of them manage complicated business models. They're just businesses that are perpetually in demand.

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Source Fool.com