Long-term investing is the most straightforward way to build wealth in the stock market. Most of the market's gains come from a relatively small portion of stocks. Finding, buying, and holding exceptional companies can remarkably affect your investment returns.

Ironically, you don't need to find the next big thing to strike it big. Here are four companies you may already be familiar with today. These winners have proven themselves and still have plenty of long-term growth potential to merit a long-term place in your portfolio.

E-commerce has become a way of life for American consumers, and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is arguably the biggest reason why. The company began selling books online in the late 1990s, but today it sells virtually anything you can think of and commands nearly 40% of all e-commerce sales in the United States.

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Source Fool.com