Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns, and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.
The bottom line is that over the long term, earnings growth goes hand in hand with the biggest winners. Keeping that in mind, here are three market-beating stocks that deserve a spot on your list.
Alphabet (GOOGL)
Five-Year Return: +188%
Started by Stanford students Larry Page and Sergey Brin in a Menlo Park garage, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is the parent company of the eponymous Google Search engine, Google Cloud Platform, and YouTube.
Why Is GOOGL a Good Business?
- Alphabet’s dominant Google Search sits on the pantheon of the best businesses ever. This is reflected in its robust long-term revenue growth and elite operating margin.
- The company’s profit margins have become even higher over time, speaking to its scale advantages and operating efficiency not only in its core Search business but also in Google Cloud Platform and YouTube.
- Revenue growth and increasing operating margins are the key ingredients for strong EPS growth. Google has these, and when also factoring in its share repurchases, you can see why EPS has exploded over the long term.
Alphabet’s stock price of $361.81 implies a valuation ratio of 29.4x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Cencora (COR)
Five-Year Return: +167%
Formerly known as AmerisourceBergen until its 2023 rebranding, Cencora (NYSE: COR) is a global pharmaceutical distribution company that connects manufacturers with healthcare providers while offering logistics, data analytics, and consulting services.
Why Do We Love COR?
- Unparalleled scale of $328.7 billion in revenue enables it to spread administrative costs across a larger membership base
- Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 14.6% to outpace its revenue gains
- Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures
At $307.11 per share, Cencora trades at 16.4x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
American Express (AXP)
Five-Year Return: +95.3%
Recognizable by its iconic green logo and the slogan "Don't leave home without it," American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments company that issues credit and charge cards, processes merchant transactions, and offers travel and lifestyle benefits to consumers and businesses.
Why Is AXP a Top Pick?
- Impressive 15.5% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Share repurchases have increased shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 21.4% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years
- Industry-leading 33% return on equity demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments
American Express is trading at $335.75 per share, or 19.4x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
ONE MORE THING: Top 5 Growth Stocks. The biggest stock winners almost always had one thing in common before they ran. Revenue growing like crazy. Meta. CrowdStrike. Broadcom. Our AI flagged all three. They returned 315%, 314%, and 455%, respectively.
Find out which 5 stocks it’s flagging this month — FREE. Get Our Top 5 Growth Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
