With recent quarterly earnings clocking in at a record $7.3 billion on nearly $28.6 billion in revenue (another record), Apple
Sure, it may have temporarily passed up ExxonMobil in terms of market cap earlier today. But when it comes to IndustryWeek's list of the Top 50 Manufacturers, it's also in second place -- after Western Digital
Western Digital may not be familiar to you, but there's a good chance you have one or more of its products in your home. Along with Seagate Technology
Stealth companies
Some are wary of Western Digital and Seagate now, though, worrying that PC sales will shrink in the face of tablets, and even hard-drive sales may be threatened, by cloud-based storage. For now, though, Western Digital remains at the top of the list of manufacturers, suggesting that its heyday isn't over yet.
Plenty of other stealth winners abound, if you just take some time to look for them. Looking into components is a great way to start. Remember the astonishing growth trajectory of Apple? Well, all of its popular devices have components, such as chips made by Cirrus Logic
Lucrative facilitators
Another stealthy kind of company is the one that facilitates others' businesses. Consider natural gas. Many are bullish on it as an alternative to oil, and Chesapeake Energy
But plenty of less-known companies are also positioned well to benefit from growth in natural gas. Clean Energy Fuels, for example, produces natural gas and operates some 200 fueling stations serving natural-gas-powered fleets. Cheniere Energy owns and operates receiving terminals and pipelines for natural gas.
If you're expecting manufacturing to take off once a global economic recovery is in full swing, you might think of big players such as Ford
Riding successful companies' and industries' coattails can be a great path to riches. As you hunt for outstanding candidates for your portfolio, take some time to look beyond the usual suspects, at the companies supplying and enabling them.
Looking for some promising investments? Read this free report from The Motley Fool to find the names of five stocks we own that you should, too.