The Best Stocks for the Next 10 Years

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The best stocks of the past 10 years all started small. That's documented fact, and it's something any investor putting together a portfolio should know.

But as many readers have pointed out, that fact is also backward-looking. These curious Fools want to know what the best stocks of the next 10 years will look like.

I'm no soothsayer, but I'll give it a college try ...
Far be it for me to shun the lessons of history, so I'll go out on a limb and predict that the best stocks of the next 10 years will start small -- as in a market cap of a few hundred million or less. Of course, if we take the world's major exchanges as our oyster, that means we're looking at more than 11,000 prospects. Not a big help, I know.

Of course, any tiny company that aspires to greatness will need significant tailwinds. A recent business trip gave me quite a few insights into a true hurricane-force gale.

We're live from the center of the storm, Bob
Small companies with big opportunities can be difficult to come by in the United States. That's because our economy is mature, and many industries are dominated by a handful of slow-growing, large-cap players. For instance, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) plus Burger King (NYSE: BKC) plus Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) pretty much covers the market for fast burgers. And while energy drinks helped Hansen Natural (Nasdaq: HANS) grab market share in the beverage business, Jones Soda (Nasdaq: JSDA) and others are struggling to find niches alongside giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). Any company that wants to make inroads in these industries must clear high hurdles.

Where large-cap industries are dominated by small-cap companies
That's not so much the case in a little country called China. Maybe you've heard of it. For a long time, the Chinese economy was controlled by the state. And though it's becoming more liberal, many sectors remain closed to foreign firms. This creates an enormous opportunity for small Chinese companies to take hold in newly private niches. And while the China story has been going on for years, it's still young. As Roth Capital's Gordon McBean told us during our visit to the firm's office in Shanghai, "It's not the seventh inning. It still feels early."

But investing in Chinese small caps isn't a risk-free proposition.

Will you pay to play?
Chinese stocks tend to be expensive. Excluding those with negative earnings, the average U.S.-listed China stock has a P/E of 30 and a P/B of 4. That's almost outrageous!

Maybe China's stocks deserve those multiples. As Roth Capital noted in its February report on the Chinese economy, China has the world's best economic growth record. More importantly, that growth is expected to continue as urban migration and the development of western China roll onward.

Not much of a riddle
What do you get when you combine the world's fastest-growing economy, entrepreneurial small companies, and a political environment that effectively incubates these companies? A recipe for remarkable returns.

But don't go throwing money in blindly. That's how you'll get wiped out when growth slows and competition builds.

Instead, focus on finding the best-run small Chinese companies that are also operating within the widest niche market opportunities. Roth Capital's McBean has some tips:

1. Steer clear of companies with government-run ownership structures. They won't be entrepreneurial enough.
2. Don't invest in companies that compete against government-run companies. It won't be a level playing field.
3. Keep tabs on the five-year plans the government releases. The Chinese government is efficient when it comes to achieving these goals. Find the companies that will help the government make its plans happen.
4. Look for companies that will benefit from increasing consumer affluence. The Chinese are getting richer, and they're looking to spend on luxuries such as travel, designer clothes, and nice homes.

Get your Chinese small caps
While these tips are specific to investing in China, don't forget your investing fundamentals. That means doing a thorough background check on the company's management group, and careful valuation work to make sure you don't overpay.

The Motley Fool Global Gains team took a research trip to China last year, where we met with several companies that fit this model. Even better, we're headed back in a few weeks.

Take a look at the international stocks we're recommending today and get all of our research from the upcoming trip by joining Global Gains free for 30 days.

Tim Hanson does not own shares of any company mentioned. Jones Soda is a Motley Fool Rule Breakers recommendation. Coca-Cola is an Inside Value pick. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.