Earn Great Returns Until 2017

There are 353 stocks that would have earned you greater than 20% annualized returns from 1997 through 2006. These incredible investments have a few characteristics in common. One of the most striking is their unpredictability.

The numbers story
While a buy-to-hold strategy would have earned you massive returns, it wouldn't have been a steady ride. Instead, it could have been a loss one year and a huge gain the next. Consider these examples from 1997 through 2001:

And then from 2002 through 2006:

Each of these companies would have earned you greater-than-20% annual returns during the past 10 years. Yet none went up every year; there was only one year when all seven of them increased in value; and there was not one year when all 353 of the market's best increased in value.

What does this tell us about earning returns for 10 years or more? It tells us that we need to be patient. The best we can do today is buy good companies with bright futures and hold them, despite inevitable market volatility like we've seen recently.

How many folks dumped Chattem when it was savaged in 1999 and 2000? They've missed out on good growth since then. Or how about those who punted Florida Rock when the housing bubble was "peaking" in 2003? The gains were great after that -- and the company's about to be bought out at a nice premium.

Market-beaters of the future
One year is not long enough to judge an investment thesis. That's why the real gains are made by folks who identify opportunities and hold onto them. Master investor Warren Buffett readily admits that his incredible portfolio would be better off today if he'd never sold a single share.

Fool co-founders David and Tom Gardner have made it their mission to identify the market-killers of 2017 for Motley Fool Stock Advisor subscribers. While they can't predict whether their recommendations will go up or down in any given year, they are confident in their long-term prospects. And in their nearly four years of making picks, the results are promising: 61% average returns for David and Tom versus 28% for the S&P 500.

The market's greatest gains from now until 2017 will be made by investors who can be patient with their stocks. If you'd like some help finding stocks worthy of your patience, click here to take a 30-day free trial to Stock Advisor. There's no obligation to subscribe, but our hope is that you'll stick around our community until 2017 and earn incredible returns along with us.

This article was originally published Jan. 31, 2006, as "Earn Great Returns Until 2016." It has been updated.