Great companies change the world as we see it, and investors in these businesses benefit from the profits they generate. Because of such realities, you spend hours researching today’s companies in search for the next Microsoft or IBM, so you may retire rich on an exotic beach in San Juan while sipping your favorite tropical beverage, without a care in the world.
In order to ease your search, we’ll ditch the quarterly earnings reports and conference calls for a moment, and analyze the most crucial aspect of a successful business: the strength of its brand. A strong company brand translates into profits in the long run, and businesses build their brands by changing the world and earning loyal followers.
World changing service/product + Loyal Following = Strong brand + Company profits.
Now that we’ve defined the ultimate equation for long term company profitability, let’s look at 3 companies that you can buy stock in and make money with because these three large corporate giants a) have changed the world in some way, b) built up a loyal following to enhance word of mouth marketing and strengthen the global brand, and c) made lots of money in the process.
1. Google, Inc
Google’s founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page revolutionized the internet once Google began competing in the internet search market. Now Google owns nearly 50% of the world’s internet search share and shows no signs of slowing down in the future. Google not only makes searching the web easier, but offers numerous products and services that enhance the quality of human life worldwide. I use the following Google-owned properties on a daily basis:
- Google Reader - helps you track RSS/Atom from one central location and saves time
- Google Finance - aggregates financial content, data, and stock quotes for you all in one place
- Google Adsense - allows you to earn revenue from your websites by displaying relevant Adwords advertisements on your webpages
- Youtube - The internet video industry is the fastest growing advertising segment on the web. No wonder Google hustled to add Youtube to its portfolio of businesses.
The deep Google product pipeline, along with Google search, saves you time, money, and even help you earn some money in the process. Therefore, it’s safe to say that Google has made the world a better place to live in for lots of people worldwide.
Why Buy GOOG Stock (GOOG)? - The web grows everyday, and Google will grow its market share of the world wide web.
2. Toyota Motors
According to CNN Money, Toyota is already the world’s most profitable car maker, and has nearly eclipsed General Motors (GM) as the world’s largest automotive maker. Kudos goes to Toyota’s management for developing an excellent unique value proposition: provide a long lasting, reliable vehicle at a low, affordable cost.
Nowadays, the world “cars” and “Toyota” have become quite good friends. Japan-based Toyota controls 15% of the US car sales market, and around 10% of the world’s car market.
Much of Toyota’s success stems from two popular models: the Toyota Camry & and Toyota Corolla. Combined with gas efficiency, longevity, and enough power to get the job done, the Camry and Corolla bridge the gap between cost and value quite nicely.
Toyota changed the world by placing less focus on the features of vehicles, and more focus on how much the consumer paid for vehicles. When companies care more about their customers than expensive price tags, their customers love them, forever.
Toyota set a goal for 15% world market share in the next 4 years, and they will most likely reach that goal with ease. If you’re unsure about Toyota’s global success, pay attention to the model’s and makes of the cars along the street as you commute to work or school. You may be in for a big surprise.
Why Buy Toyota stock (TTM)? - Toyota will pass GM as the largest car maker, and never look back.
3. Starbucks Coffee
Starbucks is an iconic brand that greets millions of people across the world every morning by a common gathering place for the working world. The average Starbucks customer frequents the Seattle coffee maker 4.2 times on average per week, making a strong case that Starbucks builds an extremely zealous customer base.
Even if you avoid coffee altogether, Starbucks offers wonderful coffee substitutes like hot chocolate, green tea, blended drinks, and speciality mixes like fruit smoothies. There’s also breakfast sandwiches, comfortable seating arrangements, and lively music playing in the background. You seek out Starbucks to relax and unwind, not seek out cheaper lunch alternatives (Did somebody say McDonalds?)
You can bet that Starbucks improves the lives of many people daily, and provides the needed “break” from the toils and responsibilities of normal day life. No one will give up their coffee break because of higher oil prices or economic slowdown; they would rather leave you to dwell on economic uncertainities while they enjoy a relaxing break from the real world.
Why buy Starbucks Stock (SBUX)? - Starbuck’s global presence grows year after year (Starbucks has plans for India and Russia), and it plans to add more diverse products/items on its shelves like books, music, etc.
Do You Agree with this list?
Would you remove any company from this list? Which companies would you add?
Disclosure: I own shares of SBUX.
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TJP,
I agree with GOOG, but they need to demonstrate they can contiue to grow their advertising model. I think AMZN may move into the category. I am impressed Jeff Bezos has stayed on as CEO and is evolving the strategy to managing back room operations. GE is my dark horse third. If Jeff Imhelt is right about green and infrastructure GE will be the lead provider.
Full disclosure: I own GOOG and GE.
Suggestions for re-titling this piece:
1. Three stocks I own; or
2. Three stocks I like; or
3. Three stocks that are popular
It’s seems absurd to me to have Starbucks, but not Microsoft, or even IBM, on a list, titled “3 Global Stocks that Changed the World.”
Google is OK. Toyota just sells cars - it didn’t invent them. Try Ford.
All three companies perfected the idea but definitely did not “change” the world.
Bell Labs (now AT&T?) definitely did by inventing the transistor back in the days. Without it, there wouldn’t be computers.
I agree that Microsoft is a better choice than other companies. Sony is the company that brought portable music to the masses and would be a better candidate also. Even Nintendo whom made game consoles a house hold item with the NES deserves a mention.
Walmart would be another that changed the world (definitely Americans) by killing all the mom and pop shop.
Ebay changed the world too. It created an eco system that is feeding many businesses and stay-at-home moms.
@ Super Saver
I hope Google makes some more healthy acquisitions to beef up their internet advertising market share. One possibility is Valueclick (VLCK), it owns a number of publisher-advertiser properties that Google may find beneficial in the long run.
@ Larry
Ford and Microsoft created the technologies, and other companies are evolving these advances, and taking them to another level.
You don’t have to invent the wheel to make a huge difference in the world. All you need to do is provide immense value to the world, and humanity will love you for it.
@ MoneyNing
Great company list. Change and evolution go hand in hand.
Starbucks provides a social gathering hub within a commericial business. Never done before so successfully.
To me, Google changed my world at least. Without Google, the internet wouldn’t be the same.
You have some great ideas. I plan to update this list from time to time, and will consider adding EBAY, WMT, and T to the list.