The Motley Fool·2025-11-28 08:32Core Insights - The article emphasizes that significant wealth can be built in the stock market even with a small initial investment, provided the right stocks are chosen and held long enough to realize their potential [2]. Company Summaries Apple - Apple became the first company to reach a $1 trillion market cap in 2018 and has since grown to a $4 trillion valuation [3]. - The company's revenue surged from $7 billion to $416 billion, largely driven by the success of the iPhone, which accounts for half of its revenue [5]. - A $1,000 investment in Apple at its IPO price of $0.10 per share would be worth approximately $2.7 million today, with most gains occurring since 2019 [6]. Netflix - Netflix transitioned from a DVD rental service in 1997 to a leading streaming service, creating the industry it now dominates [7][8]. - It holds a significant market share in the U.S., with over 20% alongside Amazon Prime, and delivers more content than competitors like Disney+ and Hulu [9][10]. - A $1,000 investment made at its mid-2002 public offering would be worth nearly $1 million today, with a peak value of over $1.1 million earlier this year [12]. Walmart - Walmart's stock has turned a $1,000 investment at its IPO price of $0.0027 into over $39 million today, in addition to dividends [13]. - The company is projected to generate over $700 billion in revenue this year, with a 5.8% growth rate in the last quarter [15]. - Walmart has reduced its share count by more than 40% since the mid-1990s, contributing to its stock's double-digit price appreciation [16].