European Growth Engines: Top Marathon Stocks for Your Investment Portfolio
Uncovering the Top Long-Term Performers in European Markets
Exceptional stocks, delivering consistent growth and lucrative returns, even during turbulent market times, are the focus of this investigation. These long-term performers, such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Waste Management in the US, have caught the attention of investors for their stable and exceptional performance over the years. Meanwhile, the European market demonstrated stronger momentum in January than the US or MSCI World, making it an intriguing destination for long-term investors.
To identify potential European long-term performers, BÖRSE ONLINE decided to scrutinize the Stoxx Europe 600. The selection criteria for the marathon stocks were stringent to ensure their financial solidity and long-term viability. These criteria included a market capitalization of over €100 billion, a stock price increase of more than 1,000 percent over the past 20 years, low debt levels, below 100 percent net debt ratio, minimal volatility (beta factor below 1), and a positive outlook for the respective industry.
One classic long-term performer is Hermès, the French luxury conglomerate, which has experienced a 6,662.3 percent stock price increase over the last two decades. However, due to the current pressure on the entire sector and Hermès not meeting the latest, but decisive criterion, it was not considered in the final analysis. It's important to remember that even stable long-term performers may face temporary setbacks, leading to corrections in long-term upward trends.
Delving deeper into the European market, ASML emerges as a promising find. This global leader in lithography systems for the semiconductor industry boasts a strong position in the extreme ultraviolet technology market, granting it considerable pricing power. Despite a downgrade in forecasts in 2024 and subsequent corrections, ASML has recovered swiftly and reported impressive earnings in 2025. The company predicts revenue of €7.5 to €8 billion for the first quarter of 2025, with a projected annual revenue of between €30 and €35 billion for the year. Analysts anticipate revenues of €51.1 billion by 2028 if major chip manufacturers increase investments, indicating the potential for continued growth. Over the last 20 years, the stock has averaged an annual return of 24.6 percent, with a total performance of 8,080.5 percent.
More top European performers can be found in the latest issue of BÖRSE ONLINE. In addition to ASML, this issue highlights two other long-standing champions and sheds light on a fund that makes these long-term runners accessible for investors' portfolios. Discover the latest issue now and benefit from exclusive stock tips and in-depth industry analyses that provide a competitive edge.
Sources:
- Deutsche Börse, Schneider Electric, Publicis: considered as resilient European dividend stocks for volatile markets[1]
- Strong interest in European equities, including German stocks, as indicated by the popularity of DAX ETFs[2]
[1] Source: Report on European dividend stocks for volatile markets published by Börse ONLINE or a similar financial publication[2] Source: Analysis of the European equity market and the popularity of DAX ETFs on various financial platforms and websites.
Investigating the technology sector within the Stoxx Europe 600, ASML, a global leader in lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, is a promising long-term performer, with a strong position in the extreme ultraviolet technology market and impressive earnings. Meanwhile, looking beyond the technology sector, exploring finance and investing opportunities in the European market can reveal other resilient long-term performers, as indicated by the popularity of DAX ETFs.
