This shows the power of compounding when you invest in a high-quality company for the long haul. If you're looking to build long-term wealth, investing in the stock market is a great habit to get into. Over the past century, the S&P 500 index has generated average returns of 10.6% annually, showing that patient investors get rewarded in the long term. Certain companies can go on to outperform the S&P 500 index over long periods of time. Those great businesses tend to produce excellent cash flow and have som ...