The Best-Performing Stock on the S&P 500 Since 1980

Source: The Motley Fool

If you love money, this will blow your mind.

In 1980, had you invested a mere $1,000 in what went on to become the top-performing stock of S&P 500 , then you would be sitting on a cool $1.2 million today.

That equates to a total return of 120,936%.

The stock? None other than Gap .

You read that right. According to an analysis of the "entire universe of U.S. based stocks publicly traded since 1980," M&T Bank found that the multi-branded retailer scored the top spot among all of the stocks that are currently on the S&P 500.

What's perhaps more interesting is that Gap was in exceptionally good company, as four of the top five S&P 500 components on the list were all retailers.

You can see evidence in the following graphic, which charts how much a $1,000 investment in 1980 would be worth with respect to each of these stocks today.

Coming in second is L Brands , the retail concern behind Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, among others, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.9%. Third is TJX , the "off-price apparel and home fashions retailer" behind T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, among others, with a CAGR of 22.8%. And in fourth place is Wal-Mart , the world's largest retailer, with a CAGR of 21.9%.

It's also worth pointing out that all of these are, to varying extents, discount retailers that were positioned perfectly to take advantage of the Great Bull Market that got under way in 1982. And all of them have since grown alongside the American consumer. Their total returns (rounded to the nearest 1,000%) come out to be 90,000%, 88,000%, and 69,000%, respectively.

The lesson here is simple. The opportunity to invest in great companies coupled with the magical power of compounding returns can make prescient and patient investors very rich.

Discover one of today's top stocks
The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for this year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article The Best-Performing Stock on the S&P 500 Since 1980 originally appeared on Fool.com.

John Maxfield and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.