Most investors spend too much time thinking about when to buy and when to sell.
But what if selling was not an option?
Suppose the Singapore market closed tomorrow and stayed shut for the next 10 years. Which businesses would you still be happy to own?
Warren Buffett once said investors should buy businesses they are happy to own for years, not days.
These five Singapore stocks pass that test.
OCBC (SGX: O39) – The Banking Leader
Why I’d Hold It for 10 Years
Every few years, banks are forced to play a different game. One moment they’re benefiting from higher interest rates, the next they’re dealing with slower loan demand or a weaker economy.
The institutions that stay ahead are usually the ones that don’t rely on a single source of earnings.
That’s how OCBC has evolved. While lending remains at its core, the bank has built up its wealth management and insurance businesses, making the group less dependent on any one part of the financial cycle.
The strategy paid off in 2025. Total income rose to S$14.6 billion. Net profit reached S$7.42 billion, while return on equity came in at 12.6%.
OCBC also remained well capitalised with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 16.9%, while continuing to reward shareholders through dividends.
In banking, that kind of consistency is often harder to build than rapid growth.
Sheng Siong (SGX: OV8) – The Defensive Consumer Business
Why I’d Hold It for 10 Years
There are retailers who do not have to reinvent themselves to continue growing.
In hard times, people are more careful about their expenses, and that is what distinguishes Sheng Siong from other players.
Sheng Siong has been doing one thing for years successfully. This is a supermarket chain which makes money due to selling the essentias at a reasonable price.
In FY 2025, revenue increased by 9.9% to S$1.57 billion. The growth was fueled by the opening of new stores.
Net profit increased by 8.5% to S$149.2 million.
Gross margin reached 31.3%.
The board declared a dividend of S$0.07 per share, representing a payout ratio of 70.4%.
With such successful performance, Sheng Siong proved that there is no need to reinvent yourself to continue growing.
ST Engineering (SGX: S63) – The Infrastructure or Industrial Compounder
Why I’d Hold It for 10 Years
Certain sectors keep growing because demand remains strong.
Companies in these sectors often have more room to grow.
ST Engineering is one of them. It operates across aerospace, smart city, defence and public security.
FY2025 revenue rose 9% to S$12.3 billion. Operating net profit increased 21% to S$850.8 million. The group also ended the year with a record order book of S$33.2 billion.
The record order book gives the group good revenue visibility for the years ahead. The board also declared a total dividend of S$0.23 per share for FY2025.
CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (SGX: A17U) – The REIT Built for the Long Term
Why I’d Hold It for 10 Years
A REIT is only as good as the rent it collects.
Good properties stay occupied through different property cycles. Good tenants also keep renewing their leases. That is what sets a quality REIT apart.
CapitaLand Ascendas REIT has built its portfolio around that idea. Portfolio occupancy remained at 90.9% in FY2025. Positive rental reversion came in at 12.0%, while WALE stood at 3.7 years.
The REIT also maintained a healthy aggregate leverage of 39.0%. Distribution per unit for FY2025 was S$0.15005.
CapitaLand Ascendas REIT has shown that steady rental income still matters.
iFAST Corporation (SGX: AIY) – The Long-Term Growth Company
Why I’d Hold It for 10 Years
Growing a business for one or two years is not difficult. Continuing to grow over the long term is much harder.
That is where iFAST stands out. The group has expanded beyond an online investment platform into a digital banking and wealth management business with operations across several markets.
FY2025 was another record year. Assets under administration grew 27.9% to S$31.98 billion.
Revenue increased 34.4% to S$514.72 million.
Net profit surged 50.1% to S$100.01 million.
The group also achieved a record return on equity of 28.3%. Management is targeting S$100 billion in assets under administration by 2030 as it continues to expand its platform.
iFAST has shown that long-term growth comes from building a bigger business, not just one good year.
Why This Thought Experiment Matters
Buying a stock is easy.
Holding it for 10 years is not.
This way of thinking changes how you invest. You stop watching share prices every day. You spend more time looking at the business instead.
Is revenue still growing? Is management doing a good job? Does the company still have an advantage?
That does not mean you can ignore the stock. Businesses change. Competition changes. Valuations change too.
Review your holdings from time to time. Make sure the original reasons for buying the stock are still there.
Long-term investing is not about doing nothing. It is about owning good businesses and staying patient.
Get Smart: Great Businesses Don’t Need Constant Watching
If the stock market closed tomorrow, these businesses would still be open. They would still be serving customers. They would still be making money.
That is what matters most.
Good businesses usually become stronger over time. Their share prices may fluctuate and the business should keep moving forward.
The goal is not to hold a stock for 10 years but to own a better business 10 years later.
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Disclosure: Darien C. does not own shares/units of any stocks mentioned.
