Investors are well aware of the advice to “invest for the long term”.
However, the “long-term” can be very far off, and it’s tough to imagine the benefits you will receive for your patience.
Hence, the best way to illustrate the power of long-term investing is to zero in on several stocks that have delivered solid returns to their investors over time.
This rare bunch of stocks has multiplied their investors’ wealth many times over and continues to possess solid catalysts for the future.
Here are four Singapore stocks that delivered impressive returns over the last five years.
Oiltek International (SGX: HQU)
The first stock on this list is Oiltek International, a company that provides a comprehensive and diversified range of refinery processes and engineering solutions across different sectors of the vegetable oils industry value chain.
With more than 44 years of operating history under its belt, Oiltek has successfully designed, built, and commercialised plants in more than 35 countries across five continents.
Over the past five years, Oiltek’s share price has soared 837% to close at its all-time high of S$0.76 recently.
The group reported record highs for both its revenue and net profit for 2024.
Revenue rose 14.5% year on year to RM 230.3 million while net profit surged 55% year on year to RM 29.6 million.
The business declared a final dividend of S$0.018, taking its total 2024 dividend to S$0.027.
For the first quarter of 2025 (1Q 2025), Oiltek reported a mixed result.
Revenue dipped 5.1% year on year to RM 46.7 million, but net profit climbed 22.1% year on year to RM 5.4 million.
Management remains confident about the long-term outlook for the edible and non-edible oil refinery segment.
Imarc Group, a market research and consulting firm, projects that the global fats and oils market is expected to reach US$336.3 billion by 2033, growing at 3.4% per annum from 2025 to 2033.
Azeus Systems (SGX: BBW)
Azeus sells software products and services and helps to deliver innovative IT solutions to companies and government agencies in more than 100 countries.
Its flagship product, Convene, is a paperless meeting solution implemented by clients in the countries where it operates.
Shares of Azeus delivered a stunning 1,220% return over the past five years as its shares soared more than 13-fold.
For its latest fiscal 2025 (FY2025) ending 31 March 2025, Azeus reported a 44% year-on-year jump in revenue to HK$474 million.
Net profit nearly doubled year on year from HK$85 million to HK$166.9 million.
The IT solutions firm also saw its free cash flow double from HK$96.5 million in FY2024 to HK$194.4 million for FY2025.
Azeus declared a final dividend of HK$3.90, taking the total FY2025 dividend to HK$5.50 per share.
Revenue was driven higher by the continued growth of Azeus’ Products business line, and also from contributions from the Central Electronic Record-Keeping System (CERKS) contract in Hong Kong.
The remaining revenue from CERKS will be recognised over FY2026 and FY2027, and the group also plans to broaden its geographic reach and continue investing in the development of its ESG reporting platform.
iFAST Corporation Limited (SGX: AIY)
iFAST is a financial technology company operating a platform that allows for the buying and selling of unit trusts, equities, and bonds.
Shares of the fintech company have surged nearly fourfold over the past five years, hitting S$7.05 at last count.
The group saw its revenue rise from S$216.9 million in 2021 to S$383 million in 2024.
Net profit more than doubled from S$30.6 million to S$66.6 million over the same period, and the dividend per share went from S$0.048 in 2021 to S$0.059 in 2024.
iFAST continued to post healthy growth for 1Q 2025, with net revenue climbing 16.5% year on year to S$67.7 million.
Operating profit shot up 29% year on year to S$23.8 million while net profit surged 31% year on year to S$19 million.
The group also saw healthy net inflows of S$938 million for the quarter, which helped to bump up its assets under administration (AUA) to a record S$25.7 billion as of 31 March 2025.
iFAST raised its interim dividend from S$0.013 in 1Q 2024 to S$0.016 in the current quarter.
Management believes the business should see healthy growth for all business divisions in 2025, with the AUA for its core wealth management platform continuing to rise.
Its digital bank division is also expected to post its first full-year profit.
Centurion Corporation (SGX: OU8)
Centurion is a provider of purpose-built worker accommodation (PBWA) and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) assets.
The group owns and manages a portfolio of 37 accommodation assets totalling 69,929 beds as of 31 March 2025.
Shares of Centurion have delivered a return of 375% in the last five years, not including dividends received.
The accommodation provider reported an impressive set of earnings for 2024.
Revenue rose 22% year on year to S$253.6 million, with gross profit climbing 30% year on year to S$195.6 million.
Net profit from its core business (excluding fair value gains) surged 45% year on year to S$110.8 million.
Centurion continued to post encouraging results for its 1Q 2025 business update, with revenue climbing 13% year on year to S$69 million, led by its PBWA assets division.
The group recently announced that it is planning to list a REIT on the Singapore Exchange’s mainboard comprising 15 assets valued at around S$2.1 billion.
Earlier this month, Centurion launched EPIISOD, a new premium student housing brand.
Its first EPIISOD property is under development in Macquarie Park and will have a capacity of more than 700 beds.
This asset will be ready for students to move into by 1 February 2026.
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Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of iFAST Corporation.