Investing in stocks is a great way for most people to grow their wealth over time. However, all stocks aren't created equal. Some are unlikely to deliver anything resembling solid returns over the long run, while others look so promising that investing in them almost seems like a no-brainer.

Let's consider two companies in the latter category: (NYSE: MRK) and Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG). Find out below why these healthcare giants are sure bets for the long haul.

Merck is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. It markets Keytruda, a cancer medicine that became the top-selling drug in the industry last year. Keytruda has been maintaining solid momentum for years, gaining an impressive number of approvals while growing its sales at a good clip. It has been Merck's key growth driver for a while, something that should continue until it encounters a patent cliff toward the end of the decade.

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Source Fool.com