If you're on a quest to build lasting wealth in the stock market, the secret is simple: Invest in high-quality companies and hold onto them for the long term. Think payment processing, transaction handling, and investment platforms -- these are vital players in the digital economy that continues to thrive. Here are three no-brainer payments companies you can invest in for less than $1,000 today that can help solidify your portfolio.

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), the producer of the world's most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chips, has been at the forefront of the AI revolution. All this has helped the tech giant deliver double- and triple-digit quarterly revenue in recent years and has sent revenue to record levels. Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang, speaking at CES earlier this month, said AI is progressing at an "incredible pace."

This magnificent company has been paying a continuous dividend to its shareholders since 1816.

The big draw with regard to Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) today is its lofty 8% dividend yield. It is having some success on that front, but is Medical Properties Trust stock worth buying? Getting the bad news out of the way first: Medical Properties Trust has been dealing with some really difficult business events.

India's Kotak Mahindra Bank on Saturday reported a 10% rise in quarterly profit as it boosted lending, although provisions for potential bad loans surged. The Mumbai-based private lender's standalone net profit - which excludes earnings from its subsidiaries - rose to 33.05 billion rupees ($382 million) in the three months to end-December, in line with an LSEG consensus estimate. Its net interest income, the difference between what a bank earns on loans and pays out on deposits, rose 10% to 71.96 billion rupees.

Shareholders of Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) just had a fantastic year. In fact, only six stocks in the S&P 500 have a higher percentage of sell ratings than Palantir, and the median price target of $39 per share implies a 45% downside from its current price of $71. What makes that especially surprising is that Palantir has already fallen by 16% from its record high in recent weeks.

Schlumberger Ltd (SLB) reports robust free cash flow and digital revenue growth, while navigating regional investment slowdowns and pricing pressures.

Discover how Jio Financial Services Ltd navigates growth in assets and customer base despite a dip in quarterly income.

Wipro Ltd (WIT) reports a 12-quarter high operating margin despite challenges in key regions and sectors.

Marvell Exec Offloads Shares as Stock Trades Above Fair Value