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11 Companies That Have Remained In The FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index For 20 Years

11 Companies That Have Remained In The FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index For 20 Years

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Very few stocks have shown the consistency to remain within the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for the last 20 years, but 11 companies have managed the impressive feat.

So despite the many changes that have affected the index in the last two decades, there are an elite group of businesses that have managed to stay within the top 40 of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange since 1996.

Here are the 11 companies that have remained within the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for 20 years.

Sources: Fin24, CourtneyCapital, Bloomberg, ENCA, FinancialMail, MoneyWeb.

SABMiller
A distribution worker stacks crates of Castle lager, flagship brand of South African Breweries Ltd (SAB), a subsidiary of SABMiller. Photo: One Red Eye/Philip Meech.

SABMiller

This company is about to disappear from the stock exchange entirely after the brewer’s shareholders voted in favour of the $104bn merger with Anheuser-Busch InBev. So by next week this slideshow will be down to 10, after having been in the top 40 for the last 20 years.

Anglo American is in talks to sell
Anglo American Platinum mine, Rustenburg. Photo: Stephane de Sakutin/Getty Images

Anglo American

The powerhouse company involved in mining operations throughout the world has been a steadfast performer on the Johannesburg exchange since 1996, and despite commodity price challenges looks set to remain a top 40 company.

Gold producing companies have done well in South Africa
Gold producing companies have done well in South Africa

AngloGold Ashanti

The recent popularity of gold as a commodity translated into a $38.1 million of shareholder investment in the company over the last two months, and the last 20 years has also been kind to the gold producer, as it has remained in the top 40 of the JSE.

Standard Bank shares selling well - Photo: Financial Mail
Standard Bank shares selling well – Photo: Financial Mail

Standard Bank

The fifth most popular stock on the JSE for July and August this year ($69.5 million in investment) is no stranger to success on the Johannesburg benchmark, as the bank has been part of the top 40 companies within the JSE for 20 years.

Johann Rupert - CEO of Richemont
Johann Rupert – CEO of Richemont – forbes.com

Richemont

The Swiss-based luxury-goods company has been in the top 40 companies on the JSE since 1996. Richemont owns several of the world’s leading companies in the field of luxury goods, including those involved in jewellery, luxury watches and writing instruments.

Sasol workers helping the company to succeed
Sasol workers helping the company to succeed

Sasol

While the likes of Barloworld, Harmony Gold, Liberty Group and Exxaro Resources have fallen out of the Top 40 Index during the last few years, energy and chemical company based in Johannesburg has remained within the index for 20 consecutive years.

First National Bank is a powerhouse on the JSE
First National Bank Holdings is a powerhouse on the JSE

First National Bank Holdings

First National Bank Holdings operates as a financial services provider in South Africa and several African countries. The company is listed on the Namibian Stock Exchange, as well as the JSE, where it has achieved a status as a top 40 company for two decades.

Remgro Limited companies
Remgro Limited invests in the above companies – financialmail.co.za

Remgro Limited

The investment company with financial, mining and industrial interests has been a fixture in the Top 40 Index over the last 20 years. The business is invested in the likes of Mediclinic, Distell, Grindrod, RCL Foods, RMB Holdings and Unilever.

Absa Bank in South Africa - Image: african-markets.com
Absa Bank in South Africa – Image: african-markets.com

Absa (Barclays Africa Group)

The banks have been important on this list, and another of the top four South African banking institutions which has been on the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for the last 20 years is Absa.

Nedbank is one of the major banks in SA - Agriworks.co.za/Nedbank group
Nedbank is one of the major banks in SA – Agriworks.co.za/Nedbank group

Nedcor (Nedbank Group)

Another of the banking companies that have remained in the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for all of the last 20 years is Nedcor. The banking giants have maintained their place while others such as PPC, Sappi, Telkom and Pick n Pay Stores have dropped from the top 40.

Gold Fields continues to do well on the JSE
Gold Fields is a JSE fixture

Gold Fields

Gold has traditionally been an important resource for South Africa, and companies such as Gold Fields have benefited from this on the JSE in the last 20 years, allowing them to remain in the Top 40 Index for two decades.