The Monopolists Hiding in Plain Sight
This theme of indispensable infrastructure runs deep. You have companies like Illumina, which has become the default provider of DNA sequencing technology. Nearly every major breakthrough in genetic research, from medicine to agriculture, likely relies on their machines. They are, in essence, building the library of life itself.
Then you have my personal favourite, the Dutch firm ASML. This company has a complete monopoly on the ridiculously complex machines needed to make the world’s most advanced computer chips. Each machine costs a fortune, contains more parts than a space shuttle, and takes an age to build. Without ASML, there would be no cutting edge iPhones, no superpowered NVIDIA graphics cards, nothing. They are the ultimate gatekeepers. It’s a collection of companies that, to my mind, fit this mould, a sort of who's who of the quiet giants. You can see the full list in the Patient Platforms basket.