Markets
The 20 Best-Performing Stocks of the Decade
The 20 Best-Performing Stocks of the Last Decade
Hindsight is 20/20. It can be incredibly difficult to pick the “next big stock” in the moment, but looking back gives us clarity on where we could have reaped the highest rewards. While some of the decade’s chart-toppers—like Netflix and Amazon—are household names, other stocks may come as a surprise.
Today’s visualization reveals the best-performing stocks over the last 10 years, and shows how much an initial $100 investment would be worth today.
The Shortlist
To compile the list, MarketWatch reviewed the current S&P 500 constituents and excluded any stocks that have traded in their present form for less than 10 years. The remaining companies were sorted based on their total return, with reinvested dividends, from December 31, 2009 to December 5, 2019.
So, which stocks come out on top? Here’s a full list of the top 20, organized by ranking:
Rank | Company | Ticker | Final Value of $100 Investment | S&P 500 Sector |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Netflix Inc. | NASDAQ: NFLX | $3,867 | Communication Services |
2 | MarketAxess Holdings Inc. | NASDAQ: MKTX | $3,282 | Financials |
3 | Abiomed Inc. | NASDAQ: ABMD | $2,221 | Health Care |
4 | TransDigm Group Inc. | NYSE: TDG | $2,165 | Industrials |
5 | Broadcom Inc. | NASDAQ: AVGO | $2,019 | Information Technology |
6 | Align Technology Inc. | NASDAQ: ALGN | $1,558 | Health Care |
7 | United Rentals Inc. | NYSE: URI | $1,534 | Industrials |
8 | Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | NASDAQ: REGN | $1,530 | Health Care |
9 | Ulta Beauty Inc. | NASDAQ: ULTA | $1,333 | Consumer Discretionary |
10 | Amazon.com Inc. | NASDAQ: AMZN | $1,309 | Consumer Discretionary |
11 | Extra Space Storage Inc. | NYSE: EXR | $1,266 | Real Estate |
12 | Constellation Brands Inc. Class A | NYSE: STZ | $1,224 | Consumer Staples |
13 | Nvidia Corp. | NASDAQ: NVDA | $1,217 | Information Technology |
14 | Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. | NASDAQ: TTWO | $1,214 | Information Technology |
15 | Ross Stores Inc. | NASDAQ: ROST | $1,181 | Consumer Discretionary |
16 | Fortinet Inc. | NASDAQ: FTNT | $1,179 | Information Technology |
17 | Mastercard Inc. Class A | NYSE: MA | $1,178 | Information Technology |
18 | Charter Communications Inc. Class A | NASDAQ: CHTR | $1,177 | Communication Services |
19 | O'Reilly Automotive Inc. | NASDAQ: ORLY | $1,160 | Consumer Discretionary |
20 | Cintas Corp. | NASDAQ: CTAS | $1,153 | Industrials |
Note: The final value of a $100 investment is based on the total return, with reinvested dividends, from December 31, 2009 – December 5, 2019.
In comparison, $100 in the S&P 500 index overall would have amounted to $344 over the same time period. Let’s take a closer look at these strong performers.
Household Names
Streaming giant Netflix takes the #1 spot. The company earned a staggering 3,767% return over the last ten years, meaning an initial $100 investment would now be worth almost $4,000. However, it remains to be seen whether Netflix’s first mover advantage will remain strong with new competitors entering the space.
One such rival, Amazon, takes its spot at #10 in the best-performing stocks of the decade. From its humble roots as an online bookseller, the company has transformed into an ecommerce leader. CEO Jeff Bezos credits Amazon’s admirable success to three key customer-centric factors: listen, invent, and personalize.
At #12 on the list, Constellation Brands—owner of several alcohol brands such as Corona—is also no stranger to invention. The company is protecting itself against cannabidiol (CBD) disruption with a $5 billion dollar investment in Canopy Growth, and future plans to create its own CBD-infused beverages.
Other well-known names on the top 20 list include discount department store chain Ross Stores (#15) and the credit card company Mastercard (#17), with the latter benefiting from an oligopoly in the industry.
Flying Under the Radar
Apart from the names you’d expect to see, there are also some lesser-known companies that made the list.
Well established among institutional investors and broker-dealers, MarketAxess Holdings takes the #2 spot. The fintech company operates a global electronic bond trading platform, vastly improving the process for investors who traditionally traded bonds “over-the-counter”.
In third place, healthcare technology company Abiomed develops medical devices that provide circulatory support. The company’s Impella® device—the world’s smallest heart pump— has been used to treat over 50,000 U.S. patients.
Fourth place company Transdigm Group gains its stronghold by developing specialized products for the aerospace industry. It has a strong acquisition strategy as well, having acquired over 60 businesses since its formation in 1993.
A Sector View
If we organize the top 20 by sector, information technology stocks appear in the list most frequently with five companies, followed by consumer discretionary (4 companies), and industrials and healthcare (3 companies each).
Sectors with less representation in the top 20 are communication services (2 companies), as well as consumer staples, financials, and real estate (1 company each).
The Bottom Line
While these stocks have performed extremely well over the last decade, they are not necessarily the best portfolio additions today. Some companies may have become overvalued, or be facing new competition in their industry—as is the case with Netflix. It’s best to consider all current information when building a portfolio.
However, the top 20 stocks do demonstrate the power of a buy-and-hold strategy. If you’re lucky enough to identify a winner early on, it’s possible to simply sit back and let your dollars grow.
Maps
Mapped: The 10 U.S. States With the Lowest Real GDP Growth
In this graphic, we show where real GDP lagged the most across America in 2023 as high interest rates weighed on state economies.
The Top 10 U.S. States, by Lowest Real GDP Growth
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
While the U.S. economy defied expectations in 2023, posting 2.5% in real GDP growth, several states lagged behind.
Last year, oil-producing states led the pack in terms of real GDP growth across America, while the lowest growth was seen in states that were more sensitive to the impact of high interest rates, particularly due to slowdowns in the manufacturing and finance sectors.
This graphic shows the 10 states with the least robust real GDP growth in 2023, based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Weakest State Economies in 2023
Below, we show the states with the slowest economic activity in inflation-adjusted terms, using chained 2017 dollars:
Rank | State | Real GDP Growth 2023 YoY | Real GDP 2023 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Delaware | -1.2% | $74B |
2 | Wisconsin | +0.2% | $337B |
3 | New York | +0.7% | $1.8T |
4 | Missississippi | +0.7% | $115B |
5 | Georgia | +0.8% | $661B |
6 | Minnesota | +1.2% | $384B |
7 | New Hampshire | +1.2% | $91B |
8 | Ohio | +1.2% | $698B |
9 | Iowa | +1.3% | $200B |
10 | Illinois | +1.3% | $876B |
U.S. | +2.5% | $22.4T |
Delaware witnessed the slowest growth in the country, with real GDP growth of -1.2% over the year as a sluggish finance and insurance sector dampened the state’s economy.
Like Delaware, the Midwestern state of Wisconsin also experienced declines across the finance and insurance sector, in addition to steep drops in the agriculture and manufacturing industries.
America’s third-biggest economy, New York, grew just 0.7% in 2023, falling far below the U.S. average. High interest rates took a toll on key sectors, with notable slowdowns in the construction and manufacturing sectors. In addition, falling home prices and a weaker job market contributed to slower economic growth.
Meanwhile, Georgia experienced the fifth-lowest real GDP growth rate. In March 2024, Rivian paused plans to build a $5 billion EV factory in Georgia, which was set to be one of the biggest economic development initiatives in the state in history.
These delays are likely to exacerbate setbacks for the state, however, both Kia and Hyundai have made significant investments in the EV industry, which could help boost Georgia’s manufacturing sector looking ahead.
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