25 Companies Making the Most Money From Coronavirus
Apple has set records on the stock market in 2020, with the electronic device company clearing a market capitalization — the combined value of all of its stock — of $2 trillion in August. Apple is the world’s first $2 trillion public company, just like it was the world’s first $1 trillion company almost two years ago. Which, yes, if you’re doing the math, means that it took Tim Cook only slightly longer to double his money than you would need playing roulette — and he never had to risk losing everything to get there.
But, if you’re thinking that it must mean Apple is the top performer on the S&P 500 this year, think again. There are more than 10 companies that outperformed Apple during the same time period — December 2019 to August 2020 — as the venerable stock index continues to set record highs in the face of a pandemic. And while that does have plenty of veteran market watchers scratching their heads, the fact remains that many investors are making money even as America continues to grapple with a generational crisis.
So which companies appear to be capitalizing on uncertain times? Take a look at how these stocks performed in 2020.
Last updated: Oct. 7, 2020
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50. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $324.87
Aug. 18 closing price: $417.30
Percentage gain: 28.45%
49. Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. (FBHS)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $65.34
Aug. 18 closing price: $83.95
Percentage gain: 28.48%
Pictured: MasterBrand Cabinets Inc. is a subsidiary of Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.
48. Hologic Inc. (HOLX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $52.21
Aug. 18 closing price: $67.80
Percentage gain: 29.86%
47. Fastenal Company (FAST)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $36.95
Aug. 18 closing price: $48.07
Percentage gain: 30.09%
46. Home Depot (HD)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $218.38
Aug. 18 closing price: $285
Percentage gain: 30.51%
45. Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $63.55
Aug. 18 closing price: $82.98
Percentage gain: 30.57%
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44. Digital Realty Trust (DLR)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $119.74
Aug. 18 closing price: $156.46
Percentage gain: 30.67%
43. MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $379.11
Aug. 18 closing price: $499.03
Percentage gain: 31.63%
42. Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $119.76
Aug. 18 closing price: $157.91
Percentage gain: 31.86%
41. S&P Global Inc. (SPGI)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $273.05
Aug. 18 closing price: $360.12
Percentage gain: 31.89%
40. Autodesk Inc. (ADSK)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $183.46
Aug. 18 closing price: $242.69
Percentage gain: 32.28%
39. Electronic Arts (EA)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $107.51
Aug. 18 closing price: $142.58
Percentage gain: 32.62%
38. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $157.70
Aug. 18 closing price: $211.49
Percentage gain: 34.11%
37. Equinix Inc. (EQIX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $583.70
Aug. 18 closing price: $786.85
Percentage gain: 34.80%
36. Danaher Corp. (DHR)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $153.48
Aug. 18 closing price: $207.68
Percentage gain: 35.31%
35. Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (JKHY)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $145.67
Aug. 18 closing price: $197.67
Percentage gain: 35.70%
34. United Parcel Service (UPS)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $117.06
Aug. 18 closing price: $159.99
Percentage gain: 36.67%
33. FedEx Corp. (FDX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $151.21
Aug. 18 closing price: $206.97
Percentage gain: 36.88%
32. Church & Dwight Company (CHD)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $70.34
Aug. 18 closing price: $96.46
Percentage gain: 37.13%
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31. Lennar Corp. (LEN)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $55.79
Aug. 18 closing price: $77.17
Percentage gain: 38.32%
30. D.R. Horton (DHI)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $52.75
Aug. 18 closing price: $73.54
Percentage gain: 39.41%
29. Activision Blizzard (ATVI)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $59.42
Aug. 18 closing price: $83.13
Percentage gain: 39.90%
28. Domino's Pizza Inc. (DPZ)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $293.78
Aug. 18 closing price: $411.45
Percentage gain: 40.05%
27. Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $329.81
Aug. 18 closing price: $463.51
Percentage gain: 40.54%
26. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (BIO)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $370.03
Aug. 18 closing price: $520.82
Percentage gain: 40.75%
25. MSCI Inc. (MSCI)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $258.18
Aug. 18 closing price: $366.20
Percentage gain: 41.84%
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24. Synopsys Inc. (SNPS)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $139.20
Aug. 18 closing price: $200.09
Percentage gain: 43.74%
23. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $122.43
Aug. 18 closing price: $176.98
Percentage gain: 44.56%
22. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $837.11
Aug. 18 closing price: $1,236.93
Percentage gain: 47.76%
21. T-Mobile US (TMUS)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $78.42
Aug. 18 closing price: $116.02
Percentage gain: 47.95%
20. Idexx Laboratories (IDXX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $261.13
Aug. 18 closing price: $386.65
Percentage gain: 48.07%
19. Clorox Company (CLX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $153.54
Aug. 18 closing price: $228.17
Percentage gain: 48.61%
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18. Netflix (NFLX)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $323.57
Aug. 18 closing price: $491.87
Percentage gain: 52.01%
17. Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (ODFL)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $126.52
Aug. 18 closing price: $195.40
Percentage gain: 54.44%
16. ServiceNow (NOW)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $282.32
Aug. 18 closing price: $437.58
Percentage gain: 54.99%
15. L Brands Inc. (LB)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $18.12
Aug. 18 closing price: $28.18
Percentage gain: 55.52%
14. Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $43.45
Aug. 18 closing price: $67.70
Percentage gain: 55.81%
13. Cadence Design Systems Inc. (CDNS)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $69.36
Aug. 18 closing price: $109.15
Percentage gain: 57.37%
12. Apple Inc. (AAPL)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $293.65
Aug. 18 closing price: $462.25
Percentage gain: 57.42%
11. eBay Inc. (EBAY)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $36.11
Aug. 18 closing price: $57.03
Percentage gain: 57.93%
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10. Tractor Supply Company (TSCO)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $93.44
Aug. 18 closing price: $153.02
Percentage gain: 63.76%
9. Rollins Inc. (ROL)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $33.16
Aug. 18 closing price: $54.52
Percentage gain: 64.41%
8. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $375.48
Aug. 18 closing price: $618.59
Percentage gain: 64.75%
7. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $45.86
Aug. 18 closing price: $81.66
Percentage gain: 78.06%
6. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $1,847.84
Aug. 18 closing price: $3,312.49
Percentage gain: 79.26%
5. Paypal Holdings Inc. (PYPL)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $108.17
Aug. 18 closing price: $194.57
Percentage gain: 79.87%
4. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $150.33
Aug. 18 closing price: $275.31
Percentage gain: 83.14%
3. Abiomed Inc. (ABMD)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $170.59
Aug. 18 closing price: $313.20
Percentage gain: 83.60%
2. Dexcom Inc. (DXCM)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $218.74
Aug. 18 closing price: $437.22
Percentage gain: 99.88%
1. Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)
Dec. 31, 2019, closing price: $235.30
Aug. 18 closing price: $490.43
Percentage gain: 108.43%
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Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the companies listed in this article.
Methodology: To find the biggest stock climbs of 2020 so far, GOBankingRates analyzed all of the components of the S&P 500 index, sourced from Barchart. Using Google Finance market data, GOBankingRates found the Dec. 31, 2019, closing price and Aug. 18, 2020, closing price for each component. The change in closing prices and that change represented as a percentage of the Dec. 31 closing price were then calculated and the 50 companies with the most dramatic positive percentage changes in closing price over the period were then ranked. All data was collected on and up to date as of Aug. 19, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 25 Companies Making the Most Money From Coronavirus
