The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (2024)

We analyzed the entire Russell 1000 to find the best-performing stocks across lookback periods of YTD, 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, 10Y, and 25Y. 999 Russell 1000 stocks have market capitalizations of $1 billion or more.

Click to jump to a section:

  • Best-Performing Stocks YTD
  • Best-Performing Stocks in the Last Year
  • Best-Performing Stocks in the Last 3 Years
  • Best-Performing Stocks in the Last 5 Years
  • Best-Performing Stocks in the Last 10 Years
  • Best-Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years
  • What Was the Growth of $10,000 Over the Last 25 Years?
  • How Would Making Regular Contributions Affect Overall Returns?

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (1)

Best Performing Stocks YTD

These are the top-performing stocks year-to-date in 2024, as of April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (2)

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last Year

These are the top-performing stocks between April 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (3)

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 3 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between April 2, 2021 and April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (4)

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 5 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between April 2, 2019 and April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (5)

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 10 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between April 2, 2014 and April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (6)

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between April 2, 1999 and April 2, 2024.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (7)

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What Was the Growth of $10,000 Over the Last 25 Years?

If you invested $10,000 25 years ago into any of the ten best-performing stocks over the last 25 years, your balance today would be over one million dollars.

The best-performing stock in the last 25 years was Monster Beverage (MNST). A $10,000 investment into Monster Beverage 25 years ago would be worth $13.86 million today. Right behind it was Deckers Outdoor Corp (DECK); $10,000 invested into Deckers Outdoor Corp back in 1998 would’ve turned into $11.72 million.

The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (8)

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How Would Making Regular Contributions Affect Overall Returns?

Using Apple (AAPL)–the world’s second-most valuable company and fourth-best performer over the last 25 years–as an example, contributing $100 each month since April 1999 would’ve equaled a net total contribution of $30,000, with a total return of $3.9 million and some change.

If the monthly contribution was $250 each month ($75,000 total), the net balance after those 25 years would be near $10 million today.

The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (9)

Download Visual | Create Your Own Scenarios

Though total returns achieved via monthly contributions over the 25 year time horizon wouldn’t have been as large as an upfront lump-sum investment, tools like Scenarios illustrate the importance of “staying the course” as an equity investment strategy to clients.

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The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years (2024)

FAQs

What is the best performing stock over the past 25 years? ›

MNST Monster Beverage Corp

What is the best performing stock of the last 50 years? ›

ASSETDATE% RETURN
Home Depot (HD)4/26/1974 - 4/26/20241,875,493.22%
Walmart (WMT)4/26/1974 - 4/26/20241,075,078.57%
Microsoft (MSFT)4/26/1974 - 4/26/2024728,075.18%
UnitedHealth (UNH)4/26/1974 - 4/26/2024446,024.66%
21 more rows

Which stock has the highest return in the last 10 years? ›

Best Return Over 10years
S.No.NameQtr Profit Var %
1.Waaree Renewab.158.05
2.Tips Industries40.53
3.Swadeshi Polytex480.58
4.Lloyds Metals44.14
23 more rows

What is the most successful stock of all time? ›

The Best Performing Stocks in History
  • Coca-Cola. (NASDAQ: KO) ...
  • Altria. (NASDAQ: MO) ...
  • Amazon.com. (NASDAQ: AMZN) ...
  • Celgene. (NASDAQ: CELG) ...
  • Apple. (NASDAQ: AAPL) ...
  • Alphabet. (NASDAQ:GOOG) ...
  • Gilead Sciences. (NASDAQ: GILD) ...
  • Microsoft. (NASDAQ: MSFT)

What stock has done the best in the last 20 years? ›

Best performing stocks in the S&P 500 over the last 20 years
Total 20-year returnAnnualized return
Old Dominion Freight LineODFL9,489%26%
Regeneron PharmaceuticalsREGN6,163%23%
CopartCPRT5,665%23%
SBA CommunicationsSBAC5,630%22%
7 more rows
Nov 8, 2023

What is the best-performing stock of the last 30 years? ›

The best-performing stock of the past three decades is not one of the tech titans you'd assume. It's actually an energy drink company: Monster Beverage . Monster's stock has climbed for decades, along with sales, which have grown consistently for 31 years straight.

What is the best performing stock in the last 40 years? ›

Microsoft (MSFT) has had the highest return between April 27, 1984 and April 27, 2024 by a US stock with a market cap of $50B+, returning 741,359.9%.

What's the best stock to buy and hold forever? ›

2 Top Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now and Hold Forever
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) has been known for its cystic fibrosis drug franchise for some time now. ...
  • Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is one of the household names in the pharmaceutical industry.
3 days ago

What are the top 10 stocks to buy for long term? ›

Here are top 10 stock ideas for the long-term from various brokerages:
  • 1) Vedanta. ...
  • 3) Reliance Industries (RIL) ...
  • 4) Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) ...
  • 5) ICICI Bank. ...
  • 6) Zomato. ...
  • 9) Bharti Airtel.
Apr 12, 2024

What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›

Here are the best low-risk investments in April 2024:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Money market funds.
  • Short-term certificates of deposit.
  • Series I savings bonds.
  • Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Dividend-paying stocks.
  • Preferred stocks.
Apr 1, 2024

What stock has done the best in the last 5 years? ›

5 Year Gainers
No.SymbolCompany Name
2APLDApplied Digital Corporation
3SMCISuper Micro Computer, Inc.
4SKYESkye Bioscience, Inc.
5FTLFFitLife Brands, Inc.
16 more rows

What were the top 10 best stocks last 5 years? ›

Best Performing Stocks Over the Last 5 Years
TickerCompany Name
1CELHCelsius Holdings
2SMCISuper Micro Computer
3NVDANvidia
4ELFe.l.f. Beauty
6 more rows
Apr 1, 2024

What stock does Warren Buffett recommend? ›

As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, 66 hedge funds out of the 933 funds tracked by Insider Monkey had stakes in Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY). In addition to Occidental, Buffett also likes Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX).

What stock always goes up? ›

S&P 500 Stocks That Only Go Up
CompanySymbolAvg. % Stock Gain (YTD And Previous Five Years)
Netflix(NFLX)52.0%
MSCI(MSCI)42.7%
MarketAxess Holdings(MKTX)40.2%
Adobe(ADBE)38.2%
5 more rows
Aug 21, 2020

What is the most profitable stock to buy? ›

7 best stocks to buy now, according to analysts
CompanyAnalyst Recommendation
Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.1.15
Microsoft Corporation1.21
Amazon.com Inc.1.23
Lamb Weston Holdings Inc1.25
3 more rows
7 days ago

What is the stock market return for the last 20 years? ›

Stock Market Average Yearly Return for the Last 20 Years

The historical average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 9.74% over the last 20 years, as of the end of February 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 20-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 6.96%.

What has the stock market averaged over the last 20 years? ›

5-year, 10-year, 20-year and 30-year S&P 500 returns
Period (start-of-year to end-of-2023)Average annual S&P 500 return
15 years (2009-2023)12.63%
20 years (2004-2023)9.00%
25 years (1999-2023)7.18%
30 years (1994-2023)9.67%
2 more rows
Mar 5, 2024

What is the best performing stock of the last decade? ›

1. Nvidia (NVDA) Nvidia is one of the best performing stocks of all-time and has richly rewarded shareholders over the past decade.

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