A 2018 Midyear Update: The 10 Best-Performing S&P 500 Stocks

After one of its best years in recent history in 2017, the S&P 500 has delivered lackluster returns in the first half of 2018, gaining just 1.5 percent year-to-date. But there have been plenty of big winners in the market so far this year.

Here’s a look at the 10 best-performing stocks in the entire S&P 500 in the first half of 2018.

1. Fossil Group Inc FOSL

After being one of the worst-performing S&P 500 stocks, watchmaker Fossil is one of several comeback stories among the best-performing stocks of 2018, gaining 215 percent year-to-date.

2. ABIOMED, Inc. ABMD

Strong new product performance and impressive 33-percent revenue growth have sent medical device-maker ABIOMED’s stock soaring 114 percent in 2018.

3. Netflix, Inc. NFLX

Year after year, Netflix’s subscriber growth and international expansion have it among the best-performing stocks in the market, and this year is no different after a 95-percent gain.

4. Twitter, Inc. TWTR

For years, Twitter investors have looked on in envy of social media rival Facebook, Inc. FB, but Twitter is the one with the huge 80-percent gain this year.

5. Tripadvisor Inc TRIP

The online travel space is growing at a tremendous rate, and so is Tripadvisor’s market cap, with the stock up 60 percent in 2018.

6. Under Armour Inc Class A UA

Like Fossil, athletic retailer Under Armour is on the comeback trail in 2018, gaining 59.3 percent year-to-date after years of horrible returns and inventory restructuring.

7. XL Group Ltd XL

Most of XL Group’s 62-percent 2018 gain came in March, when French insurance giant Axa announced a $15.3-billion buyout deal for XL valued at a 33-percent premium to market price.

8. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. CMG

Chipotle optimism got a huge shot in the arm when the company recently announced its new CEO would be former Taco Bell head Brian Niccol, and the stock is up 50 percent year-to-date.

9. Align Technology, Inc. ALGN

Invisalign producer Align Technology has been one of the best-performers in a struggling health care sector in 2018, gaining 53 percent year-to-date.

10. Macy’s Inc M

Macy’s is another top comeback story this year, gaining 44 percent as investors have realized brick-and-mortar retail might not be in as much trouble as they had thought.

Related Links:

10 Best Stocks Of 2017

The Top 10 Value Stocks In The S&P 500