The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years
Published: October 1, 2026 | Analysis by YCharts Research Team
Introduction
Understanding which companies have stood the test of time is invaluable for advisors guiding clients through uncertain markets. That’s why we used the YCharts Stock Screener to identify the best performing stocks across key lookback periods, including year-to-date, 1, 3, 5, 10, and 25 years, across the entire Russell 1000.
Rather than focus solely on recent winners, this analysis reveals which companies consistently rewarded investors over time, whether through capital appreciation, strong fundamentals, or dividend reinvestment. These insights help advisors put short-term volatility in context while positioning for long-term growth.
From 2026’s leaders to the stunning 25-year returns of household names like Monster Beverage and NVIDIA, here’s what advisors need to know about the stocks that delivered year after year.
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?
For a look at the best performers with a dividend focus, check out our analysis on the Best Performing Dividend Stocks.
Best Performing Stocks YTD
These are the top-performing stocks year-to-date in 2026, as of September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | YTD Price Return | YTD Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNDK | Sandisk Corp. | 632.96% | 632.96% | 254.02B |
| MRNA | Moderna, Inc. | 553.00% | 553.00% | 76.84B |
| DELL | Dell Technologies, Inc. | 327.35% | 331.32% | 344.29B |
| MU | Micron Technology, Inc. | 273.19% | 273.42% | 1.203T |
| CORT | Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. | 231.12% | 231.12% | 12.44B |
| INTC | Intel Corp. | 225.83% | 225.83% | 606.32B |
| BE | Bloom Energy Corp. | 218.77% | 218.77% | 81.25B |
| MRVL | Marvell Technology, Inc. | 210.91% | 211.36% | 231.66B |
| AMD | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 185.66% | 185.66% | 998.39B |
| AAOI | Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. | 184.74% | 184.74% | 8.376B |
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Best Performing Stocks in the Last Year
These are the top-performing stocks between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | 1Y Price Return | 1Y Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNDK | Sandisk Corp. | 1450.70% | 1450.70% | 254.02B |
| MRNA | Moderna, Inc. | 645.53% | 645.53% | 76.84B |
| MU | Micron Technology, Inc. | 536.57% | 537.60% | 1.203T |
| LITE | Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | 496.93% | 496.93% | 86.05B |
| VICR | Vicor Corp. | 481.13% | 481.13% | 13.32B |
| RVMD | Revolution Medicines, Inc. | 339.53% | 339.53% | 43.98B |
| FORM | FormFactor, Inc. | 309.97% | 309.97% | 11.66B |
| DOCN | DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. | 290.49% | 290.49% | 14.01B |
| AAOI | Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. | 282.80% | 282.80% | 8.376B |
| DELL | Dell Technologies, Inc. | 279.45% | 284.32% | 344.29B |
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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 3 Years
These are the top-performing stocks between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | 3Y Price Return | 3Y Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALM | Almonty Industries, Inc. | 2196.68% | 2196.68% | 3.792B |
| LITE | Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | 2049.76% | 2049.76% | 86.05B |
| BE | Bloom Energy Corp. | 1988.84% | 1988.84% | 81.25B |
| RKLB | Rocket Lab Corp. | 1490.87% | 1490.87% | 41.68B |
| MU | Micron Technology, Inc. | 1465.65% | 1483.30% | 1.203T |
| ASTS | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. | 1448.95% | 1448.95% | 17.64B |
| WDC | Western Digital Corp. | 1218.07% | 1224.42% | 164.06B |
| CRDO | Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. | 1177.31% | 1177.31% | 36.58B |
| AUGO | Aura Minerals, Inc. | 1146.91% | 1244.46% | 6.596B |
| WULF | TeraWulf, Inc. | 1074.60% | 1074.60% | 7.384B |
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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 5 Years
These are the top-performing stocks between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | 5Y Price Return | 5Y Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 2219.25% | 2267.31% | 58.22B |
| POWL | Powell Industries, Inc. | 2152.38% | 2339.17% | 6.721B |
| STRL | Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. | 2069.30% | 2069.30% | 15.09B |
| MOD | Modine Manufacturing Co. | 1552.25% | 1552.25% | 9.940B |
| MU | Micron Technology, Inc. | 1400.58% | 1436.93% | 1.203T |
| BE | Bloom Energy Corp. | 1379.59% | 1379.59% | 81.25B |
| IESC | IES Holdings, Inc. | 1305.47% | 1305.47% | 12.79B |
| AAOI | Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. | 1282.45% | 1282.45% | 8.376B |
| ALM | Almonty Industries, Inc. | 1115.99% | 1115.99% | 3.792B |
| CRS | Carpenter Technology Corp. | 1087.60% | 1158.35% | 19.29B |
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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 10 Years
These are the top-performing stocks between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | 10Y Price Return | 10Y Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUGO | Aura Minerals, Inc. | 89991.95% | 115259.55% | 6.596B |
| APLD | Applied Digital Corp. | 31143.59% | 31143.59% | 7.016B |
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp. | 13232.17% | 13485.32% | 5.515T |
| AMD | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 8753.26% | 8753.26% | 998.39B |
| STRL | Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. | 6253.75% | 6253.75% | 15.09B |
| MU | Micron Technology, Inc. | 5890.49% | 6044.26% | 1.203T |
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 5543.43% | 5897.08% | 58.22B |
| ALM | Almonty Industries, Inc. | 3906.09% | 3906.09% | 3.792B |
| MDGL | Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 3874.45% | 3874.45% | 11.64B |
| CELH | Celsius Holdings, Inc. | 3844.71% | 3844.71% | 6.929B |
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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years
These are the top-performing stocks between October 1, 2001 and September 30, 2026.
| Ticker | Name | 25Y Price Return | 25Y Total Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNST | Monster Beverage Corp. | 228217.52% | 228217.52% | 82.32B |
| AAPL | Apple, Inc. | 120139.45% | 143480.94% | 4.774T |
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp. | 99665.42% | 108954.00% | 5.537T |
| AMZN | Amazon.com, Inc. | 83367.34% | 83367.34% | 2.658T |
| AXON | Axon Enterprise, Inc. | 59201.05% | 59201.05% | 33.77B |
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 54671.19% | 68345.97% | 58.29B |
| LNG | Cheniere Energy, Inc. | 46687.83% | 49076.88% | 56.13B |
| TPL | Texas Pacific Land Corp. | 41673.08% | 52488.42% | 22.91B |
| STRL | Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. | 40881.67% | 40881.67% | 15.18B |
| DECK | Deckers Outdoor Corp. | 35151.07% | 35151.07% | 10.70B |
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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 in the millions of 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 $22.83 million today. Right behind it is Apple (AAPL); $10,000 invested into AAPL in 2001 would’ve turned into $12.02 million today, or $14.36 million after dividend reinvestment.
| Ticker | Name | 25Y Price Growth | 25Y Total Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| MNST | Monster Beverage Corp. | $22.83 million | $22.83 million |
| AAPL | Apple, Inc. | $12.02 million | $14.36 million |
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp. | $9.977 million | $10.91 million |
| AMZN | Amazon.com, Inc. | $8.347 million | $8.347 million |
| AXON | Axon Enterprise, Inc. | $5.930 million | $5.930 million |
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | $5.477 million | $6.845 million |
| LNG | Cheniere Energy, Inc. | $4.679 million | $4.918 million |
| TPL | Texas Pacific Land Corp. | $4.177 million | $5.259 million |
| STRL | Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. | $4.098 million | $4.098 million |
| DECK | Deckers Outdoor Corp. | $3.525 million | $3.525 million |
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How Would Making Regular Contributions Affect Overall Returns?
Using NVIDIA (NVDA)–the world’s most valuable company and third-best performer over the last 25 years–as an example, contributing $100 each month since October 2001 would’ve equaled a net total contribution of $30,000, with a total return of $15.85 million.
If the monthly contribution was $250 each month ($75,000 total), the net balance after those 25 years would be $39.63 million today.
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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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