The 10 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years

We analyzed the entire Russell 1000 using the YCharts Stock Screener to find the best-performing stocks across lookback periods of YTD, 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, 10Y, and 25Y.

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• 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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Best Performing Stocks YTD

These are the top-performing stocks year-to-date in 2024, through September 30, 2024.

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last Year

These are the top-performing stocks between September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2024.

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 3 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2024.

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 5 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2024.

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 10 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2024.

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Best Performing Stocks in the Last 25 Years

These are the top-performing stocks between September 30, 1999 and September 30, 2024.

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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 NVIDIA (NVDA). A $10,000 investment into NVIDIA 25 years ago would be worth $30.28 million today, or $33.01 million after dividend reinvestment. Right behind it is Monster Beverage (MNST); $10,000 invested into Monster Beverage back in 1999 would’ve turned into $9.893 million.

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How Would Making Regular Contributions Affect Overall Returns?

Using Apple (AAPL)–the world’s most valuable company and sixth-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 $4.97 million.

If the monthly contribution was $250 each month ($75,000 total), the net balance after those 25 years would be $12.4 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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