Americans may look back on 2017 as a golden year for stocks. Buoyed by widespread optimism, synchronized global growth and anticipation of rolled back regulations and lower taxes, most U.S. equities ended in positive territory.

Investors would have been well served by simply buying a broad market index in 2017 -- the S&P 500 rose by 18.7%; with dividends re-invested the index posted 21.1% total returns.

The best-performing stocks in 2017 include pharmaceutical companies, leisure businesses, a dental appliance manufacturer, an aircraft manufacturer and an industrial equipment  manufacturer.

Using FactSet, Financial Advisor magazine found the top 25 performing U.S. stocks from the market’s opening on Jan. 3, 2017, to its end-of-year close.

25. United Rentals (URI)
Percent Change: 62.8%
January Open: $105.58
December Close: $171.91
Price Increase: $66.33

24. Avery Dennison (AVY)
Percent Change: 63.6%
January Open: $70.22
December Close: $114.86
Price Increase: $44.64

23. Marriott International (MAR)
Percent Change: 64.2%
January Open: $82.68
December Close: $135.73
Price Increase: $53.05

22. Cadence Design Systems (CDNS)
Percent Change: 65.8%
January Open: $25.22
December Close: $41.82
Price Increase: $16.60

21. Estee Lauder (EL)
Percent Change: 66.3%
January Open: $76.49
December Close: $127.24
Price Increase: $50.75

20. FMC Corporation (FMC)
Percent Change: 67.4%
January Open: $56.56
December Close: $94.66
Price Increase: $38.10

19. CBOE Global Markets Inc. (CBOE)
Percent Change: 68.6%
January Open: $73.89
December Close: $124.59
Price Increase: $50.70

18. Caterpillar (CAT)
Percent Change: 69.9%
January Open: $92.74
December Close: $157.58
Price Increase: $64.84

17. Adobe Systems (ADBE)
Percent Change: 70.2%
January Open: $102.95
December Close: $175.24
Price Increase: $72.29

16. Illumnina (ILMN)
Percent Change: 70.6%
January Open: $128.04
December Close: $218.49
Price Increase: $90.45

15. Red Hat (RHT)
Percent Change: 72.3%
January Open: $69.70
December Close: $120.10
Price Increase: $50.40

14. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Percent Change: 72.6%
January Open: $211.39
December Close: $364.94
Price Increase: $153.55

13. Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)
Percent Change: 74.1%
January Open: $105.73
December Close: $184.07
Price Increase: $78.34

12. Activision Blizzard (ATVI)
Percent Change: 75.4%
January Open: $36.11
December Close: $63.32
Price Increase: $27.21

11. Centene (CNC)
Percent Change: 78.5%
January Open: $56.51
December Close: $100.88
Price Increase: $44.37

10. PulteGroup (PHM)
Percent Change: 80.9%
January Open: $18.38
December Close: $33.25
Price Increase: $14.87

9. NVIDIA (NVDA)
Percent Change: 81.3%
January Open: $106.74
December Close: $193.50
Price Increase: $86.76

8. PayPal Holdings (PYPL)
Percent Change: 86.5%
January Open: $39.47
December Close: $73.62
Price Increase: $34.15

7. D.R. Horton (DHI)
Percent Change: 86.9%
January Open: $27.33
December Close: $51.07
Price Increase: $23.74

6. Micron Technology (MU)
Percent Change: 87.6%
January Open: $21.92
December Close: $41.12
Price Increase: $19.20

5. Boeing Company (BA)
Percent Change: 89.4%
January Open: $155.68
December Close: $924.91
Price Increase: $139.23

4. Wynn Resorts (WYNN)
Percent Change: 94.9%
January Open: $86.51
December Close: $168.59
Price Increase: $82.08

3.  Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Percent Change: 103.4%
January Open: $73.67
December Close: $149.86
Price Increase: $76.19

2. Align Technology (ALGN)
Percent Change: 131.1%
January Open: $96.13
December Close: $222.19
Price Increase: $126.06

1. NRG Energy (NRG)
Percent Change: 132.3%
January Open: $12.26
December Close: $28.48
Price Increase: $16.22