For the first time in more than decade, the broad-market S&P 500 index entered the negative territory in each of the first three months of a calendar year. But not all S&P 500 stocks tumbled.
Some stocks remained immune to the effects of COVID-19, defying the economically crushing impact of a worldwide health catastrophe. While the Dow plunged 23.2% and the S&P 500 fell 20% - their worst-ever first quarter performance - and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite nosedived 23.2%, a hardy portfolio of stocks defied the financial freefall, and rallied in the first quarter of 2020. Investors who were prescient or shrewd enough to gamble on them were handsomely rewarded.
Here, in ascending order, are the top 15 best performing S&P 500 stocks of Q1 2020 that did not close in the negative.
15. J.M. Smucker Company (SJM-US)
Founded in Orrville, Ohio in 1897, J.M. Smucker Company manufactures jam, peanut butter and other food products Americans can snack on while relegated to their homes during the pandemic. On December 31, 2019, Smucker’s stock sold at $104.13 a share, but climbed to $111 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 6.6% return on investment and a 3.2% current dividend yield.
14. Biogen, Inc. (BIIB-US)
Biogen, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., develops, manufactures, and commercializes therapies, focusing on neurology, oncology, and immunology. On December 31, 2019, Biogen’s stock sold at $296.73 a share, but rose to $316.38 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 6.6% return on investment with no current dividend yield.
13. T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS-US)
T-Mobile US, Inc., headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., is a wireless network operator. With most Americans homebound during the pandemic, many need to stay in touch remotely. On December 31, 2019, T-Mobile’s stock sold at $78.42 a share, but increased to $83.90 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 7.0% return on investment with no current dividend yield.
12. Equinix, Inc. (EQIX-US)
Equinix, Inc., headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., specializes in Internet connection and data centers – a necessity in running an efficient home office and working remotely. On December 31, 2019, Equinix’s stock sold at $583.70 a share, but surged to $624.57 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 7.0% return on investment and a 1.8% current dividend yield.
11. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX-US)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotech company headquartered in Boston, specializes in drugs that treat the underlying causes of cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and digestive system. On March 31, 2019, Vertex stock sold at $218.95 a share, but climbed to $237.95 a share on March 31, 2020, earning an 8.7% return on investment with no current dividend yield.
10. Rollins, Inc. (ROL-US)
Rollins, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is a holding company for its pest control subsidiaries, which provide essential services to Americans observing their state’s COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. On March 31, 2019, Rollins stock sold at $33.16 a share, but advanced to $36.14 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 9.0% return on investment and a 1.4% current dividend yield.
9. MSCI Inc. Class A (MSCI-US)
MSCI Inc. Class A is a holding company in the U.S. stock market for 157 U.S.-traded ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) – a favorite investment vehicle for many Americans. On March 31, 2019, MSCI Class A stock sold at $258.18 a share, but rose to $288.96 a share on March 31, 2020, earning an 11.9% return on investment and a 1% current dividend yield.
8. SBA Communications Corp. Class A (SBAC-US)
Founded in 1989, SBA Communications Corp. is headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. The company leases antenna space on its multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers – an essential service for Americans forced by COVID-19 to work remotely. On December 31, 2019, SBA stock sold at $240.99 a share, but advanced to $269.97 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 12% return on investment and a 0.7% current dividend yield.
7. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA-US)
NVIDIA Corp., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., designs graphics processing units for the gaming and mobile computing markets – a must-have for home office workers and harried parents with homebound students. On December 31, 2019, NVIDIA stock sold at $235.30 a share, but climbed to $263.60 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 12% return on investment and a 0.3% current dividend yield.
6. Clorox Company (CLX-US)
The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif., manufactures and markets household cleaning products worldwide – a necessity for health-conscious consumers wary of contracting COVID-19. On December 31, 2019, Clorox stock sold at $153.54 a share, but surged to $173.25 on March 31, 2020, earning a 12.8% return on investment and a 2.4% current dividend yield.
5. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD-US)
Gilead Sciences, Inc., headquartered in Foster City, Calif., is a biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops and commercializes anti-viral drugs – including a treatment for COVID-19. On December 31, 2019, Gilead stock sold at $64.98, but rose to $74.76 on March 31, 2020, earning a 15.1% return on investment and a 3.8% current dividend yield.
4. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR-US)
Digital Realty Trust, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, owns, acquires, repositions and manages technology-related real estate critical to the day-to-day operations of technology industry and corporate enterprise data center tenants. On December 31, 2019, Digital Realty Trust stock sold at $119.74 a share, but surged to $138.91 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 16% return on investment and a 3.3% current dividend yield.
3. Netflix, Inc. (NFLX-US)
Netflix, Inc., headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., is a media-services provider and production company. Its portfolio of shows is just the distraction homebound Americans need during a pandemic. On December 31, 2019, Netflix stock sold at $323.57 a share, but increased to $375.50 on March 31, 2020, earning a 16% return on investment with no current dividend yield.
2. Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS-US)
Citrix Systems, Inc., headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., designs, develops, and markets technology solutions that allow applications to be delivered, supported, and shared on-demand – a necessity for housebound Americans. On December 31, 2019, Citrix stock sold at $110.90 a share, but surged to $141.55 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 27% return on investment and a 1% current dividend yield.
1. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN-US)
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Westchester County, N.Y., is a biotechnology company developing therapeutic antibodies to combat COVID-19 – which makes it the hottest stock pick of Q1 2020. On December 31, 2019, Regeneron stock sold at $375.48 a share, but surged to $488.29 a share on March 31, 2020, earning a 30% return on investment with no current dividend yield.
