It's been four years since the S&P 500 peaked ahead of the Covid crash. Investors made $15 trillion on the comeback, but Nvidia wasn't the top percentage gainer.
Energy drink maker Celsius outperformed all other stocks in either the Russell 1000 or S&P 500 since just before Covid hit on Feb. 19, 2020, says Bespoke Investment Group. The stock soared 3,030%, easily outpacing the S&P 500's 56.6% gain. Additionally, it topped AI giant Nvidia's 826.5% gain in that time.
"If you're like us, it's hard to believe four years have already passed since Covid hit," Bespoke said. "In some respects, it feels like just yesterday, but in other ways, it feels like an eternity ago."
Four Wild Years
The past four years brought a Covid crash and AI rally. And investors who hung on profited nicely.
Covid looked like a China-only problem on Feb. 19, 2020 when the S&P 500 peaked. But that thesis soon went out the window. In just about a week, the S&P 500 was suffering its biggest weekly drop in history. The S&P 500 didn't' find its footing until March 23, 2020 when it finally bottomed after collapsing 33%. "That day marked the ultimate low of the Covid bear market for stocks," Bespoke said.
It's been a solid run since then. On a sector level, the only sector to fall since the Feb. 19, 2020 peak is utilities (down 0.4% on a total return basis). Energy is the big winner, jumping 180%. And big-cap growth has stolen the show in terms of categories, vaulting 57.8% in that time.
Given the enormous size of its members, the technology sector drove the most in market cap gains. That single sector accounted for nearly $7 trillion of the $15 trillion investors made from Feb. 19, 2020.
Best Stock Performers
You might think Nvidia was the best stock to own from the Feb. 19 peak. And to be fair, it did create the most post-Covid market value in that time: $1.6 trillion. That edged out No. 2 Microsoft with $1.58 trillion in wealth created.
But on a sheer percentage gain basis, Celsius is the stock to beat jumping more than 3,000%. A distant No. 2 is GameStop, which is still up 1,261% due to the stock practically becoming a real-life video game for new online investors stuck at home. Remember that? Nvidia is the fifth best stock on a percentage basis since Covid. But it's topped by two energy firms, Antero Resources and Range Resources, gaining 871% and 827%, respectively.
Looks like even Covid had a bright side.
Top Russell 1000 Stocks Post Covid
| Company | Symbol | % chg. Since Feb. 19, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Celsius Holdings | 3,032% | |
| GameStop | 1,261 | |
| Antero Resources | 1,232 | |
| Range Resources | 871 | |
| Nvidia | 827 | |
| Builders FirstSource | 557 | |
| Shockwave Medical | 514 | |
| EQT | 509 | |
| Eli Lilly | 487 | |
| Saia | 458 |
