In all the economic recession slumps during and after COVID, more than 100 listed companies flourished during the pandemic-hit economies. Many small-cap listed companies saw a surge in their stocks that skyrocketed during COVID as high as 100% and above. Most of the stock price inflation was temporary, though. Yet, there are many global giants whose sales soared during the past 24 months.
Here is our curated and researched list of stocks that skyrocketed during the pandemic days.
12 stocks that skyrocketed during and after COVID-19
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $55.04
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $81.11
- 2Y difference in $: $26.07
- 2Y increase in %: ▲47.366%
Another tech behemoth that had a significant decline in 2022 but is still firmly in the black for investors as of March 2020 is Advanced Micro Devices.
Actually, AMD had been doing well even before the epidemic, as the demand for its semiconductors propelled the company to a gain of 83.81 percent in 2019, followed by increases of 88.70 percent and 56.91 percent in the next two years.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $96.33
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $150.17
- 2Y difference in $: $53.84
- 2Y increase in %: ▲55.891%
For a while now, Apple has held the title of the largest corporation on the American stock market and occasionally on the world market. Customers and investors continue to be drawn to Apple because of its cutting-edge goods and consistent market leadership.
Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $136.90
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $173.38
- 2Y difference in $: $36.48
- 2Y increase in %: ▲26.647%
The Biden Administration’s initiative to “Build Back Better,” a thriving housing market, and a world economy rich with cash have all been positive factors for Caterpillar stock.
Since the stock is actually up YTD, its usually defensive nature has also helped it hold up better than some during the market downturn of 2022.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $34.34
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $51.75
- 2Y difference in $: $17.41
- 2Y increase in %: ▲50.699%
Thanks significantly to the hundreds of millions of dollars it has made from its coronavirus vaccinations, Pfizer has done well during the epidemic.
However, despite being one of the world’s top vaccine makers, the company has not performed as well as some investors may have anticipated.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $211.41
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $293.87
- 2Y difference in $: $82.46
- 2Y increase in %: ▲39.005%
Another international investment bank, Goldman Sachs, benefited from the increase in assets under management and overall investment performance brought on by soaring stock markets and a booming economy fueled by stimulus money.
Alphabet Inc. Class A (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $75.84
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $111.78
- 2Y difference in $: $35.94
- 2Y increase in %: ▲47.389%
During the epidemic’s early stages, Alphabet, still more popular as Google, experienced record-breaking traffic as lockdowns kept people inside their homes, going hard on their computers and smartphones.
United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $118.55
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $182.59
- 2Y difference in $: $64.04
- 2Y increase in %: ▲54.019%
Early in the pandemic, United Parcel Service suffered initial setbacks but enjoyed tremendous success as lockdowns boosted international shipment volumes due to the dramatic increase in internet sales.
However, shares have moderated since their peak in the first year of the epidemic.
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $43.52
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $84.54
- 2Y difference in $: $41.02
- 2Y increase in %: ▲94.256%
The complete turnaround in oil prices and demand from the start of the epidemic through 2022 has driven shares higher.
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $312.71
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $494.46
- 2Y difference in $: $181.75
- 2Y increase in %: ▲58.121%
Following an intense market sell-off in March 2020, Broadcom has been operating at total capacity, with revenue, profitability, and cash flow skyrocketing in 2020 and 2021.
Along with much of the tech industry, the stock has lost nearly 20% of its 2022 gains, but it is still riding high after it profited from the previous two years.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $87.19
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $137.65
- 2Y difference in $: $50.46
- 2Y increase in %: ▲57.874%
Chevron has contributed to the energy industry’s rising tide that lifts all boats by increasing demand for its products since it dropped off a cliff in the early days of the pandemic.
Costco (NASDAQ: COST)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $324.79
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $522.95
- 2Y difference in $: $198.16
- 2Y increase in %: ▲61.012%
With 92 percent of all customers renewing their memberships, Costco is a well-liked store that has been booming. To maintain cheap costs and encourage membership renewal, which makes up the majority of the business’s profit, Costco deliberately earns a minimal margin on its merchandise.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO)
- Price per share, July 17, 2020: $395.40
- Price per share, July 15, 2022: $538.87
- 2Y difference in $: $143.47
- 2Y increase in %: ▲36.285%
Stock prices are ultimately driven by earnings growth, and Thermo Fisher Scientific typically reports strong growth in both sales and profitability. The business, which produces scientific equipment used by laboratories and pharmaceutical industries worldwide, has a promising future even if the pandemic eventually goes away.
Methodology 365loans used stock data for American-based businesses and firms published by Google Finance to identify the stocks that had grown the most since the original COVID-related lockdowns. To come up with solid data for comparison, 365loans first (1) investigated the chosen stocks' historical and present share prices, as well as their respective market capitalization, and (2) calculated the variations in price movements per share. All information was gathered and is current as of July 15, 2022, and compared to the stocks' performance 24 months earlier.
