Welcome to Stocks and Income, the holiday edition!

We’re taking a break from live reporting this week, but I hope you enjoy this as you hide from your in-laws.

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Today we look at the five best-performing stocks of 2024, but there are a few criteria.

There are no penny stocks, only real companies with a market cap over $300 million.

We can define “Best” based on the percentage gain over the year or the market cap gain.

#5: NASDAQ: LBPH

Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Stats 📈‼️

Market Cap: $2.34 billion
Percentage Gain: LBPH's stock price increased by 51%.
Market Cap Gain: LBPH's market capitalization gained $830 million over the year.
Sector: Biotechnology

What’s The Story?

Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., utilizes its exclusive insights into GPCR science to deliver targeted, effective treatments with fewer side effects than existing therapies. In October, it was acquired by H. Lundbeck (HLUN_B).

How LBPH blew the doors off

The catalyst behind this domination was Lundbeck’s bold $2.6 billion acquisition announcement in October, which created enthusiasm among investors and drove valuations skyward.

Additionally, Longboard advanced its Phase 3 trial for bexicaserin, which targets Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEEs)—a critical breakthrough in neurological care. 

These achievements pushed its market cap from $1.51 billion to $2.34 billion, cementing its status as one of the year’s standout biotech stocks.

#4: NASDAQ: MSTR

MicroStrategy

Stats 📈‼️

Market Cap: $79.48 billion.
Percentage Gain: MSTR’s price increased by approximately 550%.
Market Cap Gain: MSTR’s market capitalization grew by over $87 billion.
Sector: Technology

What‘s The Story?

MicroStrategy is a leading enterprise analytics and business intelligence company known for its data solutions and adoption of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset.

How MSTR blew the doors off

MicroStrategy’s bold Bitcoin-first strategy captured investor interest, driving its market cap from $15 billion to $102.73 billion. Its "intelligent leverage" approach expanded Bitcoin holdings while effectively managing debt, allowing it to outperform Bitcoin’s own gains. Inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 further boosted its visibility, attracting institutional investors and increasing demand.

This combination of strategic innovation and market timing cemented MicroStrategy’s position as one of 2024’s standout tech stocks.

#3: NYSE: VST

Vistra Corp.

Stats📈‼️

Market Cap: $49.60 billion
Percentage Gain: VST’s stock price increased by approximately 85%.
Market Cap Gain: VST’s market capitalization gained $22.60 billion.
Sector: Utilities

What’s The Story?

Vistra is a leading energy company specializing in power generation, retail electricity, and innovative energy solutions. It serves customers across the United States and focuses on sustainability and reliability.

How VST blew the doors off

Vistra had a standout year in 2024. The $3.4 billion acquisition of Energy Harbor added 6,400 megawatts of nuclear power capacity, strengthening its position in the energy market.

Vistra’s revenue increased due to the increased electricity usage by AI-driven data centers, which had a higher demand for power. In Q3, the company reported a 54% year-over-year jump in revenue and $1.84 billion in net income, far exceeding expectations. These developments pushed Vistra’s stock price up 85%, resulting in a gain of $22.60 billion.

#2: NASDAQ: APP

AppLovin Corp.

Stats📈‼️

Market Cap: $113.5 billion.
Percentage Gain: APP’s stock price increased by approximately 780%.
Market Cap Gain: APP’s market capitalization grew by $100.12 billion.
Sector: Technology

What’s The Story?

AppLovin is a mobile technology company that provides app developers with tools to optimize user acquisition, monetization, and analytics. It also operates a diverse portfolio of mobile apps and games.

How APP blew the doors off

AppLovin had a massive year in 2024. The company expanded into e-commerce, opening up lucrative revenue opportunities. It also maintained its dominance in mobile gaming with a 42% market share. Its digital advertising platform saw strong demand, driving significant growth in revenue and profitability.

AppLovin’s stock price rose 780%, and its market cap grew from $13.38 billion to $113.5 billion. Investors were drawn to the company’s ability to innovate and capitalize on emerging trends. Applovin crushed it within the technology sector, solidifying its status as one of the most notable performers this year.

#1. NASDAQ: NVDA

NVIDIA Corporation

Stats📈‼️

Market Cap: $3.334 trillion
Percentage Gain: NVDA’s stock price increased by approximately 150%.
Market Cap Gain: NVDA’s market capitalization advanced by $2.111 trillion.
Sector: Technology

What’s The Story?

Nvidia is a global leader in graphics processing technology. It is renowned for its innovations in GPUs for gaming, AI, data centers, and professional visualization, which have driven advancements in computing and artificial intelligence.

How NVDA blew the doors off

NVIDIA had a groundbreaking year in 2024. The increased demand for AI chips, advancements in artificial intelligence, and booming data center technologies shot Nvidia’s stock through the roof.

A key driver of this success was NVIDIA’s partnership with Microsoft, which purchased nearly 500,000 of its Hopper AI chips. This deal showcased NVIDIA’s unmatched dominance in the AI hardware space. NVIDIA's market cap grew from $1.223 trillion to $3.334 trillion, revealing its ability to capitalize on the AI boom. Its adaptability and strategic partnerships made NVIDIA the top performer this year by a landslide.

That’s all for today. Enjoy the festive season, and check back tomorrow for the five worst-performing stocks of 2024 and the poll results from above.

Cheers,

Wyatt