Ten stocks delivered staggering gains of more than 100 percent in just the first 7.5 months of the year, with one company notably soaring by more than 11,000 percent.
The rally came despite a broader market volatility during the period, largely due to global trade worries over the United States’ imposition of tariffs against its trading partners, with China notably being singled out.
Further aggravating the situation was Beijing’s firm stand, also slapping the US with hefty levies and curbing the exports of critical products heavily used by global industries.
In this list, we name the top 10 performing mid-cap companies of the first half of the year and explore the reasons behind their gains.
The stocks were chosen based on two criteria: at least $2 billion in market capitalization and over 5 million shares in trading volume.
10. Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA)
Verona Pharma has seen its stock price jump by 125 percent year-to-date, closing at $104.74 versus $46.44 in the last trading day of 2024, with its recent rally largely bolstered by Merck & Co. Inc.’s (NYSE:MRK) announcement that it would acquire the UK-based firm for $10 billion.
Merck revealed last week that it officially entered into an agreement with Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) for the acquisition of its American Depository Share (ADS) at a price of $107 apiece, each representing eight VRNA shares.
Upon completion, Merck will effectively add Verona Pharma plc’s (NASDAQ:VRNA) COPD treatment Ohtuvayre into its growing cardio-pulmonary portfolio.
Approved by the FDA in June 2024, Ohtuvayre is the first novel inhaled mechanism for the treatment of COPD in more than 20 years and combines bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory effects. The medicine is also being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
9. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS)
AST SpaceMobile has so far grown by 149 percent since the start of the year, finishing at $52.63 on Wednesday versus its $21.10 close in the last trading day of 2024.
The company’s rapid increase can be attributed to two primary catalysts: billionaire Jeff Bezos’ potential investment in the company and billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing spat with President Donald Trump.
Last month, investors gobbled up shares in AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) after board member Adriana Cisneros posted a photo on social media showing herself alongside CEO Abel Avellan and Bezos, in a photo, with the caption: “Amazing things are happening at AST & Science + Blue Origin.”
Investors were quick to speculate that a partnership between the two companies is in the works, sending AST SpaceMobile, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ASTS) share price flying.
Prior to the Instagram post, Blue Origin executives were previously spotted at the AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) headquarters in Texas, sparking speculations that discussions may have gone beyond launch logistics to cover broader strategic and financial matters.
At the same time, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) is currently gaining ground from Musk and Trump’s ongoing feud, with investors expecting that the spat could shift the favor of government contracts away from Musk’s Space X and towards competitors, including AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS).
8. NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR)
NuScale Power has seen its stock price soar by 157 percent year-to-date, finishing at $46.09 on Wednesday versus the $17.93 closing price in the last trading day of 2024.
Despite experiencing a price volatility along the way, the overall rally was buoyed by a flurry of catalysts, including an expected expansion in the energy sector, primarily driven by the power-thirsty artificial intelligence data centers.
The momentum was further bolstered by President Donald Trump’s two executive orders in May this year aimed at ramping up the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies in the country.
In recent news, NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) said it will announce the results of its second quarter financial and operating performance after market hours on August 7, 2025.
In other developments, NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) partnered with GSE Solutions for the development of a hydrogen fuel cell generation and storage plant simulation model to support the former’s hydrogen simulator project.
The initiative forms part of the broader research to provide clean water and efficient hydrogen production technologies.
7. Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE:SBSW)
Sibanye Stillwater grew its share prices by 160.3 percent year-to-date, finishing at $8.59 on Wednesday versus the $3.30 in the last trading day of 2024, with sentiment largely boosted by higher prices of gold tied to the trade tensions between the US and China.
On Tuesday, Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE:SBSW) soared to a new all-time high of $8.66 following its continued inclusion as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index for nine years now.
Created by the global index and data provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
In recent news, Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE:SBSW) earned a more bullish recommendation from Wall Street Zen, having earned a “buy” recommendation versus “hold” previously.
The recommendation followed the company’s revival of its Burnstone gold project in South Africa, with an additional $281 million investment expected to be poured in after a 4 billion rand expenditure already infused into the project.
According to Sibanye Stillwater Limited (NYSE:SBSW), it expects to exploit favorable gold pricing within 20 years of expected operations for the project.
6. Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD)
Robinhood Markets spiked up by 177 percent year-to-date, finishing at $103.25 on Wednesday—a new all-time high—versus the $37.26 in the last trading day of 2024.
Wednesday’s session alone was largely bolstered by JMP Securities’ higher price target for the company to a whopping $125, or a 78-percent increase from its previous price target of $70.
The new price target also marked a 21 percent upside from its latest closing price.
JMP Securities followed Morgan Stanley’s upgrade for Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) on Tuesday, to $110 from $43 previously.
Piper Sandler also maintained an “overweight” rating for its stock, with a price target of $110, higher than the $70 prior.
In recent news, Robinhood Markets launched its own Robinhood Stock Tokens that allowed its European customers to invest in the US stock market.
The tokens feature zero commissions, dividend support, and 24/5 access. Stock token holders will also receive dividend payments directly in their app.
In other news, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) said that it will announce the results of its second quarter earnings performance after market close on July 30, 2025.
5. Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO)
Oklo shares jumped by 203 percent year-to-date, finishing at $64.37 on Wednesday versus the $21.23 finish on December 31, as investor sentiment was boosted by a flurry of catalysts, including rosy prospects from the AI sector, alongside company-specific developments.
Among the leads, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) largely benefited from US President Donald Trump’s two executive orders, which aim to ramp up the utilization of nuclear reactor technologies to support the growing power demand and national security.
Additionally, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) was tapped by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy (DLA Energy) to provide clean, reliable power through the deployment of an Aurora powerhouse at the Air Force installation selected for the project.
Under the terms of the anticipated agreement, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) would design, construct, own, and operate the power plant, delivering both electricity and heat to the DAF’s preferred installation, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, under a long-term power purchase agreement.
4. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP)
MP Materials has grown its share price by 166.6 percent year-to-date, closing Wednesday’s trading at $58.55 versus the $15.6 in the last trading day of December 2024, with the rally due to a flurry of catalysts, the recent being a newly-clinched $500 million deal with Apple.
In a statement, Apple pledged to purchase US-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials Corp.’s (NYSE:MP) flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and that it would work with the company to build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products.
The new equipment and technical capacity will allow MP Materials Corp.’s (NYSE:MP) to significantly boost its overall production.
Once built, the produced magnets will be shipped across the country and all over the world.
Apple said the partnership forms part of its $500-billion expansion plan in the US over the next four years.
Additionally, MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) has also benefited from China’s move to tighten rare earth exports this year, prompting global industries heavily reliant on the critical elements to seek alternative suppliers outside China.
3. SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET)
SharpLink Gaming has grown its share prices by a whopping 387 percent year-to-date, finishing Wednesday at $37.38 versus $7.68 in the last trading day of December 2024.
On Wednesday, SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET) said it has become the largest holder of Ethereum cryptocurrencies globally following the acquisition of 74,656 ETH last week that pushed its total ownership of the cryptocurrency to 280,706.
The assets were acquired between July 7 and 13 at a weighted average price of $2,852 each.
The transaction also coincided with SharpLink Gaming, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:SBET) successful raising of $413 million through the issuance of more than 24 million shares At-The-Market between July 7 and 11.
As of July 13, SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET) said approximately $257 million of the total proceeds have yet to be spent on ETH purchases.
In May this year, the company also announced its intention to raise $1 billion through a share sale for the acquisition of more Ether coins.
In a regulatory filing, SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBET) said it intended to use a substantial amount of the proceeds to acquire Ether, while the balance will be used to fund working capital needs, general corporate purposes, operating expenses, and core affiliate marketing operations.
2. TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC)
TMC the metals company grew its share prices by 586 percent year-to-date, ending at $7.68 on Wednesday versus the $1.12 on December 31, 2024.
In this month alone, TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) benefited from a series of positive developments, including President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50-percent tariffs on copper imports.
According to Trump, the move was aimed at bolstering US copper production of a metal critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid, and various consumer goods.
In other news, a US judge ruled in favor of TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC), over alleged misrepresentations of its environmental impacts and cash reserves during its 2021 public listing through a special type of company.
In his ruling, Judge Eric R. Committee said that no purported misstatements were sufficiently alleged as false or misleading to support securities fraud claims, nor did the investors adequately submit evidence that TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) deceived them.
1. Regencell Bioscience Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:RGC)
Regencell Bioscience soared by a whopping 11,661 percent year-to-date, finishing at $15.29 on Wednesday after trading below the minimum bid price requirement of $1 in most of its days as a publicly listed company.
The mysterious rally can be attributed to a reverse-stock split, which officially took effect last mont,h where Regencell Bioscience Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:RGC) implemented a 38-to-1 stock split that sent its price percentage change soaring.
According to the company, the move was intended to “enhance liquidity in the market for the company’s ordinary shares and make the shares more accessible to investors.”
Regencell Bioscience Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:RGC) is a Hong Kong-based company that uses traditional Chinese medicine to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
While we acknowledge the potential of RGC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RGC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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