In this piece, we discuss the 11 Best Performing Stocks in the Last 12 Months.
The year 2025 was not just another year but a period marked by sharp shifts in technology, geopolitics, and trade policy, often driving markets in surprising ways, according to Reuters’ year-end report.
Equity performance was largely tied to these headwinds rather than the usual fundamentals. Following President Donald Trump’s import tariff announcement in April, U.S. trade policy uncertainty skyrocketed to an all-time high. Consequently, the effective U.S. tariff rate shot up to nearly 17%, which is the highest since 1935. Amid these challenges, U.S. GDP still grew 4.3% on an annualized basis in the third quarter, reflecting resilience despite disruption.
In this macro-environment, some stocks still managed to do well.
In 2025, the precious metals sector recorded gains as underlying prices surged, with gold and silver closing the year with 72% and 178% gains, respectively. On December 29, the white metal hit the $80-per-ounce mark for the first time amid strong industrial demand, supply shortfalls, and a drastically weaker dollar. Meanwhile, European defense stocks surged on the back of Germany’s pledge to pour up to a trillion euros into defense and infrastructure. As a result, the sector climbed over 50% in 2025.
Moving on to the technology sector, the year proved to be quite volatile. While Oracle, an American multinational technology company, surged 36% in a single session in September, driven by upbeat revenue projections, its shares fell 15% in just two days in early December. The example of Oracle shares demonstrates how the sector featured not only some of the strongest rallies but also the sharpest reversals over the past year.
With this backdrop in mind, let’s jump to our list of the best-performing stocks in the last 12 months.
Source:Pixabay
Our Methodology
To curate our list of the 11 best performing stocks, we relied on online screeners to extract a list of stocks that performed the strongest in the past one year. We ensured these stocks had strong analyst coverage and hedge fund sentiment. We assessed hedge fund sentiment using Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database, which tracks 978 stocks as of Q3 2025. Finally, we ranked these stocks in ascending order by one-year share price performance.
Note: One-year share price performance is as of January 27 market close.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
11. Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU)
1-Year Share Performance: 323.12%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
On January 28, 2026, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) saw Roth Capital upgrade the stock from ‘Sell’ to ‘Neutral’, while raising its price target from $13.00 to $15.00. The firm’s increased confidence reflects improving short-term growth drivers and bolstered investor sentiment. While the firm admits the stock appears stretched, it points to a favorable uranium price environment and constructive market psychology. According to the firm, these positives could outweigh the risk of a short-term correction. In the current phase of the cycle, Roth Capital framed the stock as sentiment-driven.
Meanwhile, the improving sentiment was reinforced earlier by a strategically material move. On January 21, 2026, it was reported that Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) had agreed to acquire Australian Strategic Materials (ASM). The deal, valuing ASM’s equity at $300.9 million, represents a 121% premium to ASM’s January 20 close. Under the agreement, ASM shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.053 Energy Fuels shares per ASM share, plus a special dividend of up to A$0.13, implying A$1.6 per share.
With this move, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) significantly expanded its rare earth footprint, integrating ASM’s Korean metallization plant and planned U.S. facility with its White Mesa Mill in Utah. At the same time, the company adds a pipeline of global development projects that aim to secure non-Chinese critical mineral supply chains.
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU), a U.S.-based mining company, focuses on uranium, vanadium, and rare earth production. The company’s operating assets include the White Mesa Mill and expanding exposure to critical minerals.
10. New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD)
1-Year Share Performance: 332.30%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
On January 27, 2026, New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD) received shareholders’ approval of the previously announced plan of arrangement, whereby a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining will purchase all outstanding NGD shares. The arrangement also received the approval of Coeur’s shareholders.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending court and regulatory approvals. Following the close, New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD) shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.4959 Coeur shares per New Gold share. Offering approximately 38% ownership of the combined company, the deal provides investors with exposure to a larger all-North American precious metals platform.
Meanwhile, an optimistic analyst update preceded the acquisition update. On January 26, 2026, Scotiabank raised its price target on New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD) from $10.50 to $12.75, while reiterating an ‘Outperform’ rating. The increase in target, coming as part of a broader update to the Gold & Precious Minerals sector, reflects the firm’s higher gold and silver price forecasts amid heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty, alongside central bank buying.
New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD), a Canada-based gold mining company, operates and develops assets including Rainy River and New Afton.
9. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT)
1-Year Share Performance: 338.99%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
As of January 28, 2026, Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) is enjoying solid investor confidence and accelerating momentum. On January 28, 2026, the company’s shares surged to a 52-week high of $46.49, marking a 338.99% total return over the past twelve months, including a 214.60% gain over the last six months.
Amid this share price surge, Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) received a notably more constructive analyst update. On January 16, 2026, Morgan Stanley increased its price target on the stock from $12 to $51, while reiterating an ‘Equal Weight’ rating. The raised target reflects the updated 2026 modeling, featuring a shift to a sum-of-the-parts valuation. Amid the ongoing debate in the space technology services segment regarding how Direct-to-Device will evolve through 2026, the firm believes structural industry shifts are fully reflected in valuation frameworks.
Meanwhile, Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) demonstrated its strength on the operational front. In the previous month, the company launched its unified global Ka-band satellite network for government and military customers. With this launch, the company aims to enhance resilience, coverage, and performance for users, reinforcing its longer-term confidence in its communications services platform.
Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT), a global satellite communications company, delivers broadband, mobility, and secure government solutions across commercial and defense markets. The company leverages advanced satellite networks, encryption technologies, and multi-orbit connectivity.
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