In this article, we discuss the 5 best-performing stocks in 2021. If you want to read our detailed analysis of these companies, go directly to the 10 Best-Performing Stocks in 2021.
5. AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC)
Number of hedge fund holders: 19
Year-to-Date Gains: 2,159%
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC) is a Kansas-based firm involved in the theatrical exhibition business. It was founded in 1920 and is placed fifth on our list of 10 best-performing stocks in 2021. The stock has offered investors returns exceeding 2,159% year-to-date. The movie theatre chain runs more than 1,000 movie theatres and 10,700 screens across the world. The recent surge in the share price of the company is a result of increased retail investor interest in the stock.
On June 5, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC) trade was limited by financial services company TD Ameritrade after a dramatic increase in volatility driven by social media speculation around the theatre firm, mostly by users on popular Reddit forum WallStreetBets.
At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 19 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $34 million in AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC), up from 16 in the preceding quarter worth $24 million.
In its Q4 2020 investor letter, Mittleman Investment Management LLC, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“AMC Entertainment (AMC) was our only material loser in Q4, dropping from $4.71 to $2.12 (-55%). I planned on discussing here why it was worth at least the $10 per share that my recently reduced estimate of fair value claimed, but since then AMC raised more cash against their UK holdings and then the stock took off due to speculative players from reddit.com getting involved, so we sold it all around $14 during the last week of Jan. 2021. This was a modest profit for most clients, but a loss for some others, depending on when the account began, so check your statements to see where you came out. And yes, I recognize it as being a dose of good luck, which I heartily accept from the universe as it seemed somewhat lacking in the portfolio of late. After the sale of AMC in late January 2021, our exposure to the movie theater business is now exclusively in Canada via Cineplex, which has a 75% market share and much less leverage on its balance sheet.”
4. BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Year-to-Date Gains: 109%
BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) is a Canada-based company that focuses on software as a service solutions as well as making and selling of products related to the internet of things. It was founded in 1984 and is ranked fourth on our list of 10 best-performing stocks in 2021. The stock has returned more than 109% to investors year-to-date. Some of the software solutions the firm offers deal with cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy, as well as endpoint security management, encryption, and embedded systems, among others.
On April 28, BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) announced that it would be restructuring business around internet of things and cyber security services by aligning operations and strengthening a management team related to the two segments. The firm also disclosed that it would be appointing business unit general managers for giving direction to overall strategy.
Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Canada-based investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings is a leading shareholder in BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) with 46.7 million shares worth more than $392 million.
3. Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12
Year-to-Date Gains: 65%
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) is a Colorado-based company primarily engaged in uranium mining, development and processing. It was founded in 1987 and is placed third on our list of 10 best-performing stocks in 2021. The stock has offered investors returns exceeding 312% in the past 52 weeks. The company is often cited as one of the leaders of uranium production in the United States. It also has stakes in the commercial rare earth business.
On May 26, Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) shares jumped close to 10% after investment advisory Noble Capital upgraded the stock to Outperform from Market Perform with a $9 price target, implying street-high upside potential.
Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Chicago-based investment firm Citadel Investment Group is a leading shareholder in Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) with 365,006 shares worth more than $2 million.
2. Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30
Year-to-Date Gains: 60%
Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) is a Canada-based firm that deals in uranium. It was founded in 1988 and is placed second on our list of 10 best-performing stocks in 2021. The stock has returned more than 59% to investors year-to-date. The company is among the largest uranium producers globally, with interests in uranium production and selling in Europe and Asia in addition to North America.
On May 10, investment advisory BMO downgraded Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) stock to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of C$23. However, Alexander Pearce, an analyst at the advisory, said that ongoing improving sentiment could see further upside if Cameco successfully delivers on long-term contracts.
Out of the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Florida-based investment firm Kopernik Global Investors is a leading shareholder in Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) with 9.8 million shares worth more than $163 million.
1. Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACBI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16
Year-to-Date Gains: 77%
Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACBI) is a Georgia-based bank holding company. It was founded in 2006 and is ranked first on our list of 10 best-performing stocks in 2021. The company’s shares have returned more than 77% to investors year-to-date. Some of the services the company markets include non-interest and interest bearing demand, savings and money market, time, and brokered deposits, among others. It has a market cap of over $570 million and posted close to $80 million in annual revenue in 2020.
On April 22, Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACBI) posted earnings results for the first three months of 2021, reporting earnings per share of $0.65, beating market predictions by $0.23. The revenue for the period was over $27 million, up 16.7% year-on-year.
At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 16 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $74 million in Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACBI), up from 14 in the preceding quarter worth $50 million.
You can also take a peek at 10 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying and 14 Best European Dividend Stocks To Buy.
