Before we get started, I have a question for you:
What do you think are the 10 best performing stocks of the last 25 years?
Take a moment to jot down your guesses. Which companies come to mind? Perhaps you think of the tech giants – like Amazon or Meta – that you hear about in the daily news. Or, the flashy names that dominate headlines – like Tesla and GameStop. But, here’s the twist: the stocks that have delivered extraordinary returns over the past quarter-century might not be the ones you expect.
Forget the usual suspects – some of these companies are low-profile players that have quietly outperformed their flashier counterparts.
Let’s see how your guesses stack up against the real champions of the stock market’s last 25 years…
| Ticker | Name | 25Y Price Return | 25Y Total Return | Market Cap |
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp | 309990.4% | 337918.6% | $3.06T |
| MNST | Monster Beverage Corp | 109504.4% | 109504.4% | $49.2B |
| DECK | Deckers Outdoor Corp | 80702.9% | 80702.9% | $24.06B |
| TSCO | Tractor Supply Co | 63167.7% | 75327.1% | $28.87B |
| AAPL | Apple Inc | 50835.4% | 60152.3% | $3.32T |
| ODFL | Old Dominion Freight Line Inc | 33779.3% | 34770.2% | $38.83B |
| CLH | Clean Harbors Inc | 24854.5% | 24854.5% | $11.89B |
| TPL | Texas Pacific Land Corp | 24581.3% | 31598.7% | $16.69B |
| NVR | NVR Inc | 14441.0% | 14441.0% | $23.43B |
| FICO | Fair Isaac Corp | 14229.3% | 14808.2% | $37B |
#1: NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)
NVIDIA Corp is a multinational software and fabless company that designs and supplies graphics processing units (GPUs), application programming interfaces (APIs) for data science and high-performance computing, as well as system on a chip units (SoCs) for the mobile computing and automotive market. NVIDIA is also a dominant supplier of artificial intelligence (AI) hardware and software. The company was founded in 1993 by Jen-Hsun “Jensen” Huang, Curtis Priem and Chris Malachowsky and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
NVIDIA is well-positioned to benefit from AI advancements, the growth of gaming, and the expansion of data center infrastructure. It’s continued innovation and strategic initiatives are likely to drive future growth.
Related: Unlocking the Power of AI in Investing
#2: Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)
Monster Beverage Corp is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless and Burn, and has subsidiaries that produce and manufacture other drinks including alcohol, teas and coffees. The company was originally founded as Hansen’s in 1935 in Southern California, selling juice products. It was later named Hansen Natural Corporation. It wasn’t until 1990 that the company released its energy drinks, a business that didn’t really thrive until 2002. In 2012, the company took on its current name.
Analysts say several factors have driven Monster’s success, but a lot of it has to do with the company’s leaders, co-CEOs and South African billionaires Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg, who capitalized early on a rather new market. Most analysts and experts following the company’s stock continue to love the CEOs’ strategies and excellent market predictions.
#3: Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK)
Deckers Outdoor Corp, doing business as Deckers Brands, is a footwear designer and distributor founded in 1973 by Doug Otto and Karl F. Lopker in Goleta, California. Decker’s portfolio of brands includes UGG, HOKA, Teva, Sanuk, and Koolaburra by UGG.
Decker’s remarkable performance is a testament to the company’s strategic focus on profitable markets and ongoing initiatives in product innovation, store expansion and enhancing e-commerce capabilities. The growing acceptance of the UGG and HOKA brands has presented significant opportunities for the company’s expansion.
#4: Tractor Supply Company (TSCO)
Tractor Supply Co, founded in 1938 by Charles Schmidt, is the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States. The company focuses on recreational farmers and ranchers as well as tradesmen and small businesses. The stores sell a wide array of merchandise such as livestock, pet and animal products, maintenance products for agricultural and rural use, hardware and tools, lawn and garden power equipment, truck and towing products, and work apparel.
Tractor Supply Co has 2,250 stores across 49 states and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Investors favor Tractor Supply Co’s robust financial strength, impressive profitability, and consistent growth metrics. The shareholder-friendly company is also known for its solid dividend yield.
#5: Apple, Inc (AAPL)
Apple, Inc. is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, in Silicon Valley. It is best known for its consumer electronics, software, and services. Apple’s product lineup includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and Apple TV; as well as software like iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS; and services like Apple Card, Apple Pay, iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple TV+.
Since 2011, Apple has been the largest company by market capitalization – except when Microsoft held the position between January and June 2024. In 2022, Apple was the largest technology company by revenue, with $394.3 billion. As of 2023, Apple was the fourth-largest personal computer vendor by unit sales, the largest manufacturing company by revenue, and the largest vendor of mobile phones in the world.
Apple is one of The Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Alphabet, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
#6: Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc (ODFL)
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc is an American transportation and logistics company that specializes in less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping services. Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina, Old Dominion provides a range of freight services including regional, interregional, and national shipping.
Contributing to ODFL’s impressive stock performance is its market position as the leader in the LTL sector – a niche within the logistics industry that benefits from high demand and specialized service. In addition, the rise of e-commerce and increased demand for efficient supply chain solutions have benefited companies like Old Dominion.
#7: Clean Harbors, Inc (CLH)
Clean Harbors, Inc is an American company specializing in environmental services and hazardous waste management. Founded in 1980 by Alan McKim and headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, Clean Harbors offers a range of services aimed at managing and mitigating environmental risks. The company operates more than 500 locations across North America, including service centers, landfills, recycling facilities, and emergency response centers.
Its comprehensive service offerings, industry leadership, and commitment to safety and compliance contribute to the company’s strong position in the market and appeal to investors.
#8: Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL)
Texas Pacific Land Corp is the corporate successor to Texas Pacific Land Trust, which was formed in 1888. TPL is one of the largest landowners in the State of Texas – owning over 880,000 acres in 20 West Texas counties – operating under two business segments: land and resource management and water services and operations.
A significant portion of Texas Pacific Land’s revenue comes from royalties and fees related to oil and gas production on its land. The company has substantial mineral rights, which are highly valuable in the energy sector.
#9: NVR, Inc (NVR)
NVR, Inc. is a major homebuilding company headquartered in Reston, Virginia. It also operates a mortgage banking and title services businesses. The company operates under various brand names, including Ryan Homes, NVHomes, and Heartland Homes, catering to different segments of the housing market.
NVR builds homes in various regions across the US, with a strong presence in key markets on the East Coast, including Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia, as well as part of the Midwest and Southeast.
NVR has demonstrated robust financial performance over the years, with consistent revenue growth, strong profitability, and solid returns for investors. The company’s stock price is the second most expensive on United States exchanges, behind only Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares.
#10: Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO)
Fair Isaac Corp, commonly known as FICO, is a global analytics and software company specializing in data analytics and decision management.
FICO is best known for its FICO® Score, which is a credit scoring model widely used by lenders and financial institutions to assess an individual’s creditworthiness. FICO provides a suite of decision management software that helps businesses make data-driven decisions, including tools for fraud detection, risk management, and customer engagement.
FICO’s solutions are heavily used in the financial services industry, including banking, insurance, and credit card companies.
Key Takeaways From 25 Years of Stock Market Excellence
In the ever-evolving world of the financial markets, it’s not often that we stop to take a look back, especially over a quarter-century ago.
While high-profile tech giants like Apple and NVIDIA are undoubtedly leaders, this list also highlights the remarkable achievements of companies that may not always dominate headlines. Monster Beverage, Deckers Outdoor, and Texas Pacific Land Corporation exemplify how diverse sectors and unconventional business models can lead to financial success.
These top-performing stocks underscore several key investment principles:
- The importance of innovation.
- The value of niche markets.
- The potential growth in seemingly modest sectors.
As you consider your investment strategy, it may be worthwhile to reflect on these examples and recognize that long-term success often comes from a blend of strong fundamentals, visionary leadership, and an ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
Related: How to Set Investing Goals
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