The FTSE 100 has fallen 12% since hitting an all-time of 7,103 almost exactly one year ago but not every company has been on a losing streak. The top five performers on the index have delivered returns of between 47% and 23% in that time, according to research from Hargreaves Lansdown.
So who are these fabulous five and can they maintain their winning streak?
Fresnillo
And thewinner is Fresnillo (LSE: FRES). Perhaps its only fitting that a gold and silver miner should come first in last years medals placing. Its 12-month return of 47% simply couldnt be beaten. This is only partly due tothe risingprice of gold: growth wasa modest 4.6% in the last year to $1,292 an ounce while silver didonly slightly better, rising 5.6% to $17.81 an ounce.
Fresnillos share pricereally started flying in the middle of Januarys market rout, and is up nearly 60% in the last three months on the weaker dollar and dash for safe havens. Its share price could go anywhere from here and this stockremains a glitteringportfolio diversifier for todays anxious investors.
DCC
International sales, marketing, distribution and business support services firmDCC(LSE: DCC)was last years runner-up growing 42%. This ambitious company is growing fast, having made twolarge acquisitions lately, Esso Retail France and Butagaz. In todays troubled markets its good to hear bullish management predictingthat both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share will be very significantly ahead of the prior year.
Earnings per share (EPS) leapt 25% in the year to March and although its setslow to around 10% this year, that still looks promising. Youpay a premiumfor DCCsbrightgrowth prospects, in this case more than 30 times earnings. DCCs recent momentum suggests this may be a price worth paying.
Randgold Resources
In third place sits goldminer Randgold Resources Limited (LON: RRS), itsshare price up31% in the last year, helped by market volatility, a dovish Fed and the weaker dollar.Randgoldsannual gold production exceeds 1m ounces but it has been successfully replenishing reserves as they deplete. Again, performance is subject to gold price swings, which nobody can control, butthe diversification benefits are clear.
Paddy Power Betfair
International multi-channel betting and gaming groupPaddy Power Betfair (LSE: BET) rose29% in the last year. The merged company will need no introduction to anybody who has seen a Premier League game on Skylately, as gaming adverts seem to take up more time than the actualmatch.
The share price has fallen 20% in recent weeks but Morgan Stanley says this is a great buying opportunity. Its hardly a cheap one, trading at more than 33 times earnings, so youre still playing for high stakes.
Intertek Group
Last but by no means least,Intertek Group (LSE: ITRK) returned23% last year. 2015 wasnt all good for the inspection & testing services specialist, which enjoyed a 4% rise in profits to 323m and 20 basis point rise in margins to 15.9%. But it also suffered a308m pre-tax loss, primarilydue to a non-cash impairment charge of 577m. It looks expensiveat 23.2 times earningsbut once again, thats the price of success.
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Harvey Jones has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Hargreaves Lansdown, Intertek, and Sky. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
