Many of our 2015 top stock picks were crushed by the recent downturn in the broader markets - brought on by uncertainty in China and Europe.
But one stock pick has moved against the crashing financial markets: Novavax Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX).
NVAX stock has doubled on the year - up 104% in 2015 - while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 1.5% on the year.
In the last two weeks, NVAX stock has jumped 9%, while the Dow Jones was down about 2% in that same period.
This biotech specializes in vaccines. Money Morning Small-Cap Investing Specialist Sid Riggs recommended the stock in November 2013. Around that time, Novavax was making strides in a vaccine for avian flu. We highlighted Novavax throughout 2014.
This small-cap stock is up 292% since Riggs' first recommendation.
Riggs originally liked NVAX stock because of its revolutionary approach to flu vaccines.
In March 2011, the company signed a $179 million contract with HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) "to develop new technology to produce vaccines using insect cells to express influenza proteins and create virus-like particles that stimulate a strong immune response in humans."
"The way I see things, Novavax represents a paradigm shift in the way vaccines are currently produced," Riggs said in November 2013. "The Novavax method implements a disposable, single-use manufacturing system - eliminating the need to clean and sterilize equipment between batches. That means an antivirus production facility can be built at a fraction of the cost traditional methods require."
Still, it's important to keep in mind that this stock ebbs and flows, as is the case with many small-cap biotech stocks. In February, we said investors should be wary of this stock and wait for a better entry point. It was up more than 60% when we issued that warning.
A little more than a month later it had fallen 20.3% to $7.58. That proved a much better entry point, and since then the stock is up 60%.
To see where NVAX stock sits atop our 2015 top stock picks, check out the table below.
Money Morning's Top Stocks 2015
Here are our top 10 stock picks for year-to-date gains as of the July 9 close.
| Name | Symbol | 2015 Gain % |
| Prothena Corp. Plc | PRTA | 145.3 |
| Novavax Inc. | NVAX | 104.2 |
| Ambarella Inc. | AMBA | 90.8 |
| Oncothyreon Inc. | ONTY | 90.5 |
| Alon USA Energy Inc. | ALJ | 43.7 |
| JD.com Inc. | JD | 41.7 |
| Thoratec Corp. | THOR | 37.4 |
| Lannett Co. Inc. | LCI | 34.2 |
| Boston Scientific Corp. | BSX | 31.7 |
| Skyworks Solutions Inc. | SWKS | 30.0 |
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