The stock market has been on a record-breaking tear this year, and that means the best stocks of 2016 saw huge gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up nearly 15% on the year and smashed through 25 record closes. If you owned these top stocks, you would have seen gains far beyond that.
To show you which stocks benefited the most from this year's rally, we've compiled a list of the top ten stocks of 2016. We based our list on the largest percentage increase in share price over the year. We're also only looking at the best stocks with a market cap of more than $1 billion, so there won't be any volatile penny stocks on this list.
Now, the Dow is within reach of 20,000 points and the markets are set to break even more records in 2017. If 2017 continues 2016's success, investors can get ahead of the curve by checking out the ten best stocks of 2016...
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 10: Navistar International Corp.
Navistar International Corp (NYSE: NAV) is a U.S.-based holding company with a market cap of $2.67 billion. Navistar owns the manufacturer of the International brand of commercial trucks, buses, and other commercial engines and parts. Despite a drop in earnings per share (EPS) of $0.28 in Q3, the company's stock has performed well so far in 2016.
NAV is currently trading at $32.22. Its shares are up 264.71% in 2016, helping it make the list of the best stocks to buy.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 9: Mechel PAO
Mechel PAO (NYSE: MTL) is one of Russia's leading metals and mining companies with a market cap of $1.6 billion. MTL produces steel, coal, and iron ore in concentrate. Q3 earnings were reported in November, with revenue growth of 5% year over year and a $43 million loss for the quarter.
The stock only showed moderate growth in the first half of 2016, but has now skyrocketed by 20% since the Nov. 8 election. It's possible Mechel has benefited from the Trump rally because of the president-elect's friendlier stance toward Russia or because Trump opposes many environmental restrictions on fossil fuels.
MTL stock is currently trading at $5.98 and shares are up 264.4% year to date (YTD).
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Best Stocks of 2016, No. 8: Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc.
Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. (NYSE: FMSA) is an Ohio-based supplier of sand-based products and technologies that holds one of the world's largest sand reserves. Sand products are used worldwide for oil and gas processing and are particularly useful for fracking.
With oil prices rising, investors could be attracted to companies who supply the oil drilling industry, like FMSA.
FMSA stock is trading at $11.54, with shares up 392.77% YTD. The median one-year price target for the stock is $10.75, with some estimates as high as $15.00.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 7: Coeur Mining Inc.
Coeur Mining Inc. (NYSE: CDE) is a Chicago-based mining company extracting both silver and gold from its four mines. CDE has a market cap of $1.6 billion.
A new mining campaign in Nevada was just announced in early December, which is a sign of growth for a mining company.
CDE is trading at $9.14. With gains of 268.55% this year, CDE was one of the best stocks to own in 2016.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 6: United States Steel Corp.
United States Steel (NYSE: X) is a Pittsburgh-based steel producer with major production operations in the U.S., Canada, and central Europe. The company was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1901 and is the largest steel company in the United States.
While U.S. Steel grew by 157% from the first of the year until Nov. 8, it's jumped 68% since the election alone. President-elect Trump's ambitious infrastructure plan could give a big boost to steel demand in 2017.
X is currently trading at $35.14, with gains of 339.85% YTD.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 5: AK Steel Holding Corp.
AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) is an Ohio-based steel company that produces and ships more than 7 million tons of steel annually.
AKS is another steel stock that spiked just after election day, jumping 74% since Nov. 8.
The stock is currently trading at $10.57, with gains of 372.32% YTD.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 4: Chemours Co.
The Chemours Co. (NYSE: CC) is an American chemical company that is a spinoff of DuPont (NYSE: DD). Headquartered in Delaware, the company manufactures and sells fluoroproducts, chemical solutions, and titanium technologies to commercial partners.
CC stock is currently trading at $22.41, with gains of 319.59% YTD.
Now that you've seen some of the top stocks of 2016, these are the best three stocks of 2016, including stocks that gained more than 400% on the year...
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 3: Electrobras Co.
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Centrais Electricas Basileiras SA (NYSE: EBR), also known as Electrobras, is a major Brazilian electric utilities company. The company is the tenth largest utility in the world, the world's fourth largest clean energy company, and Latin America's largest utility provider. Based in Rio de Janeiro, the company is 52% owned by the Brazilian government.
The company has a market cap of $7.32 billion, but it has not been without its share of controversy in recent years. In the spring it was almost delisted due to missing a filing deadline, and there have been allegation of corruption with the Brazilian government.
Despite its recent controversies, EBR stock is up 405% on the year and is currently trading at $6.90 a share.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 2: Teck Resources Ltd.
Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE: TECK) is a Canadian metals and mining company that extracts and sells gold, zinc, copper, coal, and oil. The company's latest quarterly earnings of $0.26 EPS were $0.08 above analyst consensus estimates. TECK has a market cap of $11.98 billion.
TECK is trading at $20.86, with shares up 440.28% YTD.
Best Stocks of 2016, No. 1: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) is a Cleveland-based mining company specializing in iron ore.
As we mentioned with the steel stocks on this list, investors are expecting a big increase in infrastructure spending, and that could mean big gains for steel and iron companies in 2017.
CLF is trading at $8.97 a share and is up 467.72% on the year.
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