The top 10 best stocks of the last decade
5 Dividend Growth Superstars up 1400% or more more since 2015
The 10 Best-Performing U.S. Stocks of the Last Decade – A Deep Dive
Over the past ten years, some U.S. stocks have delivered staggering returns. In this post, we highlight ten of the absolute best performers based purely on stock price appreciation. The number one spot will surprise no one: Nvidia, which has soared nearly 27,000% since early 2015, leaving the rest far behind. Nvidia also did one of the biggest dividend hikes last year with a 150% increase.
Key Takeaways:
Nvidia dominates with unparalleled growth, driven by AI and semiconductor demand.
Other well-known names include Netflix and Deckers Brands, which have also rewarded investors handsomely.
Three Dividend Heroes rank among the top 10 best-performing stocks of the last decade, with a total of 7 Dividend Heroes making the list of 16 stocks that have gained 1,000% or more since the end of 2014.
Two of these Dividend Heroes have also hiked the dividend by more than 1000% in the last decade.
Several high-quality dividend growth stocks feature in our top ten, showing that strong returns aren’t limited to high-flying tech stocks.
Dividend reinvestment can significantly boost total returns, potentially surpassing even stocks like Netflix, Deckers, and even Nvidia, given that Nvidia pays only a minimal dividend.
The Power of Dividend Growth
While high-growth stocks often steal the spotlight, dividend growth stocks can be silent wealth builders. Over time, reinvesting dividends compounds returns, making them an excellent choice for long-term investors. Many of the top stocks in this ranking have demonstrated both strong capital appreciation and increasing dividend payouts, offering a powerful one-two punch for investors.
Three Dividend Heroes rank among the top 10 best-performing stocks of the last decade including Broadcom (AVGO), with a total of seven Dividend Heroes making the list of 16 stocks that have gained 1,000% or more since the end of 2014.
It is no surprise to us (team DividendHike) that no less than 3 Dividend Heroes are included in the top 10 of biggest gainers from the last decade. Find out below which stocks they are!
Nvidia (NVDA) is the undisputed #1, with a staggering total stock price gain of 26,991% since the end of 2014/start of 2015. The stock's annual returns have been extraordinary, including 171.2% in 2024, 238.9% in 2023, and multiple triple-digit gains in 2021, 2020, and 2016. Over the past decade, Nvidia stock declined in only two years: -50.3% in 2022 and -31% in 2018. Altogether, this translates to an average annual stock price gain of 102.2% over the last ten years for NVDA.
Top 10 superstars from the last decade
Nvidia (NVDA) +26,691%
Texas Pacific Land Corp (TPL) +2,711% (dividend hero)
Fair Isaac (FICO) +2,653%
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) +2,377% (dividend hero)
Broadcom (AVGO) +2,204% (dividend hero)
Axon Enterprise (formerly Taser, AXON) +2,144%
Netflix (NFLX) +1,726%
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) +1,483%
Napco Security Technologies (NSSC) +1,413%
Deckers Brands (DECK) +1,238%
Dividend Heroes, with a strong annual dividend growth for more than 10 consecutive years, are Texas Pacific Land Corp (TPL), Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Broadcom (AVGO).
All these stocks have performed exceptionally well over the past few years—and the past decade—and we expect them to continue their strong dividend growth in the coming years. We did articles on TPL, FIX and AVGO last year on dividendhike.com or dividendheroes.com.
Other stocks with a stock price gain of more than 1,000% in the last decade that did not make the top-10 are Mercadolibre, MSCI (a Dividend Hero), LeMaitre Vascular (a Dividend Hero), Monolithic Power Systems (a Dividend Hero), Eli Lilly (a Dividend Hero) and Synopsys.
Only two stocks announced a total dividend increase of more than 1,000% in the last decade: Broadcom and Texas Pacific Land Trust. If we include the dividends, these two, both Dividend Heroes, will even rank much higher!
Final Thoughts
The past decade has provided incredible opportunities for investors who picked the right stocks. While Nvidia may have been the standout, our list reveals that many other stocks, including dividend growth champions, have delivered phenomenal returns. With strong business fundamentals and steady dividend increases, some of these names are likely to continue outperforming in the years to come. For that matter also check out the dividendhike.com portfolio which includes several of the stocks mentioned above; we believe that these particular stocks can continue growing the dividend and outperforming in the next few years and probably also longer term.
Which of these stocks do you own? Let us know in the comments!
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.