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S&P 500 Winners - Q2 2011
The stock market was volatile during the second quarter of 2011, as investors reacted to slowing economic growth and a possible sovereign debt crisis in the European Union. Although the S&P 500 index was flat for the quarter, many stocks put in a stellar performance.
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The Winners
National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM) was the best performing stock in the S&P 500 in the second quarter of 2011, providing investors with a 72% return. The company soared in early April after announcing that it would be acquired by Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) at $25 per share, a 78% premium to where it was trading prior to the deal.
Texas Instruments is betting that the company's much larger sales force can accelerate growth in sales of National Semiconductors line of analog products.
Biogen Idec (Nasdaq:BIIB) also had a great run, finishing the quarter up 46%. Biogen Idec is a biotechnology company focusing on the neurology, oncology and immunology areas. In April 2011, the company disclosed positive news on phase three trials of BG-12, a drug used orally to treat multiple sclerosis.
Biogen Idec also benefited from beating consensus earnings estimates when the company reported results for the first quarter of 2011, and from several analyst upgrades during June 2011.
Although the overall stock market was plagued during the second quarter of 2011 by the issue of slowing economic growth, Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) was immune from these concerns and moved steadily higher all quarter. Tiffany's got an assist from a stronger-than-expected earnings report for the first quarter of 2011, as sales in Japan bounced back better than expected from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Tiffany's also raised the company's full-year earnings outlook and hiked its quarterly dividend from 25 cents to 29 cents. The stock ended the quarter up by 28%.
Expedia (Nasdaq:EXPE) was also on a tear during the quarter and finished up 28%. The stock got a lift early in the quarter after the company announced that it would spin off its TripAdvisor business to shareholders. In May, the company increased its ownership stake in eLong (Nasdaq:LONG), a large online travel copany in China.
The Bottom Line
The stock market took investors on a wild ride in the second quarter of 2011 before ending just about where it started. Despite this volatility, many other stocks moved higher, making some equity investors happy. (So you've decided to start investing. But what should you put in your portfolio? Find out here. Check out How To Pick A Stock.)
Use the Investopedia Stock Simulator to trade the stocks mentioned in this stock analysis, risk free!
TUTORIAL: Major Investment Industries
The Winners
National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM) was the best performing stock in the S&P 500 in the second quarter of 2011, providing investors with a 72% return. The company soared in early April after announcing that it would be acquired by Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) at $25 per share, a 78% premium to where it was trading prior to the deal.
Texas Instruments is betting that the company's much larger sales force can accelerate growth in sales of National Semiconductors line of analog products.
Biogen Idec (Nasdaq:BIIB) also had a great run, finishing the quarter up 46%. Biogen Idec is a biotechnology company focusing on the neurology, oncology and immunology areas. In April 2011, the company disclosed positive news on phase three trials of BG-12, a drug used orally to treat multiple sclerosis.
Although the overall stock market was plagued during the second quarter of 2011 by the issue of slowing economic growth, Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) was immune from these concerns and moved steadily higher all quarter. Tiffany's got an assist from a stronger-than-expected earnings report for the first quarter of 2011, as sales in Japan bounced back better than expected from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Tiffany's also raised the company's full-year earnings outlook and hiked its quarterly dividend from 25 cents to 29 cents. The stock ended the quarter up by 28%.
Expedia (Nasdaq:EXPE) was also on a tear during the quarter and finished up 28%. The stock got a lift early in the quarter after the company announced that it would spin off its TripAdvisor business to shareholders. In May, the company increased its ownership stake in eLong (Nasdaq:LONG), a large online travel copany in China.
The Bottom Line
The stock market took investors on a wild ride in the second quarter of 2011 before ending just about where it started. Despite this volatility, many other stocks moved higher, making some equity investors happy. (So you've decided to start investing. But what should you put in your portfolio? Find out here. Check out How To Pick A Stock.)
Use the Investopedia Stock Simulator to trade the stocks mentioned in this stock analysis, risk free!
by
Eric Fox
Eric J. Fox, CFA, is a freelance financial writer and has previous experience working in the asset management industry as an equity analyst and portfolio manager on the buy side. His favorite area to write on is the energy sector and he keeps current on the industry by reading Haynesville Shale, Permian Oil and Gas and various other blogs.
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