Undoubtedly it's been a tough market for investors over the past few years with the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) providing total returns (before dividends) of just 5% and 16% over the last one and five years respectively.
Certainly the domestic and global economic conditions haven't inspired confidence with Australia's mining boom going bust and ongoing massive fiscal stimulus being required to prop up most major overseas economies.
Despite these headwinds, astute investors can still make adequate investment returns and beat the lacklustre returns of the broader market index. Here are eight individual companies which have continued to excel and in the past week all posted new 52-week highs.
- Leading gas infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) owns an array of appealing assets. The share price has gained 31% in the past year and 147% in the last five. The stock has just hit a new all-time high of $8.135.
- Funeral operator InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC) also hit a brand new record high last week of $13.08. Shares in InvoCare are up 22% over the last 12 months and 121% in the last five years.
- With exposure to global equity markets Platinum Asset Management Limited (ASX: PTM) and Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) are both enjoying tailwinds and positive investor sentiment. These leading international fund managers hit new highs of $8.50 and $19.09 respectively.
- Respiratory device maker ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) has been a favoured healthcare stock for many years with the past 12 months seeing particularly positive share price momentum which has driven the stock to a 56% gain and a share price of $7.91.
- Lottery operator Tatts Group Limited (ASX: TTS) has provided solid outperformance for shareholders over the past one and five years with gains of 24% and 52% respectively. The shares hit a new multi-year high of $3.69 last week.
- Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) has exceeded many investors expectations with returns of 23% and 88% over one and five-year periods respectively. Although not yet at the high hit at the turn of the century, the telco's share price hit a multi-year high of $6.34 during the past week.
- Gains of 33.5% in the last year and 67% over the past five years have been great news for shareholders of leading toll road operator Transurban Group (ASX: TCL). A new high of $9.31 was achieved last week.
