Many blue chip shares such as Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) have been disappointments for their shareholders over the past 12 months, providing negative returns.
In contrast, some smaller, lesser followed companies have achieved sensational returns.
Here are three small-cap superstars that have provided their shareholders with huge returns in the past year.
Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP), previously known as Burson Group, is a leading distributor of automotive parts to both retail and wholesale trade customers.
Since listing in 2014 the share price is up around 200%, while in the past year alone the stock has surged close to 70%.
Driving the share price higher has been a mix of strong operating results and acquisitions.
On the results front, same-store sales grew around 5% in FY 2016, the gross margin expanded by 1.4% and the dividend was increased 26.4% to 11 cents per share (cps).
Meanwhile, a number of bolt-on acquisitions have also been undertaken including the recently announced NZ$322 million takeover offer for New Zealand based automotive distribution and wholesaling company.
Bapcor's future remains bright.
Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL), is the owner of the top-selling baby formula brand Bellamy's Organic Australia.
The group's share price has soared an astounding 780% since first trading on the ASX in August 2014; in the past year, the stock is up around 60%.
The market's love affair with this company has been in part driven by impressive financial results.
In FY 2016, revenue soared 95% to $245 million, earnings leapt 342% to $54 million and the full year dividend was boosted 316% to 11.9 cps fully franked.
Driving enthusiasm for the stock has been the group's exposure to growing Chinese consumption; Bellamy's reported that China revenues climbed 331%.
This tailwind is likely to continue into future periods.
Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) is a financial services technology company, providing investment and superannuation portfolio administration services.
Hub24's share price has expanded by over 110% in the last year thanks to a big jump in operating metrics.
FY 2016 saw retail net inflows increase 102% to $1.6 billion, retail funds under advice grow 94% to $3.3 billion and platform revenue increase 91% to $15.4 million.
Importantly, having achieved scale, the group is now profitable on a monthly basis which bodes very well for the bottom line in FY 2017.
