The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is roughly on par with where it was at the beginning of the year. But as is typically the case there have been some stand out performers that have simply blown the benchmark index's returns away.
Going by data from S&P Global Market Intelligence (as at 18 May), Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has been the market's sixth-best performer to date, climbing 39.7% since the beginning of January. The past month has been favourable for investors as well, with shares up a little over 11% in that time.
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) is having another standout year, as well. Although they have shed 9.9% in the past 30 days, the shares are still the fifth top performer from the ASX 200 cohort year-to-date, up 43%.
It's fellow infant formula producer Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL) has also had a rough 30 days, down 13.3%. But the shares have still managed to rise more than 65% in 2018, making it the third-best performer so far. Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), up 71.5%, and Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC), up 51.1%, come in at number 2 and 4 for the year, respectively.
The top-performing share so far in 2018 is Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX). The shares have gained more than 80% year-to-date, rewarding those who remained patient though what was a rough 2016 and 2017.
The majority of Sirtex's gains came during January. At the time, the company received a takeover offer from Varian Medical Systems Inc at an offer price of $28.00 per share in cash. It marked a 49% premium to Sirtex's previous closing price of $18.83.
The company has since received a subsequent offer from CDH Investments at a price of $33.60 per share. Notably, the shares are trading at a discount to that price although there is no guarantee the proposal will result in a binding offer.
