Over the last decade I estimate that the S&P/ASX 200 index has provided a return of approximately 110% including dividends.
Whilst this is a strong gain, especially considering the many events that have occurred during the decade, some shares on the index have vastly outperformed the benchmark index.
Three shares that have been standouts during the 2010s are listed below. Here's how they have performed over the period:
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)
The Altium share price has generated a total return of 64.9% per annum over the last 10 years. This strong return means that a $10,000 investment in the design software company's shares 10 years ago would be worth almost $1.5 million today. The catalyst for this strong gain has been the emergence of its Altium Designer product as the leader in the printed circuit board market. And with the Internet of Things/connected device market expected to drive further explosive growth over the next decade, I suspect that Altium's shares could beat the market again in the 2020s.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)
The Magellan share price has provided a total return of 54.8% over the last decade. Investors have been buying Magellan's shares thanks to its impressive track record over the period. It has achieved this by investing in high-quality global shares that benefited from some of the key themes of the past 10 years. This includes the coming of the cashless society, the dominance of business software, the arrival of digital consumer platforms, and the rise of the emerging consumer. A $10,000 investment in Magellan's shares at the start of the decade would be worth ~$790,000.
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)
The Northern Star share price has been an impressive performer over the last decade. During this time its shares have generated a total return of 79.2% per annum. This has been driven by its transformation from a small cap mineral exploration company to one of Australia's largest gold miners. This incredible total return means that a $10,000 investment in Northern Star's shares 10 years ago would be worth a whopping ~$3.4 million today.
