Despite what this year has put us through, there are a number of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares that have posted huge share price gains during 2020.
These ASX 200 shares are from a range of sectors and have managed to not only survive but to thrive in a year that began with flood, passed through a pandemic, and looks to be ending in political upheaval in the USA.
Here are the top 5 ASX 200 performers so far in 2020, based on share price growth.
5 top-performing ASX 200 shares
As you read these, bear in mind that they are exclusively ASX 200 companies, so companies like Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) are not included.
Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT)
Unsurprisingly, Afterpay is the leading ASX 200 share so far in 2020. This company has seen its share price grow by 262.7%, year to date. However, if it was purchased it on 23 March, when the ASX bottomed out, the investment would have grown 1074.49%.
Afterpay recently reported that by the end of the first quarter of FY21 it has secured 11.2 million active users. It also recently announced a strategic partnership with Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). It is available on Apple Pay and Google Pay platforms, and has 68,300 merchants.
Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)
Kogan is another unsurprising entrant on this list. This ASX 200 company saw its share price grow by 220.65% from the beginning of the year. Again, had an investor purchased Kogan on 23 March, they would have earned 482.9% by now. As an online retailer Kogan has been a great beneficiary of the pandemic, which sent consumers online in droves. Kogan announced an increase in online sales by 100% in an update midway through the fourth quarter of FY20. The company's profit for the same period also grew by 130%.
Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)
This company saw its share price grow by 134% over the year. Netwealth provides a platform for managing superannuation, self managed super funds, and access to advisors. The company also has its own funds. In fact, during August it rolled out two specialist funds on the Netwealth platform managed by Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG).
Listed in November of 2017, Netwealth is now valued at $4.1 billion. In its first quarter FY21 report, the company announced $34 billion in funds under administration (FUA) and $1.9 billion net FUA inflows.
NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)
This data centre operator has seen its share price rise by 119.29% this year so far. It has been in the news recently offering to help Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH) recover from its systems failure on Sunday.
The company is fundamentally an ASX 200 infrastructure company, albeit with a mix of physical assets and digital services. In FY20, NextDC's total revenues rose by 14%, customers rose by 15%. Moreover, underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 23%. In FY21, the company has advised it expects to see EBITDA rise by 20–24%.
Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (ASX: SAR)
The Saracen share price has risen by 95.75% this year. At present the gold price is sitting at $2,543 per ounce. With all of the crises during the year investors have rushed, several times, to gold. This includes gold mining companies, and Saracen has benefitted greatly.
The company purchased the Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE: GOLD) stake in the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold mines, or the super pit, in November 2019. A month later, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) purchased the other 51%. Less than a year later the two giants of the goldfields have announced a $16 billion merger.
