While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started 2021 in a positive fashion, its modest gain is nothing in comparison to some that have been made this year.
Three ASX shares which are on fire in 2021 are listed below. Here's what you need to know about them:
Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)
The BrainChip share price has raced 48% higher since the start of 2021. This gain appears to be related to announcements late in the year that caught the eye of investors. The artificial intelligence technology company revealed that NASA has placed an order for its Akida Early Access Evaluation Kit. It also announced the signing of an intellectual property license agreement with Renesas Electronics America.
Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)
The Pro Medicus share price is up almost 20% since the start of the year. Investors have been buying the health imaging software company's shares this month after it announced another major new contract win. The company revealed that it has signed a seven-year contract worth $40 million with Salt Lake City based Intermountain Healthcare. The deal will see Pro Medicus' Visage 7 Viewer and Visage 7 Open Archive products implemented across all of Intermountain's radiology and subspecialty imaging departments. This deal represents the company's fifth major contract win in the space of six months.
Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)
The Vulcan share price has stormed a remarkable 250% higher since the start of 2021. Investors have been buying the lithium-focused mineral exploration company's shares amid excitement around its Zero Carbon Lithium Project in the Upper Rhine Valley of Germany. Its Pre Feasibility Study (PFS) demonstrated strong potential to develop a cutting edge, combined renewable energy and lithium hydroxide project, in the centre of Europe, with net zero carbon footprint. Management believes its resource can satisfy Europe's needs for the electric vehicle transition, from a zero-carbon source, for many years to come.
