The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), down 0.3% in afternoon trading, has had a strong run so far in 2021, up 4.2%.
Now with the stellar gains posted in the months following the pandemic market crash lows of late March 2020, 4.2% may not raise many investor eyebrows. But those types of rocketing share price gains obviously can't run forever.
As we're less than halfway through April, my back of the napkin maths indicates that, should the 2021 trend continue apace, the ASX 200 would gain more than 14% over the full year. Which doesn't even include the dividends many of these blue-chip shares are back to paying.
Certainly not a bad place to invest some of your money.
With that said there are winners and losers in every collection of shares. Focusing on the winners, the top 2 ASX 200 performers have outpaced the broader ASX 200 by a factor of more than 10 to 1.
Boom!
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The Lynas share price leads the ASX 200
The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) just edges out the number 2 contender to lead the ASX 200's top gainers so far in 2021. Lynas Rare Earths shares are up 49.5% year-to-date, after slipping 0.6% in late afternoon trading today.
Lynas is the world's second-largest producer of rare earths and currently the only significant producer outside China.
Lynas shares have gained 311% over the past 12 months. At the current price of $6.24 per share, Lynas trades on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 400 times.
The Zip Co share price trails by a nose
The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price briefly lead the charge of top 2021 performers on the ASX 200 today, but with a current year-to-date gain of 49%, it trails Lynas by a nose.
Zip Co is one of Australia's leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) shares. Over the past 12 months, the Zip Co share price is up 221%.
