The Dow Jones Industrial Average might have taken its lumps in 2020, but it ultimately exited the year better for the experience. The average closed out the year with a 7.3% gain, though several stocks obviously did better than that.
Others, not so much.
Apple (AAPL) was the clear leader in the clubhouse, finishing with an 82.3% total return (price plus dividends) thanks in large part to hope that the iPhone 12 would start a new iPhone "supercycle." So far, based on Wedbush channel checks, those hopes appear to be panning out.
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Microsoft (MSFT, +42.5% in 2020), like many tech stocks, was resilient through the market downturn because of the necessity of its digital offerings amid a shift to workers having to work from home. And Nike (NKE, +41.0% in 2020) recovered much more vigorously than many other apparel stocks thanks in large part to success in its digital direct-to-consumer offerings.
And while COVID-19 would seem like a boon to pharmacy stocks such as Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA, -29.4% in 2020), that wasn't the case. Increased cleaning costs, an uptake in lower-margin goods and a staggering decline in foot traffic to its U.K. Boots stores weighed on shares. So too did Amazon.com's (AMZN) official November announcement of a full-service online service, Amazon Pharmacy.
The worst Dow stock of 2020, however, was Boeing (BA, -33.9% in 2020), which started the year still struggling to get its 737-Max aircraft line back in the air after a pair of high-profile crashes. It struggled further still after COVID caused widespread global flight cancellations and crushed demand for air travel once flights were allowed to resume.
You can check out the table below for a full look at the best and worst Dow performers in 2020, based on their total returns. Data and table provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
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Stock Market Today: Dow Dives 1,123 Points After FedMarket participants reacted predictably to a well-telegraphed hawkish turn by the Federal Reserve.
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Fed Sees Fewer Rate Cuts in 2025: What the Experts Are SayingFederal Reserve The Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected, but the future path of borrowing costs became more opaque.
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Stock Market Today: Dow Dives 1,123 Points After Fed
Market participants reacted predictably to a well-telegraphed hawkish turn by the Federal Reserve.
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Stock Market Today: The Dow Slides Into Its First 9-Day Losing Streak Since 1978A Santa Claus rally is on hold as markets wait for more information about monetary policy.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Are Mixed Ahead of the FedTwo of the three main equity indexes closed higher on the first day of the final Fed Week of 2024.
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Stock Market Today: Tech Stocks Rally as CPI Supports Lower RatesAn inline inflation report sealed the deal for a December rate cut and sent the tech sector soaring.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Are Positively Mixed to Open DecemberTechnology led the way Monday as two of the three main equity indexes closed higher.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally Despite Rising Geopolitical TensionThe main indexes were mixed on Tuesday but closed well off their lows after an early flight to safety.
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Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Jumps Ahead of Nvidia EarningsIt was a mostly positive start to a new week of pricing in more Donald Trump.
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Why Is Warren Buffett Selling So Much Stock?Berkshire Hathaway is dumping equities, hoarding cash and making market participants nervous.
