(Marketwatch) The two stocks that contributed the most to 2019’s total stock-market returns also hold that position for the entire decade.
While it’s fun to look at how the overall composition of the top 10 contributors has changed — with a noticeable shift from the energy sector to finance, for example — it’s perhaps more interesting to note the enduring heft of Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. for investors.
The two companies didn’t just dominate. They actually intensified their hold over the past decade, moving from a share of 8.45% of the total S&P 500 return over the decade to 14.8% over the last 12 months through Dec. 27, according to data compiled by Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
As Barron’s noted, the two tech giants are the only companies with valuations of more than $1 trillion.
Rounding out the top 10 contributors to returns since 2009: Home Depot Inc., Pfizer Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Chevron Corp., and Berkshire Hathaway Class B. For the past year, that includes Mastercard Inc., Visa Inc., Bank of America Corp. , AT&T and Alphabet Inc. Class C.
And Apple and Microsoft weren’t the only stocks intensifying their hold over the market. The top 10 contributors made up about 19.6% of the total stock market return over the decade, but 29.5% over the past year.
