ASX 200 stocks with the best performance: Return, momentum, risk-vs-reward – Week 44
ASX 200 Data Insights series brings you the latest data on key value, profitability and performance metrics for Australia’s biggest stocks.
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Mentioned
KEY POINTS
- This week’s winners include Nick Scali (NCK) (trading update), uranium stocks Boss Energy (BOE) and Paladin Energy (PDN) (US government nuclear energy news), and lithium stocks Mineral Resources (MIN) and Pilbara Minerals (PLS) (lithium prices up).
- Critical minerals stocks Lynas Rare Earths (LYC) and Iluka (ILU) were hardest hit, while CSL (CSL) and Wesfarmers (WES) had a terrible week after a disappointing trading updates, and Wisetech Global (WTC) found itself in hot water with regulators.
- There were definitely strong themes in this week's hardest hit list: precious metals and critical minerals, healthcare, real estate, and consumer discretionary. Winners on the other hand, tended to come from resources, mainly base metals, uranium.
Welcome to ASX 200 Data Insights: Performance. At Market Index we continuously maintain an extensive database of critical financial and performance data for the Australian share market. You can find much of this data in the dedicated pages in “Stock Scans” and “Popular Pages” in the main menu above, or in our Data Insights category.
In this edition of Data Insights, we aim to bring you a summary of some of the most interesting performance data we’ve collected for the stocks listed in the S&P/ASX 200. The main criteria of focus are:
KEY DATA – RETURN-BASED METRICS
1-week Share Price Performance %
1-month Share Price Performance %
1-year Share Price Performance %
KEY DATA – MOMENTUM-BASED METRICS
Share Price Performance: Furthest from 12-month low % (“Strongest”)
Share Price Performance: Furthest from 12-month high % (“Weakest”)
KEY DATA – REWARD-VS-RISK-BASED METRICS
1-yr Sortino Ratio: Best
1-yr Sortino Ratio: Worst
Don’t worry if all these datapoints seem like a different language! For each category, we’ll provide an explanation of what it does, its importance, and how to practically use it to compare stocks across the ASX 200. If a stock is highlighted in green, it means it is a new entrant to a particular list. All of our data is accurate at the time of publication, and is based on the close of trading on Thursday 30 October.
KEY DATA – RETURN-BASED METRICS
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-week return
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 1-week return. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
The best performing stocks over the last 5 trading days, a momentum scan for stocks exhibiting strong very short term positive momentum.
Observations:
Plenty of new entrants, notably NCK after a strong trading update, uranium stocks BOE and PDN following news of US government plans to increase investments in domestic nuclear energy production, and lithium stocks MIN and PLS following a strong week's performance in key lithium minerals contracts.
PLS, SGM, and MP1 are the only three ASX 200 stocks to back up strong performances from last week – certainly plenty of positive momentum displayed in these three.
The "bouncers", i.e., stocks that have generally delivered very poor returns in the medium term but rallied strongly this week, include CIA, WOW, and YAL.
Bottom 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-week return
Bottom 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 1-week return. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
The worst performing stocks over the last 5 trading days, a momentum scan for stocks exhibiting strong very short term negative momentum.
Observations:
Again, plenty of new entrants here, notably, critical minerals stocks LYC and ILU which are pulling back hard after a few strong weeks of gains. CSL had a terrible week after a disappointing trading update, as did WES – while WTC is in trouble with regulators. Gold stocks also featured heavily, as gold and silver prices reversed early in the week – GGP, NEM, RMS, and GMD the hardest hit.
PME and CAT are the only three ASX 200 stocks to back up poor performances from last week – certainly plenty of negative momentum displayed in these two.
There are definitely strong themes in this week's hardest hit list: Precious metals and critical minerals (LYC, NEM etc.), healthcare (CSL, PME, RMD), real estate (ARF, SGP), and consumer discretionary (WES, JBH, LNW).
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-month return
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 1-month return. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
The best performing stocks over the last month. Also included for your reference are the Top 20’s proximity to their 1-month high, e.g., “-2%” indicates the stock in question is currently 2% from its 1-month high (lower is generally considered better). This is a momentum scan for stocks exhibiting strong short-term momentum.
Observations:
As far as new entrants go, resources stocks feature heavily (PLS, MIN, SGM, PDN, CIA, FMG, etc.) – this sector appears to be the subject of a strong resurgence.
PLS maintained its spot as the most sought after ASX 200 stock over the last month, but DMP, LTR, CDA and several others also retained their spots on the list, therefore showing continued strong momentum.
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-year return
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 12-month return. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
The best performing stocks over the last year. Also included for your reference are the Top 20’s proximity to their 1-year high, e.g., “-2%” indicates the stock in question is currently 2% from its 1-year high (lower is generally considered better). This is a momentum scan for stocks exhibiting strong medium-term momentum.
Observations:
Three new entrants to the list this week: MP1, MND, and NCK.
DRO's gains continue to recede, but it retained top spot, while LYC was the biggest mover – falling from fourth to eighteenth. CDA and APE and 360 each moved higher up the list.
Stocks dropping out of the list this week include gold stocks EVN and VAU.
KEY DATA – MOMENTUM-BASED METRICS
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by Furthest from 1-year low % ("Strongest")
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by Furthest from rolling 1-year low % (Strongest). All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
More targeted than the previous 1-year return scan, this scan highlights stocks that have staged the strongest recoveries from recent troughs and or those that have exhibited consistent momentum in the medium term. It signals investor confidence and assists in identifying market leaders and sectors that might be currently favoured by fund managers.
Observations:
Three new entrants to the list this week – two of them uranium stocks PDN and DYL – and HUB.
The top four here are unchanged, but LYC is again the biggest mover – falling from fifth to eighteenth.
Stocks dropping out of the list this week include ILU, TAH and WGX.
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by Furthest from 1-year high % ("Weakest")
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by Furthest from 1-year high % (Weakest). All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
This scan highlights stocks trading furthest below their recent peaks, often reflecting weaker momentum, reduced investor conviction, or sector headwinds. It can help identify potential value opportunities if fundamentals remain intact, or conversely, warn of stocks and industries currently out of favour with fund managers.
Observations:
Three new entrants to the list this week – DRO, CSL, and IPH. Yes! DRO can appear on both lists, it remains the stock with the greatest net gains, but its recent pullback is causing it to show here as well. CSL and IPH on the other hand, have no redeeming features in this regard!
The top three here are unchanged, but DMP has moved down the list from fourth to sixth. Remember, down this list is a win! WTC was a notable move up the list.
Stocks escaping the list this week include LNW, PDN and FLT.
KEY DATA – REWARD-VS-RISK-BASED METRICS
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-year Sortino Ratio: Best
Top 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 1-year Sortino Ratio: Best. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
The Sortino Ratio is a powerful risk-reward metric. It compares excess returns to downside volatility, isolating harmful losses without penalising gains. Generally, a Sortino Ratio greater than 1.0 is considered acceptable as it signifies that the investment is generating returns above the minimum acceptable rate without taking on disproportionate downside risk. A higher Sortino Ratio is always preferred, as it signals stronger risk-adjusted performance and highlights investments delivering better returns per unit of downside risk taken.
Observations:
Three new entrants to the list this week, NCK, CMM, and A2M.
The top five here are unchanged, but LYC was again the biggest mover in the wrong direction – falling from sixth to out of the list!
MND, MP1, and GDG moved up the list.
SIG was the only other stock to drop out of the list.
Bottom 20 ASX 200 Stocks by 1-year Sortino Ratio: Worst
Bottom 20 ASX 200 Stocks by rolling 1-year rolling Sortino Ratio: Worst. All data as per close of trade Thursday 30 October.
Observations:
Two new entrants to the list this week, IEL and ARF.
The top 5 are largely unchanged, with CSL the biggest mover in the wrong direction – rising from thirteenth to sixth. Another healthcare stock, SHL, also moved up the list.
Stocks escaping the list this week include WOW and GYG.
Rather than just pure performance (or underperformance) as per the previous lists, the Sortino Ratio is a far stronger and more relevant measure of which stocks have beaten and lagged the market on a risk-adjusted basis.
Ultimately it boils down to this: If your portfolio resembles the "Best" list, then you've done a very good job of managing your money over the last 12-months. However, if your portfolio resembles the "Worst" list, then you may need to rethink your investing strategy! 😉
