The year of Bitcoin, blockchain, rising energy prices and … er …
A look at the best performing shares of 2021. In so far as there is a trend to discern from the list of winners it looks like the year of blockchain.
It’s the end of the year and as per usual I have been asked to write about the best performing shares of the year.
That is, the year just gone. It occurs to me that this article would be a lot more useful if I could tell you what the best performing shares of next year will be but if I could do that, I would not be sitting here writing this article.
So, let’s crack on.
In so far as there is a trend to discern from the list of winners it looks like the year of blockchain. GSTechnologies Ltd (LSE:GST), Quantum Blockchain PLC and Argo Blockchain PLC (LSE:ARB, OTCQX:ARBKF, NASDAQ:ARBK, ETR:0XP), all of which smashed it for six this year – six sixes in a row in the case of GSTechnologies and Quantum Blockchain.
As per usual, there is the usual smattering of resource stocks in the top 20, while unusually there are two car dealers in the top 30 (we only list the top 20 below but if we did do the top 30, Marshall Motor Holdings PLC (AIM:MMH), up 180%, would have been listed at number 26).
| Rank | Company | %chg YTD | Ostensible reason for rise |
| 1 | GSTechnologies Ltd (LSE:GST) | 1250 | Blockchain specialist Jack Bai took over the helm in October |
| 2 | Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC (AIM:QBT) | 1070 | Bitcoin, baby. Even more so than garlic bread, it’s the future … |
| 3 | Zephyr Energy PLC | 723 | Rose Petroleum by another name but (with a nod to Shakespeare) smelling a lot sweeter in this guise |
| 4 | AudioBoom Group PLC | 414 | Lockdown favourite saw off a bid approach from private equity |
| 5 | Petroneft Resources PLC (AIM:PTR, OTC:PNFTF) | 408 | Rising energy prices. |
| 6 | Plaza Centers NV | 400 | Major capital restructuring and strategic shift |
| 7 | One Heritage Group PLC (LSE:OHG) | 317 | Speculative buying in January shortly after the IPO mystified the directors |
| 8 | ADVFN (AIM:AFN) PLC | 279 | Battle for control of the financial information provider |
| 9 | AssetCo PLC (AIM:ASTO) | 277 | Change its business strategy to the development of an asset and wealth management business |
| 10 | Vertu Capital Ltd | 271 | Cash shell finally found someone it wanted to buy |
| 11 | CyanConnode Holdings PLC (AIM:CYAN) | 251 | The potentially immense market opportunity in India “is starting to translate into large orders, accelerating shipment volumes, exceptionally strong revenue growth and cash inflows” |
| 12 | Premier African Minerals Ltd (AIM:PREM) | 241 | Progress at Zulu project |
| 13 | Critical Metals PLC (LSE:CRTM) | 233 | Floated in September 2020, it is looking to complete its first investment in first quarter of 2022 |
| 14 | Lookers PLC (LSE:LOOK) | 212 | Chip shortage has hit production of new cars and put some zip into the used car market |
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