It’s been a year since the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic broke big in the UK and you might expect the stock market winners since that time to be dominated by COVID plays.
In fact, at the top end of the scale (see table below), only 20% of the top 20 risers can realistically be regarded as major beneficiaries of the fight against the deadly coronavirus.
If you had a DeLorean time machine handy, you’d be better off investing in technology plays, especially cryptocurrency and blockchain outfits or even mining companies.
In looking at the table of the best performers over the last year, one other thing stands out: none of them has positive earnings per share.
It seems that even – or perhaps particularly – in the depths of the gloom caused by a virus that has the world by the throat, investors were focusing on a brighter future.
The top 20 performers on the LSE over the last year
Ticker · Name · % change · Reason for share price increase
AAA · All Active Asset Capital Ltd · 22200 · Investment in AAQUA, an online communities platform
ARB · Argo Blockchain PLC · 6500 · Cryptocurrency play
GDR · Genedrive PLC · 1520 · Demand for diagnostic devices driven by pandemic
CLP · Clear Leisure PLC · 1470 · Progress in legal skirmishes
GST · GSTechnologies Ltd · 1290 · Blockchain specialist Jack Bai acquires stake
ZOE · Zoetic International PLC · 1230 · Cannabidiol play
AVCT · Avacta Group PLC · 1200 · Demand for diagnostic devices driven by pandemic
OMI · Orosur Mining Inc · 1040 · Agnico Eagle Mines backs Orosur’s Anzá Project
DEV · Dev Clever Holdings PLC · 1030 · Commercial partnership agreement in India
RMS · Remote Monitored Systems PLC · 954 · Acquisition of Pharm2Farm which is developing an anti-viral facemasks business
UFO · Alien Metals Ltd · 900 · Progress at Hamersley iron ore project
WSBN · Wishbone Gold PLC · 900 · Raised funds to refocus on exploration activities in Australia
XTR · Xtract Resources PLC · 827 · Bushranger drilling programme success
ODX · Omega Diagnostics Group PLC · 823 · Demand for diagnostic devices driven by pandemic
RBW · Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd · 805 · High-grade assay results at the Phalaborwa rare earths project
EQT · EQTEC PLC · 800 · Strategic collaboration agreement with waste-to-energy specialist Wood Group
EMH · European Metals Holdings Ltd · 757 · Lithium play.
PIRI · Pires Investments PLC · 754 · Technology play
CTEA · Catenae Innovation PLC · 732 · Blockchain play
(Entries shaded in green are those that have been designated as beneficiaries of the pandemic)