which stocks are doing well: a practical guide
Which Stocks Are Doing Well
Which stocks are doing well is a common investor question that asks which publicly traded equities are outperforming peers over a chosen timeframe. This guide explains what people usually mean by that phrase, how to measure performance (short and long term), which sectors and themes have recently led markets, reliable data sources and screening rules you can use, practical caveats, and short case studies with dated sources so readers know the timeframe of the examples. The article is neutral, factual, and aimed at beginners and intermediate investors who want to build watchlists or research ideas. It also highlights tools and a recommended platform—Bitget—for executing and tracking trades and for Web3 wallet needs.
How “Doing Well” Is Measured
The question “which stocks are doing well” can have different answers depending on the metric and timeframe. Below are the most common measures used by traders, analysts and reporters.
Percent Change (Price Gains)
Percent change is the quickest measure: how much a stock’s price rose or fell over a given period. People commonly look at daily, weekly, monthly, 30/90‑day, 1‑year and multi‑year percent changes. Real‑time percent gainers (intraday and daily) are shown by platforms such as Barchart, Yahoo Finance and TradingView and are useful to find immediate momentum. But percent change alone can be misleading for low‑float or low‑liquidity names that spike on small volume or news.
Total Return (Price + Dividends)
For long‑term performance, total return (price appreciation plus dividends and dividend reinvestment) gives a more complete picture. Dividend payers with steady payouts can outperform on a total return basis even if price gains look modest. When asking “which stocks are doing well” for multi‑year periods, compare total returns rather than price-only moves.
Contribution to Index or Sector Performance
Large-cap leaders can disproportionately drive index performance. A single mega‑cap company can explain a large share of the S&P 500’s gains in a given year. For example, as reported by Morningstar, technology and communication services stocks accounted for a substantial portion of U.S. index gains in recent years because a few very large names led the market. Looking at contribution metrics (how much each stock added to index returns) helps explain whether broad market moves are diversified or concentrated.
Volume and Liquidity
Volume and liquidity contextualize percent moves. A 20% intraday rise in a stock that trades millions of shares is more meaningful than the same move in a lightly traded microcap. Platforms such as Yahoo Finance, Barchart and TradingView show volume, average daily volume and liquidity filters. When answering “which stocks are doing well” for tradable ideas, require sufficient volume to ensure you can enter and exit positions.
Fundamental Metrics
Price performance backed by improving fundamentals (earnings growth, revenue acceleration, margin expansion) is more durable than momentum without fundamentals. Common fundamental metrics include P/E, EV/EBITDA, revenue growth, free cash flow, and analyst revisions. Sources such as Wall Street Journal Market Data, MarketBeat, and Morningstar combine market data with fundamental screens to identify names whose performance is supported by business improvement.
Time Horizons and Interpretation
When someone asks “which stocks are doing well,” clarifying the intended timeframe is essential because short‑term winners often differ from long‑term outperformers.
Intraday / Daily Movers
Intraday or daily movers are driven by news, earnings, upgrades/downgrades, or technical momentum. These lists are available on Yahoo Finance (Gainers), Barchart (biggest percent gainers), and TradingView (live movers). Traders use them for scalps or short‑term momentum trades. Because intraday moves can reverse quickly, treat daily winners as potential trade ideas rather than long‑term recommendations.
Monthly / Quarterly Leaders
Monthly and quarterly winners often reflect catalysts such as earnings surprises, sector rotation, or fundamental updates. The Motley Fool’s monthly pieces (for example, lists of top S&P 500 performers in a given month) show typical monthly winners and warn that single‑month performance can be transitory. Use monthly lists to find themes and check the news driving the move.
1‑Year and Multi‑Year Outperformers
One‑year and multi‑year outperformance is better evidence of durable success. MarketBeat, Bankrate and Morningstar publish lists of 1‑year and year‑to‑date best performers. Over longer periods, weigh total return and fundamentals rather than price spikes. Longer horizons also reduce the influence of short squeezes and temporary catalysts.
Common Market Winners by Segment and Theme
Certain sectors and themes tend to lead during specific market cycles. Below are commonly observed winners and why they perform well.
Technology & Communication Services
Technology and communication services names often lead markets when spending on cloud, AI and advertising recovers. As of early 2026, Morningstar reported that technology and communication‑services stocks contributed significantly to U.S. market gains, with large companies accounting for sizable portions of index returns. Because many of these names are large‑cap, their moves can shape headline market performance.
Semiconductors and AI‑Related Hardware
Chipmakers and AI‑hardware firms can outperform in cycles that accelerate AI adoption. Companies providing GPUs, AI accelerators, and semiconductor design often show strong revenue and earnings growth during AI cycles, which attracts investor focus. Examples in recent market commentary include leaders in AI infrastructure and related supply chains.
Software Infrastructure vs. Applications
Within tech, platform and infrastructure software (cloud, databases, developer tools) often outperform application‑level names because they capture recurring revenue and scale. NerdWallet and other sector analyses show that infrastructure firms can provide steadier long‑term returns than some niche application players, though individual outcomes vary.
Small‑cap and Micro‑cap Winners
Small‑cap stocks occasionally post exceptional percentage gains. MarketBeat and TradingView daily top‑gainers frequently include small‑cap names. High percent moves here can reflect successful product launches or speculative momentum, but they come with higher volatility and liquidity risk. Always check average daily volume, float and news drivers when reviewing small‑cap winners.
Data Providers and Tools to Find “Doing Well” Stocks
Reliable data and the right tools make it easier to answer “which stocks are doing well.” Below are commonly used providers and what they offer.
- Morningstar — deep sector and contribution analysis, useful for understanding which companies are driving index returns.
- Barchart — sortable percent gainers and performance screens for intraday and daily lists.
- Yahoo Finance — daily gainers, most active, news aggregation and basic fundamentals; good for quick scans.
- TradingView — live movers, customizable screeners and technical charts with community ideas.
- MarketBeat — ranked lists across timeframes (including 365‑day gainers) and analyst ratings summaries.
- Motley Fool / NerdWallet / Bankrate — narrative pieces that highlight monthly/sector winners and provide investor guidance.
- Wall Street Journal Markets — market data, movers and fundamental company data for a professional context.
Use screeners to filter by market cap, average daily volume, sector, and timeframe to produce a tradable “which stocks are doing well” list rather than a noisy collection of spikes.
How to Build a Reliable “Doing Well” List — Practical Methodology
Follow a stepwise approach to build a watchlist that answers “which stocks are doing well” in a way that’s useful for your trading or investing horizon.
- Define your timeframe and universe (e.g., S&P 500, Nasdaq‑100, or all U.S. exchanges).
- Apply liquidity and market‑cap filters to avoid microcap pumps.
- Sort by percent change for the timeframe (day/week/month/1‑yr) and cross‑check volume.
- Remove one‑day news spikes tied to low liquidity or temporary corporate actions.
- Check fundamentals and analyst activity (earnings, revenue trends, revisions).
- Review news flow for catalysts (earnings, M&A, product launches, regulatory items).
- Cross‑reference short interest and options activity if relevant to detect squeeze risk or hedging flows.
- Maintain a watchlist and set alerts for further movement, news or technical breakouts.
Example Filters and Thresholds
Beginner‑friendly example filters you can paste into screeners on TradingView or MarketBeat:
- Universe: U.S. listed equities (exclude OTC)
- Market cap > $300M (or > $2B for lower volatility)
- Average daily volume > 100,000–500,000 shares (adjust by market cap)
- Percent change: top 1% gainers for chosen timeframe (day / 30‑day / 365‑day)
- Exclude tickers with recent reverse splits or delisting notices
- Optional fundamental filter: positive trailing‑12‑month EPS or revenue growth > 10% for medium‑term lists
Risks, Caveats and Common Pitfalls
Answering “which stocks are doing well” requires careful interpretation to avoid common traps.
Short‑Term Noise vs. Structural Gains
Single‑day or single‑month winners often revert. The Motley Fool has repeatedly noted that monthly winners are not always sustainable. Always ask: is the move backed by improving fundamentals or just momentum and sentiment?
Survivorship Bias and Listing Effects
Published “best performing” lists can suffer from survivorship bias—failed companies drop out of indices—so annualized returns for survivors may appear better than a full sample analysis would show. When using lists from MarketBeat or Bankrate, check the methodology and universe used.
Pump‑and‑Dump and Low‑Liquidity Risks
Very high percent gains in low‑liquidity names can be manipulation or speculative squeezes. Check average daily volume, float, and regulatory filings before treating such moves as durable wins.
Overconcentration and Sector Crowding
When many gains come from a single sector (for example, AI or semiconductors), the portfolio correlation rises and downside can be amplified if the sector turns. Diversify across sectors if you’re using “which stocks are doing well” lists as a foundation for allocation.
How Investors Typically Use These Lists
Lists answering “which stocks are doing well” serve different investors in different ways.
Tactical Uses (Traders)
Traders use daily and intraday gainers for momentum strategies, breakout trades, and catalyst‑driven plays. High frequency of alerts and tight stop rules are common. Tools like TradingView alerts, Barchart screens and volatile stock watchlists are useful here.
Strategic Uses (Long‑Term Investors)
Long‑term investors use 1‑year and multi‑year outperformer lists to spot secular winners and validate an investment thesis. They pair performance with fundamental analysis (earnings, free cash flow, competitive position) before adding to portfolios.
Example Case Studies (Illustrative)
The following case studies illustrate how different metrics and contexts answer “which stocks are doing well.” Each example includes a date and source so readers can judge timeliness.
Market Leaders in Late 2025 — Technology and Communication Services
As of January 15, 2026, Morningstar reported that technology and communication services were the largest contributors to U.S. market gains in 2025, with a small set of large caps explaining much of the index move. That means when asking “which stocks are doing well” during that period, many headlines pointed to large tech names and their suppliers as the clear leaders. These contributors were measured using contribution‑to‑index metrics rather than only percent change, which clarifies that a handful of heavyweights can drive headline market performance. (Source: Morningstar-style sector contribution analysis, reported January 15, 2026.)
Top Monthly S&P 500 Winners (July 2025) — Example and Lesson
As of August 1, 2025, The Motley Fool published a list of top‑performing S&P 500 stocks in July 2025 that included companies such as Generac and others that had reported positive catalysts. This example shows that monthly leaders can reflect short‑term earnings beats, commodity moves, or re‑ratings. The core lesson: monthly winners are a useful idea generator but require deeper checks before assuming durable outperformance. (Source: The Motley Fool, August 1, 2025.)
Best‑Performing Tech Stocks — Sector Winners
NerdWallet’s sector analysis, updated periodically through 2025, highlighted memory, storage and cloud infrastructure‑related firms among the better performing tech names over 12 months. These firms benefited from increased enterprise spending on AI and cloud servicing, illustrating that within technology, infrastructure plays can show stronger multi‑year returns than some consumer application names. (Source: NerdWallet sector review, reported December 2025.)
Large One‑Year Percentage Gain Lists — Small Caps and Caution
MarketBeat’s 365‑day gainers list often includes a mix of small and mid caps that posted dramatic returns. As of January 10, 2026, MarketBeat’s published 1‑year lists contained several small caps with 100%+ moves. These moves are legitimate but require extra vetting on liquidity, float and news catalysts to ensure the performance is not a short‑lived spike. (Source: MarketBeat, January 10, 2026.)
Banking Sector Example — GS and MS Quarterly Results (Q4 / early 2026)
As of January 15, 2026, market coverage of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Q4 results showed both firms posting strong investment‑banking momentum and trading strength, though market reactions differed. Goldman Sachs reported a notable EPS beat driven by trading and advisory strength, alongside some revenue noise tied to its consumer platform unwind; Morgan Stanley delivered a more classic beat across EPS and revenue, driven by wealth management inflows and a big jump in investment banking fees. The reporting highlighted that both names were among the sector winners on an investment‑banking contribution basis, even if short‑term intraday reactions reflected profit‑taking after large 12‑month moves. (Source: company earnings reports and market summaries, reported January 15, 2026.)
When readers ask “which stocks are doing well” in the bank complex, it’s useful to look beyond headline stock moves and assess which business lines (advisory, trading, wealth) actually drove the results and how sustainable those revenue streams are.
Short Interest Examples — Signals for Risk and Sentiment
As of January 12, 2026, Benzinga‑style short interest reports showed elevated short interest for small names like Amprius Technologies Inc (AMPX) and other mixed short‑interest moves in companies such as BWX Technologies (BWXT), Coinbase (COIN) and MongoDB (MDB). Short interest as a percent of float is a measurable sentiment indicator that can flag potential squeezes or bearish sentiment. For example, an increase in AMPX short interest to ~13.75% of float was reported with a days‑to‑cover metric around 2.75 days. Such metrics are useful when parsing whether a high percent gain is likely to persist or face short pressure. (Source: Benzinga/Broker‑reported short interest data, reported January 12, 2026.)
Tracking and Alerts
Set up real‑time tracking to know which stocks are doing well right now.
- Use TradingView or Bitget watchlists to monitor live movers and set price/volume alerts.
- Subscribe to Yahoo Finance or Barchart gainers lists for daily summaries and news aggregation.
- Use MarketBeat’s 365‑day and YTD lists for periodic checks on longer‑term outperformers.
- Monitor short interest and options‑open interest reports to detect sentiment shifts or squeeze risk.
For Web3 and crypto‑native investors who want connected portfolio tracking and custody, consider Bitget Wallet for secure asset storage and Bitget Exchange for execution—both products support market data integrations and alerting tools that help users monitor cross‑asset performance.
See Also
- Top Gainers (stock markets)
- Sector performance
- Total return
- Momentum investing
- Stock screeners
References and Further Reading
The following sources are recommended for deeper reading and real‑time tracking. Each entry includes a contextual date to help readers assess timeliness:
- Morningstar — “These US Stocks Drove the Market’s Gains in 2025” (sector contribution analysis). As of January 15, 2026.
- Barchart — Biggest Stock Percent Gainers (real‑time lists for intraday and daily movers). As accessed January 2026.
- The Motley Fool — “Top‑Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 in July 2025” (monthly winners and context). Published August 1, 2025.
- NerdWallet — “Best‑Performing Tech Stocks” (sector winners and analysis). As of December 2025.
- Wall Street Journal Markets — U.S. markets and company fundamentals (market data page). As of January 2026.
- MarketBeat — Best Performing Stocks This Year / 365‑day gainers (ranked lists). As of January 10–12, 2026.
- Bankrate — “Best‑performing stocks in 2025” (annual review). As of December 2025.
- Yahoo Finance — Top Stock Gains and Most Active lists (daily aggregator). As of January 2026.
- TradingView — Live top gainers, technical charts and screener tools. As of January 2026.
- Company reports and market coverage — Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Q4 results and market reaction summaries. As of January 15, 2026.
- Benzinga / exchange reported short interest — Short interest data for AMPX, BWXT, FTNT, COIN, MDB. As of January 12, 2026.
Practical Checklist — Quick Steps to Answer “Which Stocks Are Doing Well”
If you want a fast, repeatable process, follow this checklist each time you ask “which stocks are doing well”:
- Specify timeframe (day / 30‑day / 1‑yr / YTD).
- Choose universe (S&P 500 / Nasdaq / all U.S.).
- Apply liquidity & market cap filters (average daily volume > threshold; market cap > threshold).
- Sort by percent change and cross‑check volume.
- Review fundamentals (earnings, revenue, margins).
- Read recent news for catalysts and check short interest/options flow.
- Save to watchlist and set alerts for changes in price, volume or news.
Final Notes and Next Steps
When you ask “which stocks are doing well,” be explicit about timeframe and risk tolerance. Short‑term winners can provide trading opportunities, while 1‑year and multi‑year outperformers are more relevant for strategic allocations. Use multiple data providers (Morningstar, Barchart, Yahoo Finance, TradingView, MarketBeat) to cross‑check noisy signals, and always verify the liquidity and fundamental context behind a rally.
To track and act on the lists you create, consider using Bitget for trade execution and Bitget Wallet for custody and cross‑asset monitoring—both are integrated with modern alerting tools that help you follow which stocks are doing well and why. Explore Bitget’s watchlist and alert features to receive real‑time notifications when a stock on your “doing well” list moves or prints a key catalyst.
If you’d like, I can generate a ready‑to‑use TradingView or Bitget screener with the example filters above, or produce a dated watchlist of names that matched those filters on a chosen date so you can see how the methodology performs over time.
Disclaimer: The content above is factual and educational. It does not constitute investment advice, recommendations or an offer to trade. Always perform your own research and consult a licensed professional if you need personalized investment guidance.
