Technology has been one of the stock market’s top-performing sectors this year, as the tech-heavy Nasdaq index continues to outperform both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. While the S&P and Dow are respectively up only 9.9% and 6.6% since the end of 2018, the Nasdaq has climbed a sizable 12.2%. Much of that rally can be attributed to the index’s heaviest and highest-profile names like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). Those two together make up 21.4% of the index’s total weight, meaning their gains or losses influence more than one-fifth of the index’s overall movement in either direction.
But those tech titans are rarely where the most money is made. In fact, the tinier, lesser-known companies often end up being the biggest gainers since their shares are less expensive and therefore offer the highest returns on a percentage basis. That’s why it’s important to shine a light on these hidden corners of the market where investors can find and learn from the tech sector’s top performers.
Here’s a ranking of the 10 best-performing tech stocks listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq…
No. 10: Opera Ltd. (OPRA)
Shares of Opera – a mobile browser provider that primarily operates in Ireland and Russia – have climbed about 112.2% since the Dec. 31 close at $5.56 to around the $11.50 during the rapidly moving midday trading session on Friday, May 31. Earlier this week, OPRA stock touched above the $12 level for the first time in nearly eight months.
No. 9: Snap Inc. (SNAP)
SNAP stock is having one of its best runs since going public back in March 2017. Shares of the company – which owns and develops the popular Snapchat social media platform – are up 118.2% this year from $5.51 at the close of 2018 to about $12 today. On April 9, the stock hit a peak of $12.35, the highest settlement since Aug. 13 when shares settled at $12.57.
No. 8: DHI Group Inc. (DHX)
DHI is a staffing company that operates the online job board Dice, which focuses on placing clients in tech-focused positions. Shares of DHX stock have roared 120% higher, starting from the Dec. 31 close of $1.52 to roughly $3.34 during Friday’s session. The stock recently peaked on May 16 at $4.30, its highest level ever.
No. 7: Gravity Co. Ltd. (GRVY)
Gravity is this list’s most expensive stock, having seen its shares soar 120.3% in 2019 from $41.95 to about $92.20. Shares of the South Korea-based online and mobile game publisher reached $93.72 on May 28, marking the stock’s best settlement ever.
No. 6: Avalara Inc. (AVLR)
Shares of Avalara – a provider of cloud-based solutions for purposes of tax compliance – are up 122.3% in 2019 from $31.15 at the Dec. 31 close to $69.25 during Friday’s session. AVLR recently hit an all-time high of $73.50 on May 8.
No. 5: Pareteum Corp. (TEUM)
Pareteum is another cloud services operator focused primarily on mobility, messaging, and security services and applications. Shares of TEUM have surged 137% from $1.69 to $4.01. Their 2019 peak came on March 18 when they closed at $5.70, the highest level since April 2016.
No. 4: CLPS Inc. (CLPS)
Shares of CLPS have gained 142.6% in 2019, going from $2.42 on Dec. 31 to $5.87 on Friday. The company – which provides information technology (IT) and consulting services to banking, insurance, and financial sectors in China – saw its stock peak on Feb. 12 at $15.99, which was the best settlement since June 20, 2018 when shares ended the day at $16.80.
No. 3: CBAK Energy Technology Inc. (CBAT)
CBAK Energy – a lithium battery provider operating primarily in China, Europe, South Korea, and Israel – has skyrocketed 150% this year from $0.38 to $0.95. While it’s struggled to stay above the $1 mark, CBAT stock last peaked at $1.19 on Feb. 14, the best close since June 21, 2018 when it settled at $1.29.
No. 2: Telaria Inc. (TLRA)
Telaria is a New York-based software provider that allows companies to monetize their video advertising content. Shares of TLRA are up 174.4% from $2.73 on Dec. 31 to $7.47 on Friday. The stock’s best close of 2019 occurred on May 17 when shares ended the day at a more than five-year high of $8.56.
No. 1: Eltek Ltd. (ELTK)
The top-performing tech stock of the year is Eltek, which manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs) for electronics products. Shares of ELTK have exploded 275% in 2019, going from $2.12 to $7.95. Nearly all of those gains have occurred in May alone, with shares peaking at a four-year high of $8.32 on May 30.