The S&P 500 entered a 10% correction in the first quarter amid heightened uncertainty from the Trump administration's trade policies, but it wasn't all doom and gloom for investors.
There were pockets of strength across the market in the first quarter, with some stocks delivering massive gains in the first three months of the year.
Energy, basic materials, consumer staples, and utilities were the best-performing sectors in the first quarter. Meanwhile, information technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services were the worst-performing sectors.
The risk-off nature of the stock market has rewarded defensive companies, with investors willing to pay up for them as they navigate the uncertainty of President Trump's tariffs.
From Warren Buffett's favorite internet stock to the manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products like Zyn, these were the top 10 performing S&P 500 companies in the first three months of 2025.
-
Arthur J. Gallagher
Ticker:
AJG
Market capitalization:
$88.3 billion
Industry:
Insurance
Q1 performance:
21.6%
-
Brown & Brown
Ticker:
BRO
Market capitalization:
$35.7 billion
Industry:
Insurance
Q1 performance:
21.9%
-
Exelon
Ticker:
EXC
Market capitalization:
$46.5 billion
Industry:
Utilities
Q1 performance:
22.4%
-
Verisign
Ticker:
VRSN
Market capitalization:
$24.0 billion
Industry:
Software/Internet
Q1 performance:
22.7%
-
Cencora
Ticker:
COR
Market capitalization:
$53.9 billion
Industry:
Healthcare
Q1 performance:
23.8%
-
Consolidated Edison
Ticker:
ED
Market capitalization:
$39.1 billion
Industry:
Utilities
Q1 performance:
23.9%
-
AT&T
Ticker:
T
Market capitalization:
$203.0 billion
Industry:
Telecom
Q1 performance:
24.2%
-
Newmont
Ticker:
NEM
Market capitalization:
$54.4 billion
Industry:
Gold mining
Q1 performance:
29.7%
-
Philip Morris
Ticker:
PM
Market capitalization:
$246.8 billion
Industry:
Tobacco
Q1 performance:
31.9%
-
CVS
Ticker:
CVS
Market capitalization:
$85.4 billion
Industry:
Healthcare
Q1 performance:
50.9%
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