The All Ordinaries (Index: ^AORD) (ASX: XJO) gained just 0.7% in 2014 – a pitiful return compared to the previous two years, which saw double digit returns.
But despite the index going nowhere last year, several stocks still managed to double their share price in 2014. Here's our view of four of them.
Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) was trading at around $11.40 in early January 2014. Shares are currently changing hands at around $28.42, not far off the high of $29.49 set in early December. The company provides a proprietary treatment for liver cancer (Sir Spheres), and is still growing strongly. Positive results from a clinical trial currently underway could see Sir Spheres become a front line prevention and provide a rocket under the share price.
Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN), the beleaguered national airline, saw its shares climb from around $1.00 to its current price of $2.60 – despite posting a record billion-dollar loss last financial year. Falling oil prices and heavy cost-cutting measures should see the Flying Kangaroo post its best profit result since 2010. But don't get too carried away. As my colleague Andrew Page pointed out – the long term is likely to be very turbulent!
Vita Group Limited (ASX: VTG) opened 2014 trading around 70 cents and has rocketed up to $1.41 currently. Vita Group main business is operating Telstra Corporation Ltd's (ASX: TLS) retail stores and has benefitted from the giant telco's mobile dominance in Australia. Vita announced a special dividend in October last year, showing how successful the company has been, and the gains could continue in 2015.
Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) (LNGL) has posted a one-year return of more than 680%, rising from below 30 cents to around $2.19 currently. The developer of an export LNG facility in the US had seen its shares rise as high as $4.46, but the 50% fall in oil prices since July 2014 has crunched its share price. LNG prices are linked to oil prices, which may impact the returns LNGL can generate from its proposed LNG facilities. Colleague Owen Raskiewicz has more details here.
