Although the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has gone backwards in 2015, shedding 6.9% in a downward spiral led by the big banks and miners, there have still been a number of huge successes.
From tech companies, both new and old, to companies that produce the infant formula you can't seem to get your hands on in stores around Australia, many investors have still found ways to grow their wealth considerably through the year.
However, the top performing company of 2015 might surprise you. It's not in the business of feeding infants, nor is it a speculative technology start-up that could potentially change the world as we know it. Ironically, it actually operates in the resources sector!
Indeed, a tiny mining company called General Mining Company Ltd (ASX: GMM) has soared no less than 3,800% since the beginning of the year to trade at 19.5 cents as at yesterday's closing price. To give that return some kind of context, a $10,000 investment in the company at the end of 2014 would be worth an astonishing $390,000 today!
General Mining Company is engaged in the exploration and assessment of projects in Australia, while it predominantly explores for iron ore, gold and copper deposits. A positive news flow from the group resulted in a number of successful capital raisings during the 2015 financial year, even though the group reported a $1.06 million loss for the period.
Given that the company carries a market value of just $53 million even after that incredible run, according to Google Finance, you shouldn't beat yourself up about not having bought the shares before they soared. However, there are a number of other companies that you may have been lucky enough to have owned at the start of the year.
St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) has also generated enormous returns since the beginning of 2015, as have other companies such as Netcomm Wireless Ltd (ASX: NTC) and Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL). The trio's share prices have risen 1,082%, 558% and 457% since the beginning of the calendar year, respectively.
