These stocks would have made you rich this year – and this poor ominous letter affair: Bundesrat swaps its board of directors from Swisscom

Economically, the year 2022 was a bit difficult. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine sent energy prices soaring and accelerated already high inflation. Central banks reacted and raised interest rates, which in turn weighed on stock prices. Nevertheless, there was some money to be made trading stocks, as evidenced by these select winning titles:

The winners

Lockheed Martin +36 percent

What better way to start this list than with a defense contractor? Shares of the American concern rose 18 percent in the days immediately after the Russian attack on Ukraine. Further large orders from the US Department of Defense and for the Ukraine caused the share price to explode again at the end of the year from USD 389 to USD 487.

Northrop Grumman +40 percent

The American defense company Northrop Grumman had a similar experience. Once again, the stock price exploded shortly after Feb. 24 and continued to rise throughout the year.

Chevron Corporation +51 percent

The second big winners of the year are oil companies. For example, the international energy company Chevron. If you had invested 1,000 francs here at the beginning of the year, you would now be 510 francs richer. This company also benefited from the outbreak of war in the Ukraine and was able to rise again towards the end of the year – comparable to the price of petrol.

Thales Group +58 percent

The weapons company Thales, based in Paris and with branches in Switzerland, was also able to make substantial profits. Unlike the competition, Thales’ share price remained fairly stable after the February 24 jump.

SMA Solar Technology +77 percent

This company focuses on a more pleasant day-to-day business, it produces inverters for photovoltaic systems. In fact, the German company also benefited from the war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis, as more and more households and businesses in Europe switch from gas to solar energy.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries +98 percent

At the beginning of the year, this Japanese company almost doubled its share value. The price rose from 2840 to 5603 yen per share. This company also has its fingers in the arms industry, among other things.

Occidental Petroleum +114 percent

This American oil company managed to rise the most in the sector comparison and doubled its price from 31 to 62 dollars per share since the beginning of the year. Here too, of course: the biggest increase came just after the attack by Russian troops on Ukraine.

Rheinmetall +133 percent

In percentage terms, the most successful stock from the arms industry even has a connection with Switzerland. Because in 2000, parts of what was then the most successful Swiss arms company, Oerlikon Bührle, became part of the German Rheinmetall group. Shortly before the war in Ukraine, the share was just under 100 euros, a few weeks later it was already 240 euros. In addition, the company was recently awarded a huge project in the non-military sector.

PNE Wind AG +145 percent

Plambeck Neue Energien AG from Germany hides behind this abbreviation. According to the company, the company has already realized more than 200 wind farms in Europe and the US. The share has grown steadily over the year. Those who have already invested in 2019 have made nearly 800 percent gains so far.

The losers

Where there are winners, there are also losers. This year, the technology companies and winners of the pandemic are particularly prominent, but the list is led by a Swiss bank.