These stocks have climbed off the mat (and then some) since markets bottomed out. (Pic: Getty)
One year on: The top ASX performers since COVID-19 doomsday on March 23, 2020
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On this day last year, global stocks capped off a historic one-month collapse with another epic fall.
While no one knew at the time, that marked the COVID-19 nadir.
Over the course of the following week, governments around the world said just stay at home, we’ll pay for it.
And by the end of April, the ASX had posted its biggest monthly gain in 32 years (off the March lows).
The ensuing 12 months have given rise to a unique post-COVID bull run, led by high-growth tech stocks and commodity plays in a low-rates environment awash with government stimulus.
At the small cap end of the ASX, that’s resulted in no less than 61 companies recording an annual gain of 1,000pc or more.
Among some barnstorming returns, Malaysia-based fintech IOUpay (ASX:IOU) led the pack with a gain of 6,971pc.
Here are the biggest winners since markets bottomed out at the height of the pandemic panic:
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Company | Price | 1Y return | MktCap$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOU | IOUpay Limited | 0.495 | 6971% | $ 267,434,851.53 |
| UUL | Ultima Utd Ltd | 0.95 | 5838% | $ 34,824,326.70 |
| TMZ | Thomson Res Ltd | 0.1375 | 5470% | $ 45,795,801.20 |
| CRO | Cirralto Ltd | 0.098 | 5131% | $ 197,983,063.86 |
| BTR | Brightstar Resources | 0.048 | 4700% | $ 21,547,787.44 |
| PRL | Province Resources | 0.175 | 3862% | $ 155,824,766.10 |
| 3DP | Pointerra Limited | 0.675 | 3275% | $ 449,023,369.48 |
| VUL | Vulcan Energy | 6.55 | 3175% | $ 679,174,097.92 |
| CHN | Chalice Mining Ltd | 4.83 | 3016% | $ 1,663,413,916.19 |
| PUR | Pursuit Minerals | 0.086 | 2977% | $ 60,317,037.09 |
| RNU | Renascor Res Ltd | 0.1525 | 2950% | $ 233,199,376.76 |
| RHY | Rhythm Biosciences | 1.38 | 2768% | $ 275,144,157.02 |
| FFG | Fatfish Group | 0.1125 | 2713% | $ 107,967,775.30 |
| LRS | Latin Resources Ltd | 0.054 | 2600% | $ 71,401,309.16 |
| SRN | Surefire Rescs NL | 0.026 | 2500% | $ 26,331,849.84 |
| E25 | Element 25 Ltd | 2.68 | 2336% | $ 355,461,194.32 |
| DW8 | Digital Wine Venture | 0.11 | 2100% | $ 182,962,923.33 |
| BRN | Brainchip Ltd | 0.715 | 2067% | $ 1,222,302,858.00 |
| AHI | Adv Human Imag Ltd | 2 | 1900% | $ 264,661,012.17 |
| AQS | Aquis Ent Ltd | 0.31 | 1838% | $ 11,072,944.56 |
| TAO | TAO Commodities | 0.82 | 1722% | $ 87,629,376.40 |
| ACS | Accent Resources NL | 0.09 | 1700% | $ 44,272,591.89 |
| ADO | Anteotech Ltd | 0.245 | 1650% | $ 468,440,241.50 |
| NTI | Neurotech Intl | 0.07 | 1650% | $ 44,070,313.39 |
| MGT | Magnetite Mines | 0.036 | 1505% | $ 99,974,443.35 |
| LCY | Legacy Iron Ore | 0.016 | 1500% | $ 102,475,816.27 |
| PLL | Piedmont Lithium Ltd | 1.055 | 1429% | $ 1,474,292,029.17 |
| ZEO | Zeotech Limited | 0.076 | 1420% | $ 107,478,838.80 |
| EXR | Elixir Energy Ltd | 0.315 | 1400% | $ 267,299,363.10 |
| NVX | Novonix Limited | 2.65 | 1373% | $ 990,697,425.00 |
| ADN | Andromeda Metals Ltd | 0.365 | 1360% | $ 798,174,295.99 |
| FYI | FYI Resources Ltd | 0.58 | 1350% | $ 192,657,593.40 |
| SZL | Sezzle Inc | 8.2 | 1339% | $ 836,202,367.67 |
| XST | Xstate Resources | 0.014 | 1300% | $ 37,654,225.22 |
| ONE | Oneview Healthcare | 0.415 | 1293% | $ 163,093,037.36 |
| RAC | Race Oncology Ltd | 3.82 | 1264% | $ 541,166,846.13 |
| RLC | Reedy Lagoon Corp. | 0.027 | 1250% | $ 12,213,078.38 |
| ACB | A-Cap Energy Ltd | 0.067 | 1240% | $ 58,416,286.02 |
| GRV | Greenvale Mining Ltd | 0.18 | 1213% | $ 61,457,328.72 |
| ELT | Elementos Limited | 0.013 | 1200% | $ 42,360,339.06 |
| PDI | Predictive Disc Ltd | 0.076 | 1184% | $ 75,259,619.27 |
| CXO | Core Lithium | 0.23 | 1178% | $ 264,153,882.15 |
| IVZ | Invictus Energy Ltd | 0.14 | 1173% | $ 66,835,975.92 |
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.025 | 1150% | $ 43,893,472.30 |
| VML | Vital Metals Limited | 0.074 | 1133% | $ 189,903,318.16 |
| MAN | Mandrake Res Ltd | 0.16 | 1131% | $ 51,483,617.40 |
| BPH | BPH Energy Ltd | 0.105 | 1111% | $ 73,141,132.79 |
| NWC | New World Resources | 0.072 | 1100% | $ 97,687,020.17 |
| AOA | Ausmon Resorces | 0.012 | 1100% | $ 8,527,912.12 |
| MSM | MSM Corporation Intl | 0.059 | 1080% | $ 49,702,383.87 |
| JPR | Jupiter Energy | 0.047 | 1075% | $ 7,208,751.57 |
| EGR | Ecograf Limited | 0.645 | 1073% | $ 298,014,165.65 |
| RBL | Redbubble Limited | 5.76 | 1064% | $ 1,559,616,278.70 |
| IXR | Ionic Rare Earths | 0.058 | 1060% | $ 184,927,171.81 |
| SOR | Strategic Elements | 0.45 | 1054% | $ 172,162,850.41 |
| SE1 | Sensera Ltd | 0.068 | 1033% | $ 21,995,783.61 |
| PBH | Pointsbet Holdings | 14.4 | 1010% | $ 2,611,778,805.92 |
| AGE | Alligator Energy | 0.022 | 1000% | $ 44,771,946.41 |
| AYM | Australia United Min | 0.011 | 1000% | $ 20,268,352.34 |
| KTE | K2 Energy Ltd | 0.044 | 1000% | $ 13,228,914.64 |
| SAN | Sagalio Energy Ltd | 0.022 | 1000% | $ 4,502,522.86 |
After climbing off the mat from less than 1c to a trading range of around 15c at the start of this year, IOU shares surged higher in February as sophisticated investors backed the company with a $50m share placement priced at 50c per share, to pursue its BNPL strategy in the Malaysian market.
Another massive fintech winner was payments company Cirralto (ASX:CRO), which surged from 0.5c in July last year to highs above 12c in February.
It came amid some torrid trading activity in Cirralto shares, which saw the stock rise to an intra-day high above 20c on February 17 before falling back.
This morning, the company responded to an ASX query regarding a breach of the company’s Trading Policy in connection with a disposal of shares by CEO Adrian Floate.
As part of its response, the Cirralto board said it plans to undertake a review of the firm’s Trading Policy which will include additional compliance steps.
Stockhead’s Nick Sundich has also provided a recap of 10 stocks that posted annual gains of more than 2,000 per cent since March 2020.
