Financial stocks are hot. The NYSE Financial Sector Index is up 11.22% year to date, compared to 7.44% for the Dow Jones Industrials Average. Some analysts on Wall Street have even lowered their investment ratings of some financial stocks because the stocks have done too well (see AmeriCredit Corp.).
But of all the financial stocks out there, which are the best of the best? We’ve done some number crunching and here are the Top 10, ranked by 52-week growth:
RANK — COMPANY — 52-WEEK GROWTH
1. KKR Financial Holdings LLC — 715.60%
2. Cardtronics, Inc.– 420.24%
3. FBL Financial Group — 327.43%
4. Conseco, Inc.– 302.61%
5. Encore Capital Group, Inc. — 291.36%
6. Fifth Third Bancorp — 282.58%
7. CNinsure Inc. — 243.18%
8. Nelnet, Inc. — 216.21%
9. BBVA Banco Frances SA — 207.07%
10. Protective Life Corp. — 202.52%
Oh, and No. 11? That would be AmeriCredit.