Try to name the top-performing stocks of 2025...
You might think of Wall Street's tech darling Nvidia (NVDA), which closed out 2023 and 2024 with triple-digit gains. Or you might recall hearing that Alphabet (GOOGL) had a banner year after shifting its focus to AI.
But neither of them was last year's biggest gainer. Neither of them even made the top 10. Nor did any of the other so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks (Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Tesla).
Here's what came out on top instead...
Some of these names might be familiar to you. Others might be completely unknown. And even if you do recognize them, do you know what these companies do and why they had such massive gains last year?
If the answer is no, you're not alone...
Thousands of stocks trade each day on U.S. stock exchanges. Big names like Nvidia and Alphabet dominate the headlines... But a newsworthy story doesn't always equal huge returns.
Nvidia, for example, rose 39% in 2025... versus 171% gains in 2024 and 239% in 2023. While it's still well above the S&P 500 Index average, it's nowhere near the returns of the top 10.
The problem is that most of us don't have the time or resources to research thousands of stocks to figure out what's worth our cash. This is one reason individual stock trading is so difficult for average investors.
And trying to predict which stocks will do the best each year is a fool's game... one you're more likely to lose than win.
I don't like to complicate investing.
At its core, the key to investing should be simple: Buy great businesses at reasonable prices and hold for a long time. It doesn't have to be any more complex than that.
You can find great businesses around you all the time that aren't making the news. It could be the company that provides the technology your business relies on, makes your favorite shoes, or sells the coffee you can't start your day without.
Once you find the right company you want to own, that's where the real work begins. Even the best companies can be lousy investments if you overpay for them.
That's why our corporate affiliate TradeSmith developed a new technology for everyday investors...
This breakthrough system tells you when a stock is most likely to soar, according to historical data. Before that happens, you'll get the stock's "green date" – meaning when you should buy before it inevitably takes off.
Boasting an overall success rate of 83% with decades of back testing, this technology helps you zero in on the stocks that are worth investing in – without relying on the headlines.
And when you combine this tool's predictions with your gut instinct about a company you know and understand, you've likely found a big winner.
Now, let's get to this week's Q&A... And as always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. My team and I read every e-mail.
How to Safely Start Weightlifting
Q: Great article on stretching for us old folks. My question for Doc is for us old folks (59) who want to raise the bar a notch with weightlifting and the body's changes at this age, where are some resources to best understand bodybuilding/weight training, so not to hurt myself?
Thanks for all the great advice and reads! – C.K.
A: Thanks for your readership and question, C.K. Weightlifting is a great goal, but as you pointed out, it's easier to get injured when you're a bit older.
First, I recommend consulting with an experienced personal trainer. They'll assess the correct amount of weight for you to start with. Starting too heavy or lifting too often can cause serious injuries like muscle tears and bone fractures, so they'll work with you to avoid that.
They'll also take a look at your form while doing the weightlifting exercises to make sure you're positioning yourself properly and won't end up hurting yourself. Together, you'll set goals and develop a routine.
If a personal trainer sounds beyond your budget, it doesn't have to be.
Lots of gyms – like Planet Fitness, for example – have trainers you can consult with for free if you're a member. Also check with your local senior center to see if they offer any weightlifting instructions. Friends might also have recommendations for a great trainer near you.
Alternatively, you can get started on your own at home with some dumbbells – but only if you don't have any injuries currently limiting your range of motion. If you do have movement restrictions, see a personal trainer or physical therapist before weightlifting on your own.
For each type of exercise you do, the weight should be light enough for you to do 12 repetitions comfortably but still heavy enough to make your muscles feel tired as you approach the end of the set.
You'll be able to tell that a weight is too heavy if you start arching your back or swinging your body just to get through the movement. Avoid doing this. It's better to start small and work your way to heavier weights over time as the lower weights become too easy.
Remember that your body is a weight, too. So even if you're not physically holding a dumbbell, simply lifting your limbs up and against gravity is weightlifting. You don't need a gym membership or a set of weights to do this.
Also, spread out what muscle groups you're working on so you don't get an overuse injury. For example, try working on your upper body one day, your core a couple days later, and your lower body a couple days after that.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an excellent free book geared toward seniors on how to start a strength-training program, which you can read online for free here. (It's from 2002, but the information is still relevant.) It has a checklist to determine how fit you are now, recommendations on injury prevention, and a three-step guide on easing your way into weightlifting.
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? One major index could see gains of 13% in 2026.
- Something different: The benefits of just five minutes of exercise each day.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
January 16, 2026
Editor's note: Our offices are closed Monday, January 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You'll receive your next issue of the Health & Wealth Bulletin on Tuesday, January 20.