: A top performer in the S&P 500 with a 132% gain . High risk stemmed from a major corporate overhaul, where the company shed clean energy assets and cut costs under pressure from activist investors.
: Another biotech leader, Nektar returned 387% following positive news regarding its immuno-oncology and painkiller treatments.
: The maker of Invisalign benefited from a near-monopoly on invisible braces, seeing a 131% increase as it expanded its training to thousands of dentists globally. high risk stocks to buy 2017
: Stocks like Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Cameco (CCJ) were considered high-risk due to volatile commodity prices. FCX, in particular, was viewed as a speculative "survival" play as it wrestled with high debt levels relative to cash flow.
Success in 2017 often depended on identifying specific catalysts within high-risk industries: : A top performer in the S&P 500 with a 132% gain
: This biotechnology firm was a standout, posting a 426% return in 2017. Its growth was driven by positive clinical trial results for its cholesterol-reducing drug candidate.
: Aggressive investors also looked at high-yield dividend stocks such as AstraZeneca (AZN) and GameStop (GME) , which offered potential capital appreciation alongside dividends, though they carried elevated risk during market transitions. Key Market Drivers for 2017 : The maker of Invisalign benefited from a
: A high-beta tech play that gained 109% due to a surge in demand and pricing for memory chips used in mobile devices and servers. Sector-Specific Risk Profiles