The 10 Best Stocks

By Barbara Kiviat

Cancer, commodities and China drove triple-digit price jumps this year (Jan. 1-Dec. 10), as did alternative energy.

738%

FSLR | $29.84 to $250.00

With oil over $90 per bbl., First Solar is in vogue.

446%

ONXX | $10.58 to $57.76

Advances in cancer drugs are worth a ton.

408%

DRYS | $18.01 to $91.55

Commodities demand lifts the Greek shipper.

348%

CEA | $21.78 to $97.49

Increased travel boosts China Eastern Airlines.

295%

MOS | $21.36 to $84.40

The need for fertilizer and feed drives Mosaic.

288%

MTL | $25.48 to $98.80

Demand hoists the Russian mining company.

277%

TPC | $7.00 to $26.42

SunCom Wireless is up big on T-Mobile buyout.

273%

CF | $25.64 to $95.76

The ethanol craze helps fertilizer makers too.

272%

EXM | $14.61 to $54.37

Global growth bolsters the dry-bulk carrier.

262%

ISRG | $95.90 to $347.58

Revenues take off at the surgical-robotics outfit.

The 10 Best Stocks are the biggest-percentage gainers with a market cap of at least $1 billion on the NYSE or NASDAQ. Data from Thomson Financial