DLTR-Fortune 500 rank: 499
2008 revenue: $4.6 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 60.8%
A newcomer to the Fortune 500, Dollar Tree was also its best performing stock last year, returning nearly 61%. That was no small feat: As a group, the Fortune 500 sank 41%. The company cashed in on the recession, as a $1 (or less) price on everything from candy to glassware drove sales at more than 3,500 stores.
FDO-Fortune 500 rank: 359
2008 revenue: $6.98 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 38.9%
There's nothing like a recession to draw customers into a dollar store. Family Dollar raked in $6.9 billion in sales last year, and its stock soared nearly 40%. An expanding assortment of goods - including ready-to-serve soups and Hanes underwear - helped boost business. The average amount spent per customer: $10.
NAFC-Fortune 500 rank: 492
2008 revenue: $4.7 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 29.6%
The second-largest food wholesaler in the nation, which distributes to supermarkets and other outlets, reaped the rewards of people eating in more. Nash-Finch's sales rose 3.8% last year and shares jumped almost 30%.The company also serves as one of the distributors to the U.S. military and operates Midwest chains Sun Mart Foods and Econofoods.
INT-Fortune 500 rank: 137
2008 revenue: $18.5 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 28.3%
With airlines struggling - and economic activity overall slowing - the environment wasn't ideal for World Fuel Services, which provides fuel services at airports, seaports and other global locations. But smart acquisitions helped the company maintain healthy growth, and the stock shot 28% higher.
AMGN-Fortune 500 rank: 168
2008 revenue: $15 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 24.4%
Analysts grew bullish when Amgen's osteoporosis drug, denosumab, showed promising clinical trial results. But even the top biotech company's stable of existing drugs posted better-than-expected sales in 2008
OCR-Fortune 500 rank: 392
2008 revenue: $6.3 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 22.2%
Geriatric pharmaceutical company Omnicare is benefiting from aging baby boomers, providing health care to over a million residents in assisted living homes and other facilities. The company announced its acquisition of Advanced Care Scripts in July, and boosted earnings per share by some 40%, helping lift shares by more than 20%.
In the bear market, following Fortune 500 stocks offers positive returns last year, will they keep rising?
WMT-Fortune 500 rank: 2
2008 revenue: $405.6 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 20%
Most retailers had a tough go of it last year. But Wal-Mart's heft continued to pay off, as the world's largest retailer gained more ground on competitors such as Target. Showing a 5% profit gain, Wal-Mart attracted investors who bid up shares 20% - making it one of only two Dow stocks in positive territory. (The other was McDonald's with just an 8.5% return.)
AZO-Fortune 500 rank: 380
2008 revenue: $6.5 billion
2008 total shareholder return: 16.3%
The crash in auto sales inflicted pain on businesses across the country, but it created a boon for AutoZone's replacement parts for old brakes, faulty door handles and the like. The company churned out healthy gains in sales and profits, and the stock gained 16%.
MCD-
Few companies are doing as well as McDonald's. Price-conscious consumers flocked to the fast-food king in 2008, boosting its same-store sales 6.9% and net income 80% to $4.3 billion. Its stock was one of only two in the 30-company DJIA to gain for 2008 -- Wal-Mart was the other one.
