The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) increased 9% over 2021.
A large part of that result is due to the share price performance of the following six ASX 200 companies.
Year to date performance is accurate as of December 22 and constituents as of September rebalancing.
#6 – WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)
The cross-border logistics software giant is up 88% as the business secured new customers and free cash flow more than doubled.
Impressively, upon release of its FY21 result, the WiseTech share price soared 50% and the ASX had to issue the company a speeding ticket.
Keep in mind this is an $18 billion company.
The business has been divisive for some time given its acquisitive nature of rolling up smaller providers into its ecosystem.
With guidance for 26-38% growth in FY22, WiseTech is one of the fastest-growing large-cap software companies on the ASX.
#5 – Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)
Despite recording just $9,000 of revenue in its latest quarterly report, the Chalice Mining share price has soared 97% over 2021.
The market’s excitement centres on Chalice’s Julimar Project in Western Australia. It is the largest nickel sulphine discovery in the world since 2002.
Julimar has all the hot mining buzz words – platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt and gold – all located just 70km northeast of Perth.
Plenty of blue sky in this one, but no doubt it’s had a stellar year.
#4 – Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)
Just missing out on the medals in fourth place is funds conglomerate Pinnacle.
Rather than betting on a fund manager, Pinnacle takes equity in fund managers and provides the backend admin and marketing support.
This business model proved fruitful over 2021, as seven of its funds paid out bumper performance fees leading to a 116% spike in its share price.
Pinnacle Investments (ASX:PNI) profits explode as FUM increases
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#3 – Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)
With tensions rising between the East and the West, investors have flocked to Lynas given it’s the only large-scale, low-cost producer of rare earth outside of China.
It’s a strategic asset, critical to building batteries, magnets, consumer electronics and national defence.
As a result, the share price rallied an incredible 123% over 2021.
Nonetheless, with a long mine life and critical nature of its minerals, the Lynas share price could keep going higher for investors with a long-time horizon.
#2 – Uniti Group Ltd (ASX: UWL)
The ASX 200 silver medal is awarded to fibre builder and operator Uniti Group.
After rolling several smaller competitors in 2020, the business is effectively the only competitor to the government-owned nbn.
Uniti Group (ASX:UWL) is more than just a telco – here’s why
It’s an unfair fight. Uniti – the smaller and more nimble private business, taking on a bigger and slower government-owned institution.
Subsequently, Uniti continues to take market share and recently announced it expects to surpass analyst estimates for FY22.
#1 – Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)
Taking out the number one spot for the best performer inside the ASX 200 is lithium producer Pilbara Minerals.
Its share price has risen three-fold over the year, from just 87 cents to $2.72.
With the hype around electric vehicles and batteries gaining momentum, the lithium price has gone bananas from $400/tonne to $2,350.
There could be more positive news for Pilbara Minerals, with production to ramp up from 536 kilotonnes per annum to over 1,000 in the medium-term.
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