<div id="readability-page-1">This eclectic list speaks to some of the hottest investment themes of the year. So let's get straight into the five and why a couple in particular still look like excellent values. <h2>The five top-performing stocks in the S&amp;P 500 last year</h2> It's no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) is a major theme, represented by Palantir Technologies (PLTR 3.65%), a company that develops software systems for AI and big data analytics, and AI architecture company Nvidia (NVDA 3.10%). Law enforcement technology company Axon Enterprise (AXON 1.37%) made the list through its impressive growth, the launch of new Tasers and body cameras, and adoption by law enforcement agencies. <div><table> <thead> <tr> <th> Company </th> <th> Return in 2024 </th> <th> Market Cap </th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> Palantir Technologies </td> <td> 340.5% </td> <td> $157.7 billion </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Vistra </td> <td> 257.9% </td> <td> $59.2 billion </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Nvidia </td> <td> 171.2% </td> <td> $3.27 trillion </td> </tr> <tr> <td> United Airlines </td> <td> 135.3% </td> <td> $34.9 billion </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Axon Enterprise </td> <td> 130.1% </td> <td> $45.3 billion </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> Data source: Finviz.com <h2>The two most interesting stocks among top-performing S&amp;P 500 shares</h2> Vistra (VST -1.80%) also benefited from the boom in AI applications, as data center companies signed deals to procure nuclear energy. They did so because nuclear power is carbon-free (helping data centers and cloud companies meet their emissions goals) and reliable. That's music to the ears of Vistra, which cheered the market by acquiring more nuclear power capacity in 2024. Investors eagerly await updates on whether it will sign a deal with a cloud services company, although news of a fire at its California battery plant briefly sent shares sharply lower on Jan. 17. <div><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vZWRpdG9yaWFsL2ltYWdlcy84MDQzODcvaW52ZXN0b3JzLWJ1eWluZy1ncmVhdC1zdG9ja3MuanBnJnc9NzAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vZWRpdG9yaWFsL2ltYWdlcy84MDQzODcvaW52ZXN0b3JzLWJ1eWluZy1ncmVhdC1zdG9ja3MuanBnJnc9NzAw"/>Image source: Getty Images. </div> Last on this list of the top five performers in 2024 is an old-economy stock, United Airlines (UAL 1.20%). The airline industry dispelled fears of a slowdown in 2024 and appears to be behaving in a more disciplined manner concerning cutting capacity when necessary. Moreover, with corporate and trans-Atlantic travelers returning strongly entering 2025 (two areas of particular strength for United Airlines), the stock has every opportunity to outperform in 2025. </div>

NVDA

PLTR

AXON

The top-performing stocks in the S&P 500 for 2024 include Palantir Technologies (340.5% return), Vistra (257.9%), Nvidia (171.2%), United Airlines (135.3%), and Axon Enterprise (130.1%). Key themes include artificial intelligence, with Palantir and Nvidia leading, and Vistra benefiting from nuclear energy demand. United Airlines shows resilience in the airline sector, with strong corporate travel expected to continue into 2025. Overall, these stocks reflect significant investment trends and growth opportunities in their respective industries.

- The article discusses the top-performing stocks in the S&P 500 for 2024, highlighting themes such as artificial intelligence and law enforcement technology.  
- Key stocks include Palantir Technologies, Nvidia, and Axon Enterprise, with significant returns driven by AI applications and growth in law enforcement tech.  
- Vistra and United Airlines are noted for their potential, with Vistra benefiting from nuclear energy deals and United Airlines showing resilience in the airline industry.

These Were the 5 Top-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 in 2024