Recently, I was reviewing the performance of the best investments of 2024, and honestly, there are interesting patterns that can be analyzed from where we are now in 2026.

Look, when we look back, Nvidia was truly a beast. Its dominance in AI chips was almost inevitable, with nearly 90% of the market at that time. The stock rose about 15% just in the first few months of 2024, continuing a streak of 239% in 2023. That wasn’t a coincidence; the market was realizing that AI was serious.

Alphabet also performed strongly. The launch of Gemini was their clear bet against ChatGPT, and that allowed them to diversify beyond advertising. With over $77 billion in free cash flow, they had the muscle to innovate. Their P/E ratio of 29 at that time was quite attractive compared to competitors in the tech sector.

What surprised many was Novo Nordisk. While everyone was talking about tech, this pharmaceutical company was capitalizing on the obesity medication boom. Ozempic became a phenomenon, and the market projected that this sector would reach $44 billion by 2030. The company grew 29% in sales in the first nine months of 2023.

Berkshire Hathaway has always been the safe play. Warren Buffett held $157 billion in cash, giving him total flexibility. With a beta of 0.64, it was less volatile than the overall market, perfect for those seeking stability.

Broadcom was another that crushed it. It grew 108% in 2023, and its acquisition of VMware was strategic, moving beyond just semiconductors. They projected 40% revenue growth for 2024.

The lesson from these top investments of 2024 is that they worked for different reasons: AI, pharmaceuticals, stability, diversification. If you have a long-term horizon, the key is to look for companies with solid fundamentals in sectors with real demand. It’s not about chasing hype; it’s about understanding where the money is going.

For those looking to build a portfolio now, diversifying between tech, health, and finance remains smart. And if you’re more aggressive, short-term moves still offer opportunities in CFDs, but that requires staying alert to global events, central bank policies, and all that.