Stocks To Buy With Your Stimulus Savings

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the global economy. A wide swath of businesses were hurt by the ensuing shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, which helped send the U.S. unemployment rate skyrocketing. In response to this economic calamity, the U.S. Congress passed a variety of stimulus packages in 2020 and 2021, flooding the economy with needed funds. This stimulus money not only helped prevent the economy from sinking into recession but also likely shortened the economic effects of the pandemic. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, investors poured funds into various stocks that seemed likely to recover sharply once the economy returned to normal.

Tips: 13 Investing Rules You Should Break During the Pandemic

To help determine which stocks have been — and may continue to be — pandemic winners, GOBankingRates analyzed the moves in S&P 500 stocks after each of the first three stimulus payouts.

While not all stocks have moved equally — and some have even lost ground at times during the process — each of these stocks has had a significant gain since the stimulus process began, with many posting triple-digit percentage jumps. If you’re looking for a stock to buy with your stimulus money, take a look at this list for some ideas, and consult with your financial advisor.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $198.27
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $242.43
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $223.65
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $247.75
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $231.17
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $245.94

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 22.27%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 10.78%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 6.39%
• YoY Growth (%): 24.04%

Read: Investing for Beginners: What First-Time Investors Need To Know

Hologic Inc. (HOLX)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $33.26
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $49.51
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $72.58
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $75.78
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $71.03
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $72.03

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 48.86%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 4.41%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 1.41%
• YoY Growth (%): 116.57%

Flir Systems Inc. (FLIR)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $32.52
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $41.25
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $44.63
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $52.88
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $54.59
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $54.26

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 26.85%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 18.49%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -0.60%
• YoY Growth (%): 66.85%

L Brands Inc. (LB)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $12.59
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $11.50
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $38.82
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $41.43
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $55.85
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $60.54

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): -8.66%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 6.72%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 8.40%
• YoY Growth (%): 380.86%

Whirlpool Corp. (WHR)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $84.26
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $109.18
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $185.19
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $194.60
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $205.60
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $218.46

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 29.58%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 5.08%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 6.25%
• YoY Growth (%): 159.27%

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $44.00
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $44.43
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $39.66
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $50.68
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $51.52
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $52.54

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 0.98%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 27.79%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 1.98%
• YoY Growth (%): 19.41%

Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $38.06
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $44.59
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $45.48
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $51.98
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $45.98
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $49.20

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 17.16%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 14.29%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 7.00%
• YoY Growth (%): 29.27%

More: The Complete Guide to ETFs

Lumen Technologies (LUMN)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $9.06
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $10.34
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $9.84
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $11.91
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $13.60
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $13.98

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 14.13%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 21.04%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 2.79%
• YoY Growth (%): 54.30%

United Rentals (URI)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $90.15
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $111.03
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $226.99
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $253.56
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $310.78
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $316.00

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 23.16%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 11.71%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 1.68%
• YoY Growth (%): 250.53%

Best Buy Company (BBY)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $62.47
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $74.57
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $102.58
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $112.31
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $108.58
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $118.19

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 19.37%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 9.49%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 8.85%
• YoY Growth (%): 89.19%

Du Pont De Nemours Inc. (DD)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $33.83
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $43.82
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $68.65
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $81.12
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $76.89
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $77.10

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 29.53%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 18.16%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 0.27%
• YoY Growth (%): 127.90%

SVB Financial Group (SIVB)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $159.34
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $192.63
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $378.01
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $451.96
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $551.63
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $544.61

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 20.89%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 19.56%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -1.27%
• YoY Growth (%): 241.79%

eBay Inc. (EBAY)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $30.18
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $39.63
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $50.24
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $56.44
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $56.24
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $59.73

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 31.31%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 12.34%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 6.21%
• YoY Growth (%): 97.91%

Devon Energy Corp. (DVN)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $6.29
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $10.76
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $15.35
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $17.20
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $24.64
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $22.70

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 71.07%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 12.05%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -7.87%
• YoY Growth (%): 260.89%

Freeport-McMoran Inc. (FCX)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $6.20
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $8.85
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $24.63
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $27.79
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $37.47
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $34.99

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 42.74%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 12.83%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -6.62%
• YoY Growth (%): 464.35%

Diamondback Energy (FANG)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $23.87
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $36.22
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $47.63
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $60.31
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $84.04
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $75.81

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 51.74%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 26.62%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -9.79%
• YoY Growth (%): 217.60%

Read: The Top 10 Stocks for 2021

General Motors Company (GM)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $21.38
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $22.45
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $41.66
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $51.04
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $56.33
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $59.82

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 5.00%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 22.52%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 6.20%
• YoY Growth (%): 179.79%

Mosaic Company (MOS)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $9.90
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $11.58
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $21.61
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $27.21
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $33.45
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $33.31

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 16.97%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 25.91%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -0.42%
• YoY Growth (%): 236.46%

Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $35.13
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $38.03
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $48.20
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $48.99
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $54.41
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $67.68

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 8.26%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 1.64%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 24.39%
• YoY Growth (%): 92.66%

Read: 25 Pandemic-Proof Stocks

Apache Corp. (APA)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $4.86
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $10.50
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $14.21
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $14.94
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $21.89
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $19.48

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 116.05%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 5.14%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -11.01%
• YoY Growth (%): 300.82%

CarMax Inc. (KMX)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $58.93
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $74.97
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $91.00
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $121.29
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $132.97
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $133.24

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 27.22%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 33.29%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 0.20%
• YoY Growth (%): 126.10%

Etsy Inc. (ETSY)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $38.67
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $69.28
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $178.12
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $202.41
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $220.84
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $215.41

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 79.16%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 13.64%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -2.46%
• YoY Growth (%): 457.05%

Tesla Inc. (TSLA)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $102.87
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $159.75
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $663.69
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $835.43
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $699.60
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $654.87

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 55.29%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 25.88%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): -6.39%
• YoY Growth (%): 536.60%

Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCK)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $17.16
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $20.70
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $25.82
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $34.92
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $56.86
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $66.00

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 20.63%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 35.24%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 16.07%
• YoY Growth (%): 284.62%

ViacomCBS Inc. Cl. B (VIAC)

• CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $12.79
• Month after CARES ACT Signed Share Price: $16.98
• Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $36.73
• Month after Second Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $50.61
• Third Stimulus Package Signed Share Price: $86.28
• March 19, 2021 Share Price: $97.35

• 1st Stimulus Growth (%): 32.76%
• 2nd Stimulus Growth (%): 37.79%
• 3rd Stimulus Growth (%): 12.83%
• YoY Growth (%): 661.14%

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Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only.

Methodology: GOBankingRates used Google Finance data to analyze all components of the S&P 500 index, downloaded from Barchart. For each component, GOBankingRates found (1) the March 27, 2020 closing price (date of 1st stimulus package being signed), (2) the April 27, 2020 closing price, (3) the December 28, 2020 closing price (first Monday after the second stimulus package was signed), (4) the January 28, 2021 closing price; (5) the March 11, 2021 closing price (date of third stimulus package being signed); and (6) the March 19, 2021 closing price. With these six closing prices acquired, GOBankingRates then found the (7) one month percent change in closing price for the first stimulus; (8) one month percent change in closing price for the second stimulus; (9) the week percent change in closing price for the third stimulus; and (10) the nearly year-over-year change in closing price from March 27, 2020 to March 19, 2021. GOBankingRates then scored and combined factors (7) through (10), with the lowest score being best to determine final rankings. In calculating final rankings, factor (10) was weighted half as heavily as the other factors. All data was gathered on and up to date as of March 22, 2021.

About the Author

John Csiszar

After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.

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