The 10 top-performing stocks last quarter include Warren Buffett’s favorite internet company and the maker of the Zyn pouch

• The S&P 500 entered correction territory last quarter as trade war uncertainty hurt sentiment.

• Energy, basic materials, and utilities sectors thrived, while tech and communication lagged.

• Warren Buffett’s top internet pick, Verisign, and Philip Morris were among the top performers.

The S&P 500 entered a 10% correction in the first quarter amid heightened uncertainty from the Trump administration’s trade policies, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for investors.

There were pockets of strength across the market in the first quarter, with some stocks delivering massive gains in the first three months of the year.

Energy, basic materials, consumer staples, and utilities were the best-performing sectors in the first quarter. Meanwhile, information technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services were the worst-performing sectors.

The risk-off nature of the stock market has rewarded defensive companies, with investors willing to pay up for them as they navigate the uncertainty of President Trump’s tariffs.

From Warren Buffett’s favorite internet stock to the manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products like Zyn, these were the top 10 performing S&P 500 companies in the first three months of 2025.

1. Arthur J. Gallagher

Ticker: AJG
Market capitalization: $88.3 billion
Industry: Insurance
Q1 performance: 21.6%

1. Brown & Brown

Ticker: BRO
Market capitalization: $35.7 billion
Industry: Insurance
Q1 performance: 21.9%

1. Exelon

Ticker: EXC
Market capitalization: $46.5 billion
Industry: Utilities
Q1 performance: 22.4%

1. Verisign

Ticker: VRSN
Market capitalization: $24.0 billion
Industry: Software/Internet
Q1 performance: 22.7%

1. Cencora

Ticker: COR
Market capitalization: $53.9 billion
Industry: Healthcare
Q1 performance: 23.8%

1. Consolidated Edison

Ticker: ED
Market capitalization: $39.1 billion
Industry: Utilities
Q1 performance: 23.9%

1. AT&T

Ticker: T
Market capitalization: $203.0 billion
Industry: Telecom
Q1 performance: 24.2%

1. Newmont

Ticker: NEM
Market capitalization: $54.4 billion
Industry: Gold mining
Q1 performance: 29.7%

1. Philip Morris

Ticker: PM
Market capitalization: $246.8 billion
Industry: Tobacco
Q1 performance: 31.9%

1. CVS

Ticker: CVS
Market capitalization: $85.4 billion
Industry: Healthcare
Q1 performance: 50.9%

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