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The 2026 calendar year was a true rollercoaster on the ASX, with global thematics like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day,” the ever-climbing power of gold and silver, Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and more all pouring into a mixing pot that saw the sharemarket end around +6.1% higher.
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That, of course, doesn’t mean every stock added just +6.1% value through CY26, though. In fact, some of the biggest winners on the ASX year blew right past that index average to clock up truly mighty calendar gains.
Here’s the top 10 gainers from the year, including how much they’re currently worth heading into CY26, and how much they advanced to date.
1. Dateline Resources
- Ticker: DTR
- Stock price today: 22cps
- Market capitalisation: $766.59 million
- Sector: Materials
There was one clear winner through the year: Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR). The gold and rare earths explorer added as much as +7,233% in value through CY25, mostly thanks to the “buried treasure” the company says is “ready to shine” at the Colosseum Project in the San Bernardino county. Dateline also acquired the Argos strontium project in California as it expanded its United States foothold.
2. Janus Electric Holdings
- Ticker: JNS
- Stock price today: 5.8cps
- Market capitalisation: $5.5 million
- Sector: Utilities
Janus Electric Holdings (ASX:JNS) gained as much as +5,700% this year, with many investors liking what they saw of the company’s heavy transport electrification plans. The biggest ticket news item HotCopper covered this year was when Janus landed a huge supply deal with Canadian lithium-ion battery designer Electrovaya Inc., which was designed to “remove bottlenecks” for Janus scaling.
3. Sunrise Energy Metals
- Ticker: SRL
- Stock price today: $7.92
- Market capitalisation: $1.05 billion
- Sector: Materials
Another big boomer in CY25 was Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL), with the company advancing +3,583% through the last twelve months. Sunrise’s biggest win was when it signed a five-year deal with Lockheed Martin to provide “reliable, stable” scandium to the famed American defence giant.
4. Atomic Eagle
- Ticker: AEU
- Stock price today: 30cps
- Market capitalisation: $114.32 million
- Sector: Materials
A newcomer on the ASX scene, Atomic Eagle (ASX:AEU) exploded +2,402% after Tombador Iron and GoviEx Uranium merged in November. The company focuses on Zambian exploration and will continue to search for uranium assets in Africa.
5. Forrestania Resources
- Ticker: FRS
- Stock price today: 27cps
- Market capitalisation: $161.3 million
- Sector: Materials
Forrestania Resources (ASX:FRS) drew huge attention across HotCopper and the ASX after stepping in to buy Kula Gold (ASX:KGD) in a $58.9 million all-scrip deal. FRS shares have since ended up +1,976% YTD.
6. Focus Minerals
- Ticker: FML
- Stock price today: $3.51
- Market capitalisation: $1.01 billion
- Sector: Materials
Stong year for Focus Minerals (ASX:FML), which sits as one of the biggest companies in regards to market cap on this list. Focus has finished around +1,964% higher, with gold’s mile-high prices lining up well with the Western Australian gold producer’s findings at Coolgardie through the calendar year.
7. Kaili Resources
- Ticker: KLR
- Stock price today: 15cps
- Market capitalisation: $22.11 million
- Sector: Energy
Not much needs to be said on this one: Kaili Resources (ASX:KLR) is up +1,775% this year after that shock boom in August. The pop, which saw it up as much as +8,650% that day, was basically inexplicable. Kaili has since retracted by some 7,000% in gains, but will still boast one of the year’s best advances.
8. True North Copper
- Ticker: TNC
- Stock price today: 48.5cps
- Market capitalisation: $70.22 million
- Sector: Materials
It was a +1,516% advance for True North Copper (ASX:TNC), with TNC using copper’s booming prices quite like Focus (two spots back) has with gold. True North shareholders will be keeping a close eye on the precious metal next year.
9. Broken Hill Mines
- Ticker: BHM
- Stock price today: $1.08
- Market capitalisation: $165.52 million
- Sector: Materials
Broken Hill Mines (ASX:BHM) enjoyed a spectacular +1,442% year on regular hits for silver equivalent (including zinc and lead) at its Rasp and Pinnacle mines.
10. Metal Powder Works
- Ticker: MPW
- Stock price today: $2.30
- Market capitalisation: $220.73 million
- Sector: Industrials
And finally, Metal Powder Works (ASX:MPW) was up as much as +1,300% YTD. Most recently, MPW landed a powder deal with shipmaker Austal which gives the Oz producer access to major U.S. markets in CY26.
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The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.
