5 Best-Performing Stocks in the Last 12 Months

3. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI)

Share Price Gains Over the Past 12 Months Through August 11: 556%

Texas-based Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) makes fiber-optic networking products. It is one of the best-performing stocks in the last 12 months since it has gone up by 556% in the period.

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) shares jumped earlier in August after the stock was upgraded by B. Riley Securities to Buy from Neutral. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) cited improving demand and margins for the upgrade and hiked its price target to $11.50 from $2.50.