We recently published a list of 11 Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) stands against other best performing Dow stocks so far in 2025.
The Dow is a renowned and significant stock market index that measures the performance of 30 publicly traded businesses listed on US stock exchanges, representing a diverse variety of industries.
As of 20 February 2025, the index has steadily increased, rising 14.41% in the last 12 months and 4.21% year to date in 2025. It rose 8.04% over the last six months, mirroring its 8.04% gain in the previous month. Over the long term, it has risen 52.37% in the last five years and has returned an astounding 3,362.55% since 1985.
In comparison, the broader market has outpaced the Dow, gaining 22% in the last year and 4% year to date in 2025. The wider market has risen 8.84% during the last six months, with a 1.13% increase in the last month. Its long-term performance has been favorable, with a five-year gain of 83.28% and a remarkable 3,717.09% increase since 1996. Its superior performance is largely due to the strength of technology and high-growth stocks.
Nonetheless, the Nasdaq has led the market, climbing 28.12% in the last 12 months and 3.53% year to date in 2025. Over the last six months, the Nasdaq has gone up by 11.40%, with 1.04% growth in the last month. Over the last five years, it has surged by 108.45%, proving its dominance in high-growth sectors.
While the Dow has fallen behind the other two markets in recent years, its consistency and solid historical returns underline its long-term investment appeal. The index typically has reduced volatility and concentrates on established blue-chip companies.
According to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices, the Dow is still a dependable benchmark for US market performance, following 30 blue-chip businesses with strong reputations and consistent growth. Its price-weighted system ensures stability, typically reducing losses during downturns. The index has a historical association with broader markets, but it is less volatile than the broader market due to its emphasis on well-established firms. Despite its small size, the index has shown resilience in bear markets, such as 2009, while also reaping gains during bullish cycles. Its longstanding reputation and exposure to important industries make it a reliable predictor of economic strength.
However, the Dow lost 0.6% on Thursday, February 20, 2025, as U.S. jobless claims surged faster than expected, heightening concerns about the labor market and the overall economic outlook. The wider market fell 0.5%, while the Nasdaq fell 0.7% in early trading, signaling broader market weakness. Investors reacted to economic data and shifting market sentiment as bond yields edged lower, with the 10-year Treasury yield falling to 4.52%.
A pharmacist filling a prescription for a complex drug developed by the company.
Methodology
We began with a pool of 30 stocks from the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and identified stocks that have delivered positive returns in 2025 so far. We then picked the top 11 stocks with the highest Year-to-Date return as of February 14. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their year-to-date performance.
“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).”
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)
Year-to-date return as of February 14: 12.30%
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) creates and distributes a range of human pharmaceuticals, including treatments for conditions like cancer, psoriasis, osteoporosis, arthritis, and cardiovascular disorders. Since the start of 2025 through February 14, the stock has surged by over 12%, which makes it one of the best performing stocks.
A biopharmaceutical business with a portfolio of popular medications, Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) is highly profitable. Sales of its flagship medication, Repatha, which lowers cholesterol, are rising as a result of research proving the dangers of any cholesterol level.
It has a robust oncology franchise as well. MariTide, its weight-loss medication, may revolutionize the market. MariTide provides the ease of a once-monthly dose, which is a significant benefit in the rapidly expanding obesity medication industry, in contrast to Ozempic and Mounjaro, which call for weekly injections. Recently, the stock has surged as investors have realized this possibility. Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) could witness a significant increase in awareness and valuation once MariTide is released onto the market.
The company reported revenue of $33.4 billion in FY2024, up 19% due to the Horizon acquisition, and non-GAAP earnings per share of $19.84, up 6%.
Piper Sandler increased its price target of Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) from $310 to $329. According to the firm, the PSC Biopharma Research team recently co-hosted its Virtual TSLP Day, which included virtual fireside conversations with several businesses, including Amgen, that are focusing on thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Piper learned more about how management is considering next-generation TSLP-directed medicines and how the firm is considering ways to expand Tezspire’s use beyond severe asthma. Overall, the company still sees Tezspire by itself as a multibillion-dollar possibility in the United States and one of Amgen’s most significant long-term top-line drivers.
Overall, AMGN ranks 7th on our list of Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential for AMGN to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMGN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.