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March is generally a pretty good month for the stock indices, and the following stocks have done very well in March over the last 20 years or more. Each stock on the list has rallied at least 5% on average, and has moved higher during the trade period at least 75% of the time.

Best Performing Stocks in March Over the Last 20 Years

For comparison, the S&P 500 has increased an average of 1.2% in March and moved higher 70% of the time over the last 20 years (14 out of 20 years). This is the study of seasonality: how assets perform at different times of the year.

These are historical averages and do not indicate what a stock will do this year. Use such data at your own discretion.

Many of the large losses in these stocks occurred when the S&P 500 also experienced a large drop or volatility late in the year, such as in 2001, 2002, 2015, 2018, and 2020. That said, individual stocks can experience large gains or losses in any given month and returns are not necessarily correlated to what the major indices are doing.

Best Stocks for March 2024

The following stocks have performed very well in March over the last 20 years or more. Each stock has averaged returns of more than 5%. See all the details, including the win rate, biggest wins, biggest losses, biggest drawdowns while in a trade, and trade dates.

This is interesting historical data. These are not trade recommendations.

Equifax (EFX) +8.83%

Over the last 32 years, the stock has risen between February 28 (open) and May 10 (close) in 26 of those years (81%).

• Average return on all trades: +8.83%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +46.51% (2021)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -7.86% (2004)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -26.39% (2020)

The stock is not without risks. It can be volatile, as shown by the max drawdown. 2020 produced a profit of 5.43% during the trade period, but would have required holding through that significant drop.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (WAB) +9.42%

Over the last 28 years, the stock has risen between March 2 (open) and April 27 (close) in 24 of those years (86%).

• Average return on all trades: +9.42%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +41.94% (2009)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -20.92% (2020)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -49.05% (2020)

WAB has a great average return, but really got smoked in the 2020 decline.

PepsiCo (PEP) +5.71%

Over the last 32 years, the stock has risen between March 2 (open) and May 14 (close) in 27 of those years (84%).

• Average return on all trades: +5.71%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +20.46% (2000)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -9.97% (2018)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -23.17% (2020)

Linde (LIN) +8.25%

Over the last 31 years, the stock has risen between March 6 (open) and May 3 (close) in 26 of those years (84%).

• Average return on all trades: +8.25%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +56.17% (1999)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -7.94% (1993)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -23.64% (2020)

One of the more stable stocks on the list, but can still experience drawdowns like in 2020 (ended up down -4.93% during that period that year).

Booking Holdings (BKNG) +7.06%

Over the last 25 years, the stock has risen between March 12 (open) and April 18 (close) in 20 of those years (80%).

• Average return on all trades: +7.06%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +71.65% (2003)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -25.58% (2000)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -43.31% (2000)

Hasbro (HAS) +7.31%

Over the last 34 years, the stock has risen between March 12 (open) and May 16 (close) in 28 of those years (83%).

• Average return on all trades: +7.31%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +36.47% (2008)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -18.71% (2004)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -29.4% (2020)

2020 saw a big drawdown during the period, but actually rose over the entire period by 16.60%. This shows the sometimes stomach-turning volatility these historic trades required holding through to attain the average.

BP (BP) +5.44%

Over the last 32 years, the stock has risen between March 12 (open) and April 26 (close) in 28 of those years (88%).

• Average return on all trades: +5.44%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +14.02% (1995)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -6.98% (2012)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -30.32% (2020)

Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) +10.08%

Over the last 26 years, the stock has risen between March 14 (open) and April 18 (close) in 20 of those years (77%).

• Average return on all trades: +10.08%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +30% (1999)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -11.26% (2013)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -18.26% (2020)

PXD has the highest average return for this March/April trade period on the list.

Yum! Brands (YUM) +7.46%

Over the last 26 years, the stock has risen between March 22 (open) and April 24 (close) in 22 of those years (85%).

• Average return on all trades: +7.46%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +50.05% (2020)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -5.46% (2005)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -10.91% (2003)

YUM is one of the more stable stocks on the list during this period, generally producing smaller drawdowns compared to the other stocks on the list.

William Companies (WMB) +7.05%

Over the last 32 years, the stock has risen between March 22 (open) and April 22 (close) in 25 of those years (77%).

• Average return on all trades: +7.05%
• Biggest profit on closed trade: +69.39% (2003)
• Biggest loss on closed trade: -19.91% (2000)
• Max drawdown (biggest drop while a trade is open): -24.84% (2000)

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