From Tesla to PayPal, Carnival to Occidental, here are the 5 best and worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 in 2020

trader nyse celebrate happy fist bump — Reuters / Brendan McDermid

Despite a global pandemic and the sharpest economic decline since the Great Depression, many stocks managed to post strong gains in 2020.
Technology stocks led the way in 2020, with consumers and businesses alike relying on software products to facilitate work from home trends amid the pandemic.
But energy and travel stocks took a beating this year as stay-at-home orders led to a precipitous drop in travel and demand for oil.
From Tesla to PayPal, Carnival to Occidental, these are the 5 best and worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 in 2020.
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US stocks posted strong returns in 2020 despite a global pandemic and the sharpest economic decline since the Great Depression.

The S&P 500 has returned 16% year-to-date as of Wednesday's close, with the technology sector leading the market higher as consumers and businesses adapt to a work-from-home life amid stay at home orders designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.

But energy and travel stocks took a beating this year as stay-at-home orders led to a precipitous drop in travel and demand for oil.

From Tesla to PayPal, Carnival to Occidental, these are the 5 best and worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 in 2020 as of Wednesday's close.

Best Performers

5. PayPal

Ticker: PYPL

2020 Performance: 114%