<\/p>\n
Over the past five years, the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 returned roughly 125%, well ahead of the S&P 500. Even casual investors are likely familiar with the most popular stocks in that index, such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Tesla. But would you believe that there are a number of \u201cboring,\u201d large-cap companies that nobody talks about on financial TV that have outperformed the Nasdaq-100? They don\u2019t get much press, and the average investor likely hasn\u2019t even heard of them, but they\u2019re just a small subset of companies with growing earnings and solid fundamentals that provide returns without being flashy.<\/p>\n
Read: <\/strong>Beware of this scam targeting seniors’ bank accounts<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a brief overview.<\/p>\n IMPORTANT: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. These examples are meant to illustrate a research thesis, not as recommendations. You should conduct your own research and consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n Curtiss-Wright makes components for nuclear submarines, reactors, and aerospace systems. The company doesn’t get CNBC coverage because sensors, actuators and controls aren\u2019t that exciting to the general public. But the demand for its products has only grown, thanks to increased U.S. defense spending and the need for more nuclear reactors. CW\u2019s strategy has been to buy niche, high-margin defense suppliers, and it\u2019s been working. The company just announced its 10th consecutive year of dividend increases. It also raised guidance for full-year 2026.<\/p>\n Williams owns and operates natural gas pipelines across North America. Infrastructure plays, while essential, also tend to fall into the \u201cboring\u201d camp. But there has been nothing boring about the performance of its stock price. Whenever energy flows through its network of pipelines, WMB collects a toll. This has led to a steady revenue machine that just doesn\u2019t garner the national attention that flashy tech stocks have.<\/p>\n Parker Hannifin makes motion and control systems for defense contractors, aerospace manufacturers, and industrial equipment makers. The business is about as unsexy as it gets. But steady demand, pricing power, and solid management have led to consistent returns. With annual sales of $19.9 billion in fiscal year 2025, PH is a sizable company delivering across multiple industries.<\/p>\n Costco is probably the most well-known stock on this list among consumers. Members renew at an admirable 92.3% rate in North America. But most of its members think of it as a company, not a stock investment. That\u2019s unfortunate. COST continues to generate membership and revenue gains year after year. Costco\u2019s earnings and SEC filings show consistent execution year after year. The stock has rewarded shareholders handsomely, beating the returns of many tech stocks.<\/p>\n Eaton makes electrical infrastructure, power management gear, and components for industrial machinery. The company benefits from the data center buildout that powers artificial intelligence. Eaton’s financial presentations don\u2019t make scintillating reading. ETN mainly cover the company\u2019s strategic acquisitions and its exposure to electrification trends. But most investors don\u2019t care how boring the company is as long as it can keep outperforming.<\/p>\n The stocks in the QQQ index represent the technological future of America. From cloud computing to artificial intelligence, these companies innovate. When they get it right, their stocks can post tremendous gains, as the QQQ\u2019s five-year return demonstrates.<\/p>\n But the fact that companies like Eaton and Curtiss-Wright handily top the Nasdaq\u2019s return is likely surprising to most investors. Even under-the-radar stocks can be long-term winners if they have solid earnings. As an investor, you can get an edge by doing your own research. That way, you can potentially find winners that aren\u2019t talked about every day on the financial news.<\/p>\n You won\u2019t even need a Bloomberg terminal. Each company has its own company filings that report earnings and revenue. See if they\u2019re growing and decide for yourself which businesses look interesting.<\/p>\n \u00a0When it comes to making money, \u201cboring\u201d can often be better.<\/p>\n Return back to TheStreet for stories on each of these five stocks.<\/p>\n Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. The companies mentioned are examples and should not be considered investment recommendations. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investments carry risk, including potential loss of principal. Consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Prices are as of May 20, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n This article produced for TheStreet by Nifty 50+<\/p>\n #039Boring039 #Stocks #Crushed #Nasdaq100 #Years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the past five years, the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 returned roughly 125%, well ahead of the S&P 500. Even casual investors are likely familiar with the most popular stocks in that… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[246],"tags":[8169,7199,8170,221,84],"class_list":["post-5670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-popular","tag-039boring039","tag-crushed","tag-nasdaq100","tag-stocks","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5670\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fintechpulse8.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Five Companies<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Curtiss-Wright (CW):<\/strong> 493% total return<\/h3>\n
Williams Companies (WMB):<\/strong> 275% total return<\/h3>\n
Parker Hannifin (PH):<\/strong> 200% total return<\/h3>\n
Costco (COST):<\/strong> 195% total return<\/h3>\n
Eaton (ETN):<\/strong> 186% total return<\/h3>\n
What This Means for You<\/strong><\/h2>\n