Some of Nasdaq 100's biggest winning and losing stocks

By Dian Vujovich

Everybody loves a winner. Particularly when it comes to making money from their stock holdings. So with the close of the first quarter of this year right around the corner, now is a great time to take a look at how the stocks in your portfolio are working for —or against—you.

Looking only at Nasdaq stocks, on Monday, March 19, 2012, the Nasdaq Composite index closed at its highest levels in 21 years, according to the Bespoke Investment Group. In the past couple days, that index has retreated a bit. Nonetheless, slice the index into smaller pieces and look only at the Nasdaq 100 —the largest stocks included in the Nasdaq Composite— and you’ll find some wonderful per-share performance increases. And, of course, shares of stock that have decreased in value too.

According to data from Bespoke , Apple (AAPL) continues to dazzle performance-wise but it’s not the year’s top performer, so far. That title goes to, believe it or not, Sears Holdings (SHLD). You know, the folks who are shutting stores around the country and bring us Kmart and brand names like Lands End. SHLD was up 152.8 percent based on Monday’s closing price of $80.34.

Behind it, Netflix (NFLX), up 66.2 percent this year based on its price of $115.16 per share. Following it are Fossil (FOSL), the watch and fashion accessory folks, up 64.24 percent at the per share price of $130.34; Seagate Technology (STX), $26.40 per share up 60.98 percent; and then the lovely Apple (APPL) up 48.61 at the share price of $601.87.

Of the top 10 best performers within that index, Broadcom (BRCM) gained the least—ahead a mere 31.25 percent at the closing price of $38.43.

Given that trees don’t grow to the sky and markets always correct, now might be the time to lock in some of those wonderful gains if you’ve been lucky enough to have them.

On the other hand, of the 10 stocks in the Nasdaq 100 that have performed the worst, the biggest loser was Apollo Group (APOL), down 19.47 percent at a price of $43.38. Then, First Solar (FSLR) at a per share price of $27.41 the stock was down 18.81 percent; Electronic Arts (EA) down 18.01 percent at the price per share of $16.89; CH RobinsonWorldwide (CHRW), at $64.77 down 7.18 percent; and Yahoo (YHOO) at a per share price of $15.06 was down 6.63 percent.

The worst of the 10 was Ctrip.com International (CTRP). At a close of $23.37, it was down a smidge—0.13 percent.