Top Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now

Energy has been one of the worst-performing sectors in the S&P 500 during the past year.

While the broader market is up an impressive 13%, the energy sector has gained just 2.5%. That performance looks even worse when compared with the market’s most bullish sectors, with health care up 29% and so-called consumer defensive stocks (which include makers and retailers of food and household and personal goods) up 23%.

But overall weakness in energy stocks is masking a lone group of standouts from the lackluster sector: refineries.

In fact, this group of stocks hasn't just been strong relative to its energy peers -- it has been one of the best-performing industries in the entire market in the past year. Take a look at the chart of two leading companies.

Top Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now: Aviat Networks Inc.(AVNW)

Aviat Networks, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of a range of wireless networking products, solutions, and services worldwide. It offers point-to-point and point-to-multipoint digital microwave transmission systems for first/last mile access, middle mile/backhaul, and long distance trunking applications. The company?s products include broadband wireless access base stations and customer premises equipment for fixed and mobile; point-to-point digital microwave radio systems for access, backhaul, trunking, and license-exempt applications; and supporting network deployments, network expansion, and capacity upgrades. It also provides network management software solutions to enable operators to deploy, monitor, and manage its systems, as well as third party equipment, such as antennas, routers, and multiplexers to build and deploy a wireless transmission network and a suite of turnkey support services. In addition, the company offers professional services, su ch as network planning and design, site surveys and builds, systems integration, installation, maintenance, network monitoring, training, and customer services. It serves mobile and fixed communications service providers, original equipment manufacturers, private network operators, government agencies, transportation and utility companies, system integrators, public safety agencies, and broadcast system operators, as well as pipeline, railroad, and other industrial enterprises that operate wireless networks. The company was formerly known as Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. and changed its name to Aviat Networks, Inc. in January 2010. Aviat Networks, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Top Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now: International Speedway Corporation(ISCA)

International Speedway Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, promotes motorsports themed entertainment activities in the United States. The company?s motorsports themed event operations consist of racing events at its motorsports entertainment facilities. Its motorsports entertainment facilities promoted approximately 100 stock car, open wheel, sports car, truck, motorcycle, go-kart racing, and other racing events. The company is also involved in souvenir merchandising operations; food and beverage concession operations; the provision of catering services in suites and chalets; creation of motorsports-related programming content, including national satellite radio service; the usage of its track facilities for testing for teams, driving schools, riding experiences, car shows, auto fairs, concerts and settings for television commercials, print advertisements, and motion pictures; and rents show cars for promotional events. As of November 30, 2011, it owned and/or op erated 13 motorsports entertainment facilities. The company was formerly known as Daytona International Speedway Corporation and changed its name to International Speedway Corporation in 1968. International Speedway Corporation was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Top 10 Medical Stocks To Own Right Now: Global Green Matrix Corp (GGX.V)

Global Green Matrix Corp. engages in the reclamation of industrial polymers worldwide. It also focuses on exploring and pursuing new environmentally sound methods and technologies in recycling and reclamation sectors. The company was formerly known as Poly-Pacific International Inc. and changed its name to Global Green Matrix Corp. in February 2010. Global Green Matrix Corp. was incorporated in 1995 and is based in Gabriola, Canada.

Top Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now: Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania(UVSP)

Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial solutions, including personal and business banking, online banking, residential mortgages, insurance products, and investment and wealth advisory solutions. It serves the financial needs of residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Lehigh counties, Pennsylvania. The company accepts various deposit products that include non interest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, money market savings accounts, regular savings accounts, and time deposits. Its loan and lease portfolio comprises commercial, financial, and agricultural loans and leases; commercial and construction loans; residential loans; loans to individuals; and municipal loans and leases. Univest Corporation also offers lease financing, financial planning, investment management, insurance products, and brokerage services; and provides investment advisory services , which include discretionary investment consulting and management services, as well as engages in small ticket commercial finance business. It provides its services through 32 financial service centers, 12 retirement financial services centers, and 39 ATM locations. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Souderton, Pennsylvania.

Top Performing Companies To Watch In Right Now: SAFESTORE HLDGS ORD GBP0.01 WI(SAFE.L)

Safestore Holdings plc provides self-storage space and related services for business and personal customers in the United Kingdom and France. It rents self-storage space; and sells ancillary products, which include insurance, as well as storage accessories comprising bubble wrap, boxes, and padlocks. The company offers its services for personal and household, student, and business storage. It operates 12 stores under management in the United Kingdom. As of October 31, 2011, it operated 119 stores, 96 in the U.K. and 23 in Paris under the Safestore and Une Pi�e en Plus brand names. The company is based in Borehamwood, the United Kingdom.