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

• 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.

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Best Performers

5. PayPal

Ticker: PYPL

2020 Performance: 114%

4. Nvidia

Ticker: NVDA

2020 Performance: 123%

3. Carrier Global

Ticker: CARR

2020 Performance: 214%

2. Etsy

Ticker: ETSY

2020 Performance: 314%

1. Tesla

Ticker: TSLA

2020 Performance: 730%

Read more: Ron Baron earned a $4.2 billion windfall just from investing in Tesla. The legendary investor told us why he still expects a 30-fold return from Elon Musk - and shared the biggest lessons and mistakes of his career.

Worst Performers

5. Marathon Oil Corporation

Ticker: MRO

2020 Performance: -50%

4. TechnipFMC

Ticker: FTI

2020 Performance: -55%

3. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Ticker: NCLH

2020 Performance: -56%

2. Occidental Petroleum

Ticker: OXY

2020 Performance: -57%

1. Carnival Corporation

Ticker: CCL

2020 Performance: -57%