Given the volatility of the stock market and fears of a double-dip recession, it's not surprising that office supply retailers didn't have a great year. Third-quarter revenue at Office Depot dropped 2% year over year to $2.8 billion, largely due to weakness of computer sales. The company's stock fared better than that of OfficeMax, but it trailed Staples.
It was a year of legal tussles for Office Depot. The retailer settled with the state of Colorado in June on charges that it overbilled, and it has faced similar investigations in other states. April delivered a double blow: Investors filed a class-action lawsuit alleging violation of federal securities laws in Florida, while the company closed its last brick-and-mortar store in Canada.
Office Depot faces an increasingly competitive environment with an uncertain future. Deutsche Bank noted to investors in April that a looming "bottoming out" might mean better times ahead, but the bottom might not be here yet. Citigroup's Kate McShane told investors in a July note that she did "not see a lot of catalysts to move this stock up over the next 12 months."
It's been a hot and cold year for the stock market, but these Fortune 500 companies managed to float to the top with impressive gains. From Ross Stores to MasterCard, here are the biggest winners.
