Top 10 Arizona-based firms to invest in

The recent bull market was one of the biggest in history, but then U.S. and global markets tumbled, hammering ordinary investors again. Despite the market’s record highs last year, the S&P 500 Index has posted an average annual growth rate of only 1.96 percent since 2000, which was more than cancelled out by the 2.3 percent average annual rate of inflation over that period. The answer might be to keep your investments close to home. A recent analysis by financial technology company SmartAsset showed Arizona-based stocks performed pretty well for the five-year stretch between 2010 and 2015. Three factors were considered in the analysis: stock price, dividends paid and volatility. Analysts found the risk adjusted return of the stocks and ranked each of the companies based on this risk-adjusted return to find the best performing stocks across the state. Here is where to put your money:  
 

1. Western Alliance Bancorporation

Market cap category: Mid cap

Headquarters: Phoenix

Average annual return: 46.59%

Volatility: 35.67%

Stock performance index: 63.63

 

2. Kona Grill Inc.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Scottsdale

Average annual return: 48.97%

Volatility: 47.14%

Stock performance index: 55.68

3. Inventure Foods, Inc.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Phoenix

Average annual return: 33.47%

Volatility: 34.17%

Stock performance index: 53.91

4. TASER International Inc.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Scottsdale

Average annual return: 38.79%

Volatility: 45.39%

Stock performance index: 50.20

5. Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Tucson

Average annual return: 80.20%

Volatility: 100.68%

Stock performance index: 48.48

6. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

Market cap category: Mid cap

Headquarters: Phoenix

Average annual return: 11.29%

Volatility: 16.44%

Stock performance index: 45.19

7. Mobile Mini, Inc.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Phoenix

Average annual return: 21.56%

Volatility: 36.88%

Stock performance index: 42.17

8. Providence Service Corp.

Market cap category: Small cap

Headquarters: Tucson

Average annual return: 23.94%

Volatility: 44.86%

Stock performance index: 40.66

9. Knight Transportation Inc.

Market cap category: Mid cap

Headquarters: Phoenix

Average annual return: 12.02%

Volatility: 23.52%

Stock performance index: 39.98

10. Microchip Technology Inc.

Market cap category: Mid cap

Headquarters: Chandler

Average annual return: 11.92%

Volatility: 24.13%

Stock performance index: 39.47