Is 2015 a good year for stocks?

It's been a rough year for stocks. The S&P 500 is set to finish 2015 in the red, barring a Santa Claus rally between Christmas and New Year's. Last year, the top six stocks gained over 75%. This year only three stocks crossed that mark. But some stocks were still studs.

How did the S&P 500 Index perform in 2015?

The S&P 500 Index finished 2015 down slightly for the year, but these 10 stocks had outstanding performance. The S&P 500 Index ended 2015 down 0.7% for the year, better than the 7% decline the benchmark index hovered at in September as a result of the summer's market volatility, but far short of the 11% gain for 2014.

Why were markets roiled in 2015?

The markets were roiled in 2015 due to slowing growth in China and other global markets, slumping commodity prices and oil's continuous plunge, as well as geopolitical concerns in the Middle East. U.S. markets had the added uncertainty this year of whether the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates.