The strongest performing Real Estate Investment Trusts company in Virginia was Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust Inc. (WHLR:NAQ), sitting 293.2 percent higher to sell at $2.28.
Apple Hospitality REIT Inc. (APLE:NYQ) fared the worst among Virginia companies, suffering a 38.5 percent drop to $18.37.
Among Arlington companies, Avalonbay Communities Inc. (AVB:NYQ) saw the biggest fall in value of 33 percent in March.
The Alternative Energy industry was the month’s best-performing industry on the market. The market is divided into 44 different industries.
Personal Goods was the worst-performing industry.
Healthcare and technology stocks are viewed as the safest bets for long-term gains.
Besty Kuekcer with Benzinga.com said healthcare-related stocks, such as hospital conglomerates and insurance companies, have weathered numerous economic crises and still make a profit, suggesting that they are generally a stable investment.
While technology stocks can be more risky, given the boom-bust nature of new tech companies, Kuecker recommended a diverse portfolio of tech companies to strike it big when companies succeed or sell to other larger companies.
For short-term investments, Kuecker recommended “consumer discretionary” stocks, which are sensitive to economic changes but can rise greatly on the back of a strong economy.
Nothing in this article is to be assumed as financial advice.
| Industry | Percentage Change | Highest Positive Change | Largest Negative Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Energy | 17.7% | 314.2% | -100% |
| Oil, Gas and Coal | 17.3% | 46,089% | -89% |
| Precious Metals and Mining | 15.8% | 8,851.6% | -97.2% |
| Investment Banking and Brokerage Services | 14% | 283,009.5% | -91.9% |
| Waste and Disposal Services | 11.6% | 483.8% | -78.7% |
| Telecommunications Service Providers | 10.5% | 5,819,839% | -59.3% |
| Non-life Insurance | 10.1% | 126% | -81.5% |
| Gas, Water and Multi-utilities | 9.2% | 1,512% | -94.2% |
| Electricity | 8.6% | 333.6% | -73.9% |
| Industrial Metals and Mining | 8% | 1,872% | -94.6% |
| Chemicals | 7.2% | 3,683.3% | -77.9% |
| Industrial Support Services | 6.4% | 3,120.1% | -96.8% |
| Food Producers | 6.2% | 129,211.6% | -92.8% |
| Health Care Providers | 5.6% | 1,216.7% | -86.5% |
| Aerospace and Defense | 5.5% | 1,211.2% | -86.9% |
| Industrial Transportation | 5.2% | 1,052.7% | -97.8% |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts | 4.7% | 293.2% | -92.8% |
| Industrial Engineering | 4.6% | 3,806.7% | -96.1% |
| Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores | 4.1% | 306.7% | -80.6% |
| Consumer Services | 3.7% | 1,860.1% | -66.9% |
| Software and Computer Services | 3.5% | 177,715.8% | -99.1% |
| Finance and Credit Services | 2.9% | 407.1% | -92.8% |
| Travel and Leisure | 2.6% | 312.4% | -95.1% |
| Telecommunications Equipment | 2.2% | 2,301.5% | -90.4% |
| Beverages | 2.2% | 2,981.5% | -87.2% |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology | 1.5% | 52,828.5% | -99.2% |
| Construction and Materials | 1.5% | 15,654.7% | -83.4% |
| Retailers | 1.5% | 5,604.6% | -95.2% |
| Real Estate Investment and Services | 1.2% | 870,733.3% | -89.8% |
| Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts | 1.2% | 273% | -85.8% |
| General Industrials | 0.8% | 354.8% | -73.7% |
| Electronic and Electrical Equipment | 0.8% | 5,729% | -99.9% |
| Open End and Miscellaneous Investment Vehicles | 0.3% | 172,904.8% | -100% |
| Medical Equipment and Services | 0.2% | 132,389.8% | -98.2% |
| Life Insurance | -0.2% | 214% | -85.1% |
| Media | -0.5% | 66,559.6% | -94.9% |
| Technology Hardware and Equipment | -0.6% | 1,051.3% | -72.3% |
| Closed End Investments | -0.8% | 2,289.7% | -98% |
| Industrial Materials | -1.4% | 285.7% | -77% |
| Automobiles and Parts | -4% | 386.4% | -81.3% |
| Tobacco | -4.5% | 565.7% | -68.6% |
| Leisure Goods | -5.2% | 2,446.8% | -92.3% |
| Household Goods and Home Construction | -5.9% | 2,703.1% | -97.2% |
| Personal Goods | -7% | 5,134.8% | -70.9% |
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