10 Best-Performing S&P 500 Stocks of 2012

Investor takeaway: Priceline.com has among the best sales growth in the online travel industry, and it hasn't weakened. International expansion over the next three to five years will be a key growth driver. To its advantage, Priceline operates a highly variable cost model and doesn't have the IT investments that other online travel sites do. The balance sheet is very strong, with cash per share of $42 at the end of the most recent quarter.