Last August Was a Great Time to Buy Stocks!

Last August, the markets were hit with a wave of intense selling as fears around the European debt crisis continued to build and investors seemingly belatedly reacted to the end of QE3. The Dow recorded a number of 600 point declines, and it was a rather scary time on Wall Street. Those who you used the sharp decline, however, to buy stocks have done fabulously well over the last year. Since one year ago, the S&P 500 has climbed almost 20 percent while many, many widely held stocks have done much better. Here is a look at the one-year returns of a number of popular stocks.

- In one year's time, AAPL has climbed better than 68 percent, and the stock is now closing in on new all-time highs.

- This stock has broken out to new all-time highs over the last year and continues in a strong uptrend. Shares of the iconic brewery company have surged almost 48 percent in just one year's time.

- This retail stock has been able to do fabulously well despite continued concerns over the state of both the global and domestic economies. Over the last year, the stock has gained a little more than 50 percent and remains in an uptrend.

- The chocolate company has seen its stock soar more than 30% in one year's time. Shares are now sitting close to new all-time highs.

- Despite a steep earnings-related sell-off in late July, SBUX has still notched gains of almost 25 percent over the last year alone.

- The fast food conglomerate has been a stand out over the last year, rising almost 30 percent during this time period.

- The grocery store chain's stock has soared from a year ago. The stock, which is currently sitting near all-time highs, has gained more than 60 percent since last August.