Markets have been on a roller-coaster ride so far this quarter -- but a select group of stocks have still managed to rack up big gains amid the chaos.

Crypto exchange Coinbase Global, and analytics software developer Palantir Technologies have both climbed by 50% or more since April 2, the day that President Donald Trump imposed sweeping reciprocal tariffs, according to Barron's analysis of stock-performance data. Others include data storage company Seagate Technology, energy equipment manufacturer GE Vernova, energy generator NRG Energy, and circuit board designer Jabil. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 5.5% over the same period.

Those eye-popping gains have come amid a turbulent period where the U.S. made several about-turns on its levies, before finally starting to broker a series of high-profile trade deals.

Geopolitical tensions have also been a source of concern for investors, with the Iran-Israel war driving up oil prices, which could have trigger a flare-up in inflation.

While the list of stocks up by 50% or more don't appear to have much in common at first glance, there are still some takeaways for the market.

The first is that thematic investing can still work, if you pick the right names. For example, Seagate, Jabil, and Palantir have all proven to be strong artificial-intelligence plays, surging on the expectation that the tech will carry on boosting their earnings -- although some analysts are now warning that Palantir shares look overvalued.

The second is that it's often wise to stay put. Anybody who ditched the likes of Coinbase and Palantir in early April -- when tariff fears triggered a broad and brutal selloff that nearly sent the S&P 500 into a bear market -- would have subsequently missed out on gains of more than 60%.

That's a lesson that can be applied again now, as geopolitical tensions heighten. Investors shouldn't embark on a major portfolio rethink as events in the Middle East unfold -- instead, they should hold tight and keep their nerve.