Mosaic (MOS, Fortune 500) (ranked no. 427 on the Fortune 500) led the pack with a whopping 342 percent total return. The Plymouth, Minn.-based chemical company saw demand for its fertilizer explode last year as farmers rushed to grow more corn and soybeans for ethanol and biodiesel fuel.
Growing farm incomes also helped AGCO (AG, Fortune 500) (no. 421) generate big returns. Total 2007 returns for investors in the Duluth, Ga.-based agricultural equipment manufacturer and distributor were a healthy 120 percent, making its stock the ninth-best Fortune 500 performer.
