The FTSE 100 reached its highest-ever intraday peak on the last day of July, hitting 10,989 points in a landmark moment for the UK’s flagship index.
Over the past year alone, the index has climbed 18%, a strong performance for a benchmark largely composed of established large-cap stocks across traditional sectors.
Five years ago, when the FTSE 100 sat at 7,218 points, an investor who put £7,777 into a tracker fund would have seen that sum appreciate by 50.48%, bringing the total value to £11,702.83.
That return is difficult to dismiss, but the question many investors ask is whether a carefully selected portfolio of individual stocks could have done even better over the same period.
Rolls-Royce stands out as one of the most striking examples, having rallied an extraordinary 1,276% over the past five years, a figure that illustrates just how much upside active stock-picking can theoretically deliver.
Even more mainstream choices rewarded patient investors handsomely, with Lloyds Banking Group climbing 149% over five years, comfortably outpacing the broader index.
Of course, building a portfolio of individual stocks introduces greater volatility, and many other shares have underperformed the FTSE 100 over the same period, which is precisely why diversification matters.
Looking beyond past performance, one company that has attracted attention for its future growth potential is Raspberry Pi (LSE: RPI), which has risen 65% over the past year alone.
Unlike the banks, miners, and defensive businesses that dominate much of the FTSE 100, Raspberry Pi offers investors exposure to the fast-growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors.
Revenue jumped 25% in 2025, while adjusted EBITDA also climbed 25%, and management subsequently upgraded its 2026 outlook in June, signalling growing confidence in the company’s trajectory.
First-half shipments were expected to exceed four million units, with adjusted EBITDA of at least £21m, a figure remarkably close to what analysts had previously forecast for the entire year.
The company is no longer simply selling computers to hobbyists, as its low-cost hardware is becoming increasingly embedded in a wide range of growing commercial and industrial sectors.
However, risks remain. Expectations have risen dramatically, the shares are volatile, and AI-driven demand has pushed up DRAM prices, with management warning that unit economics may moderate as cheaper memory stocks are used up.
For investors seeking technology and AI exposure within a UK-listed stock, Raspberry Pi represents a compelling, if higher-risk, alternative to simply tracking the FTSE 100.