The Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) delivered an impressive performance this year, surging past the 4,200-level back in July.
Along the way, several blue-chip stocks within the bellwether index also saw their share prices surge in tandem.
Buoyed by encouraging business developments and good results, investors bid up the share prices of these stalwarts, causing them to surge by double-digit percentages this year.
We profile five such blue-chip stocks to assess if they deserve a place within your buy watchlist.
City Developments Limited (SGX: C09)
City Developments Limited, or CDL, is a real estate group with a network spanning 168 locations in 29 countries and regions.
The group saw its share price surge 32.6% year-to-date (YTD) and is close to its 52-week high of S$7.02.
CDL reported a respectable set of earnings for the first half of 2025 (1H 2025).
Revenue rose 8% year on year to S$1.69 billion while net profit inched up 3.9% year on year to S$91.2 million.
In line with the good results, the property giant upped its special interim dividend by 50% year on year to S$0.03.
Management has made good progress on capital recycling in 1H 2025 with more than S$1.5 billion in contracted divestments YTD.
The group also strengthened its Singapore residential pipeline with its disciplined land replenishment strategy.
Its current launch pipeline comprises around 2,260 units, which includes developments in Lakeside Drive and Senja Close.
Over at its Hotel Operations division, revenue per available room inched up 0.5% year on year to S$155.6 for 1H 2025.
CDL is also undertaking asset enhancement initiatives for Republic Plaza Tower 2 and City Square Mall.
Singapore Technologies Engineering (SGX: S63)
Singapore Technologies Engineering, or STE, is an engineering and technology company serving customers in the aerospace, smart city, and public defence sectors.
Shares of STE have done very well YTD with an impressive 65.2% gain.
The group saw revenue rise 7.2% year on year to S$5.9 billion for 1H 2025.
Operating profit increased by 15.2% year on year to S$602.2 million, while net profit improved nearly 20% year on year to S$402.8 million.
An interim dividend of S$0.04 was declared and paid for the second quarter of 2025, unchanged from a year ago.
The total 1H 2025 dividend stood at S$0.08, similar to the previous year.
STE has demonstrated good progress in building up its order book.
For 1H 2025, the group snagged contract wins of S$9.1 billion, lifting its order book to S$31.2 billion as of 30 June 2025.
Of this order book, around S$5 billion should be recognised for the remainder of this year.
Keppel Ltd (SGX: BN4)
Keppel is a global asset manager offering sustainability-related solutions spanning the infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity sectors.
YTD, Keppel’s shares have climbed nearly 26% and are just shy of their 52-week high of S$8.84.
For 1H 2025, New Keppel’s net profit jumped 25% year on year to S$431 million.
New Keppel’s business excludes its non-core portfolio that is slated for divestment.
The group’s annualised return on equity (ROE) increased from 13.2% in 1H 2024 to 15.4% in the current half year.
Keppel also reported good momentum in growing its funds under management to S$91 billion at the end of June 2025, with its target to grow FUM to S$100 billion by 2026.
In line with its policy of rewarding shareholders, an interim dividend of S$0.15 was declared, unchanged from a year ago.
Keppel also announced a S$500 million share buyback programme along the way.
Earlier in August, Keppel announced the divestment of M1, which will unlock close to S$1 billion in cash.
The asset manager will, however, book an estimated accounting loss of around S$222 million from this sale.
Singtel (SGX: Z74)
Singtel is Singapore’s largest telecommunication company (telco) offering a comprehensive range of services, including mobile, pay TV, and broadband.
The telco’s share price has surged nearly 40% YTD and recently hit its 52-week high of S$4.35.
Singtel recently announced a robust business update for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (1Q FY2026) ending 30 June 2025.
Operating revenue dipped by 0.6% year on year to S$3.39 billion, but operating profit rose 9.6% year on year to S$418 million.
The telco saw its underlying net profit climb nearly 14% year on year to S$686 million, aided by stronger performances from its Australian unit Optus and NCS, along with higher contributions from Airtel and AIS.
To date, Singtel has unlocked around S$4 billion out of its S$9 billion capital recycling target.
The group provided an upbeat forecast for FY2026, projecting that operating profit will increase by high single-digits year on year.
Looking ahead, Singtel will accelerate its overseas enterprise business expansion while expanding its 5G service offerings.
It will also scale up its data centre capacity to more than 200 MW by the end of 2026.
HongKong Land Holdings (SGX: H78)
HongKong Land Holdings, or HKL, is a property investment, management and development group with a real estate footprint spanning more than 850,000 square metres of prime commercial and luxury retail property.
HKL’s share price has soared 40.4% YTD and is trading close to its 52-week high of US$6.44.
For 1H 2025, the property giant saw its underlying net profit come in at US$297 million, reversing the previous year’s net loss of US$7 million.
Excluding mainland China provisions made, HKL’s underlying net profit would have risen 11% year on year to US$320 million.
The group kept its interim dividend unchanged at US$0.06 per share.
In line with its new strategic direction, HKL recycled capital of US$1.3 billion, reaching 33% of its 2025 target.
The group is prioritising the reduction of its debt and increasing its investment capacity with several initiatives under way.
HKL is also focused on the successful execution of its anchor projects in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
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Disclosure: Royston Yang does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
