Special Report: Shareholder return survey

The companies that have achieved the strongest growth in market value over the past five years illustrate the breadth and depth of the resources boom currently being enjoyed in Western Australia.

The strength of the Australian stock market and the buoyant returns enjoyed by investors have been highlighted in WA Business News' annual shareholder return feature.

Nickel developer Western Areas is scheduling production by the middle of next year after already rewarding shareholders who have been in the stock for as little as two months.

Companies in the resources industry have provided the best shareholder returns in Western Australia during the past three years, with only two of the top 10 performers outside the sector.

Western Australia's top dividend payers are the producers, providing goods and services, as opposed to those paying shareholders off on soaring share prices fuelled by rising commodity prices.

Western Australia's most successful company, Wesfarmers, has an outstanding track record of delivering impressive returns to shareholders

The leaders of strongly growing Western Australian companies believe a focus on delivering value to shareholders is the key to their success.

Only 11 of Western Australia's mid to large-cap companies suffered a fall in their market capitalisation over the past three years, according to a recent review.