After a strong 8.3 percent gain in the month of October, the S&P 500 traded mostly flat throughout the month of November. After a mid-month dip as low as 2019, the S&P closed out the month at around the 2080 level.

The month brought some huge stock moves in both directions, as Q3 earnings reports and news of M&A deals poured in throughout November. Here’s a list of the five best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the past month.

5. Norfolk Southern Corp. NSC 0.54%

The number five top performer saw a huge November price spike not on earnings news, but on buyout news. Norfolk Southern’s stock jumped 11 percent on November 9 after reports surfaced that Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (USA) CP 1.92% was raising funds in an effort to acquire Norfolk.

Norfolk Southern closed out November up 18.0 percent on the month.

4. Plum Creek Timber Co. Inc PCL 1.28%

On November 9, Plum Creek’s stock jumped 12 percent following news of a $8.4 billion buyout by Weyerhaeuser Co WY 1.13%.

Plum Creek finished November up 25.6 percent on the month.

3. Illumina, Inc. ILMN 4.72%

Illumina marked…

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