The S&P 500 declined by a modest 1.2 percent in December, finishing off a 2015 that saw very little change from start to finish. The index finished 2015 down 0.73 percent.

However, several stocks closed out the year with a bang. Here are the five best-performing S&P 500 stocks of the past month.

5. Baxalta Inc BXLT 2.95%

Shares surged 13.9 percent over the past month as the company nears a buyout deal by Shire PLC (ADR) SHPG 4.19%. Baxalta finished the year up more than 15 percent.

4. Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI 0.7%

Darden capped off a strong 2015 with a strong earnings beat in December that sent the stock higher by 14.4 percent on the month. Darden finished the year up 13 percent.

3. Whole Foods Market, Inc. WFM 2.78%

After an abysmal 2015, Whole Foods finished…

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