1. authID.ai

Year-to-date gain: 275.48 percent; current share price: US$15.49

Formerly known as Ipsidy, authID.ai (NASDAQ:AUID) rebranded and announced new leadership midway through 2021. The company, which provides an identify-as-a-service platform, says its goal is to eliminate usernames and passwords using its biometric solutions for identity proofing and authentication.

Shares of authID.ai reached their 2021 peak on November 4, when they hit US$17.86. Four days later, the company released its Q3 financial and operational results, reporting total revenue of US$0.5 million and a net loss of US$5.2 million. The firm emphasized that the stage is set for future growth after activities such as the October launch of its Verified product, which is a biometric authentication service.

2. Identiv

Year-to-date gain: 232.52 percent; current share price: US$28

With customers in sectors such as government, education and healthcare, Identiv (NASDAQ:INVE) provides solutions for both physical security and secure identification. The company's arsenal of security tools includes radio-frequency identification and near-field communication, as well as physical access, video and audio security.

Identiv's financial results for the third quarter, which were released at the beginning of November, highlight record total revenue of US$29.1 million, up 17 percent from the previous year; GAAP net income came in at US$2.5 million. The company's share price rose to its highest point in 2021 on December 27, clocking in at US$28.33.

3. Fortinet

Year-to-date gain: 145.36 percent; current share price: US$365.37

Fortinet (NASDAQ:FDNT) uses its Security Fabric architecture to deliver cybersecurity solution to more than 550,000 customers worldwide. Via artificial intelligence and machine learning, the company analyzes billions of events on a daily basis to help its users take action toward threats.

In its Q3 financial results, delivered at the start of November, Fortinet achieved total revenue of US$867.2 million — a 33 percent increase year-on-year — and GAAP net income of US$163.1 million. Company shares have climbed steadily throughout 2021, peaking at US$367.67 on December 27.