In this article, we will discuss: 10 Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2026.
On April 15, 2026, Hamish Preston, head of US equities at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in an interview that the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 on February 6, 2026, the first time it had done so in nearly 130 years of history. According to Hamish Preston, the milestone highlights the index’s importance as a long-term indicator of U.S. equity markets. The gauge hit 40,000 less than two years ago, showing faster milestone improvements. Since its inception in 1896 by Charles Dow, the index has seen 136 constituent changes, growing from 12 to 30 stocks by 1928, with an average tenure of around 25 years as of January 2026.
S&P Dow Jones Indices also stated that the index supports about $115 billion in indexed assets and more than $8 trillion in equivalent trading volume in 2024. Preston stated that new additions accounted for over half of the increase from 40,000 to 50,000, showing evolving sector exposure. He said that the index reflects most industries, despite a preference for financials and industrials.
With that said, here are the 10 Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2026.
Methodology:
We began with a pool of 30 stocks from the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and identified stocks that have delivered positive returns in 2026 so far. We then picked the top 10 stocks with the highest Year-to-Date return as of April 16. We have limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their year-to-date performance.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Year-to-date return as of April 16: 8.46%
On March 31, 2026, Reuters reported that Infinimmune had entered into a deal with Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to explore and develop numerous antibody candidates, with possible milestone payments totaling $838 million. The deal involves an undisclosed upfront payment to Infinimmune, while Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) retains exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the ensuing medicines.
Infinimmune announced that it will use its patented technology to screen vast volumes of human immune cells, discovering naturally existing antibodies and improving them with artificial intelligence methods. CEO of Infinimmune Wyatt McDonnell told Reuters that the technology promotes antibodies that have already been sculpted by human biology rather than creating them from scratch.
The firms will investigate various secret targets chosen by Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), with McDonnell stressing that the relationship is not limited to a specific disease area. Infinimmune is also exploring internal early-stage treatments for moderate-to-severe eczema and other immune-related disorders.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a healthcare firm that provides health solutions through prescription medications, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates in three segments: pharmaceutical, animal health, and other.
9. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Year-to-date return as of April 16: 8.77%
On April 1, 2026, Reuters reported that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and its approved bottlers want to invest 17.6 billion rand ($1.05 billion) in South Africa through 2030. It cited remarks made by Africa operating unit president Luis Felipe Avellar at an investment conference in Johannesburg. The corporation stated that the investment will increase production capacity, boost distribution, and expedite innovation throughout its value chain.
Separately, on March 23, 2026, Reuters reported that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s largest Indian bottler, SLMG Beverages, has warned of prospective price rises due to rising packaging costs associated with the Middle East war. Deputy CEO at SLMG, Rahul Kumar, stated that rising prices for plastic, caps, labels, and cardboard may necessitate selected price increases based on competition and consumer response.
SLMG accounts for around 22% of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s India volumes. It intends to invest between 10 billion rupees ($106.58 million) and 12 billion rupees in each of four new plants it expects to construct over the next five years. In fiscal year 2025, the bottler’s sales increased by 49% to 67.73 billion rupees, while net profit rose 76% to 2.06 billion rupees, according to the company database Tofler.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) manufactures and markets non-alcoholic beverages. It operates in the following regions: Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments.
