In this article, we will take a look at the best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 2 years.
Given the current geopolitical tensions, it has become difficult for markets to find a clear direction. Investors hope for minimal lasting impact whilst navigating developments in the Middle East.
According to CNBC, stocks resumed their decline on March 5. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,034 points, the S&P 500 declined 1.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.1%, CNBC’s publication noted. Crude oil prices surged after Iran’s announcement of hitting an oil tanker with a missile.
As stated by Savita Subramanian, Head of U.S. Equity and Quantitative Strategy at Bank of America Securities, on CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime,”
“Things are changing around the edges. We have a geopolitical shock, obviously, and we’re still parsing that in terms of how it could impact the risk premium for equities.”
A separate publication by CNN, titled “US stocks rise, Asian markets get rocked as Middle East conflict intensifies,” published on March 4, outlines that diversifying risk through investments in European and Asian markets emerged as a popular strategy across the last year, since international stocks outperformed the S&P 500. This approach has been tested this week, with Asian markets leading the decline, the author asserted.
Against this global backdrop, we have compiled a list of the best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 2 years.
Image by Sergei Tokmakov Terms.Law from Pixabay
Our methodology
For this article, we filtered for S&P 500 stocks and shortlisted the stocks with the highest number of hedge fund holdings, based on Insider Monkey’s database, as of Q4 2025. Next, we analyzed their 2-year performance and shortlisted stocks with over 100% returns. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. Our finalized list of stocks is ranked by 2-year performance, from highest to lowest.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL)
On February 23, KeyBanc lifted the price target on Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) to $639 from $350 and maintained an Overweight rating. Analyst Tim Rezvan from KeyBanc highlighted the water segment’s solid dynamics, as well as meaningful developments in power generation and data center opportunities.
While noting a 30-plus-gigawatt Permian power generation build-out, the firm said that power and data center build-outs are now seen as matters of timing rather than probability. The firm added that the development seems closer to materializing than previously thought. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) is well-positioned from both land and water aspects, KeyBanc asserted, suggesting additional upside potential.
As outlined by Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL) during its earnings call on February 19, the company aims for capital expenditures for the year in the range of $65 million to $75 million. The company plans to sustain its investments in water management and desalination technologies, with a long-term goal of building multiple multi-gigawatt energy campuses.
Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:TPL), founded in 1888, is a Texas-based company specializing in land and resource management, water services, and operations businesses.
9. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)
On February 26, BofA lifted the price target on Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) from $134 to $151 and reiterated a Buy rating. According to TheFly, this is part of the firm’s price target readjustment for North American Metals & Mining stocks following the revised estimates for metal prices in 2026.
A day later, Bernstein SocGen Group upgraded Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) to Outperform from Market Perform and raised its price target from $121 to $157. Bob Brackett from Bernstein believes this upward revision in outlook represents a bullish view on gold. According to the firm, there are many alpha catalysts for the company, including a new CEO with a solid plan, attainable guidance, and a reasoned agreement with the company’s largest joint venture partner.
Overall, Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is a buy according to 81% of analysts covering the stock as of March 5. While the median price target of $140 reflects an upside potential of 21.52%, the highest and lowest price targets translate to an upside potential of 53.63% and a downside potential of 7.13%, respectively.
Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), founded in 1916, is a Colorado-based gold producer that also explores for copper, silver, lead, zinc, and other metals.
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