10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks So Far in 2026

8. Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW)

Year-to-Date Performance: 62.33%

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 23, Dow reported Q1 2026 financial results, characterized by a 6% year-on-year decline in net sales to $9.8 billion. This drop was driven by a 7% decrease in local prices and a 2% dip in overall volume, largely due to disruptions in the Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

While Performance Materials & Coatings remained flat, other segments saw notable declines as the company navigated global supply constraints and planned maintenance on the US Gulf Coast. The company’s bottom line reflected these challenges, with a GAAP net loss of $445 million and an operating loss per share of $0.14. Operating EBIT stood at $154 million, down $76 million from the previous year, as lower market prices pressured margins. However, these losses were partially mitigated by Dow’s aggressive cost-reduction program and the strategic suspension of equity loss recognition for Sadara.

Looking ahead, the CEO Jim Fitterling highlighted a positive inflection in margins starting in March, driven by global supply constraints and Dow’s self-help pricing actions. Despite the volatile macroeconomic environment and geopolitical risks, Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) remains focused on leveraging its Americas manufacturing footprint and European feedstock flexibility to drive growth and improve shareholder returns, having distributed $252 million in dividends this quarter.

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is a global materials science company. The company operates through three primary segments: Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings.