10 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed

In this article, we will take a look at the 10 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed.

S&P 500 index has soared nearly 8% year-to-date as of June 26. Goldman Sachs projects the S&P 500 index to set new records in 2026 as earnings continue to expand rapidly. The bank has raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 from 7,600 to 8,000, which implies an upside of 8.78% from Friday’s close of 7,354.02.

The Chief U.S. Equity Strategist at Goldman, Ben Snider, has raised the S&P 500 earnings-per-share (EPS) forecast to $340 in 2026, reflecting 24% profit growth this year. Snider said earnings growth has boosted the S&P 500’s total return so far in 2026 and expects this dynamic to continue in the next two quarters.

The increase in consensus forward EPS estimates has exceeded the S&P 500 price gain so far in 2026. This has resulted in a decline in the P/E multiple. Snider pointed out that over the past two years, near-term earnings growth has arithmetically accounted for almost a 40% increase in the S&P 500.

AI infrastructure remains the key driver for earnings growth this year, added Snider. The first-quarter earnings season was exceptionally strong, a thesis on which Snider raised the S&P 500 target.

Based on FactSet data, the Q1 S&P 500 earnings soared over 28% from a year ago, marking the strongest profit expansion since Q1 of 2021. FactSet data suggest that around 84% of S&P 500 companies have surpassed analyst earnings estimates, well above the five-year average of 78%.

With that, let’s take a look at the 10 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed.

10 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed

Stock market charts. Photo by Kaboompics.com on Pexels

Our Methodology

To create the list of 10 stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently and how they performed, we identified stocks recently added to the S&P 500 index and measured their price performance from their respective effective date through June 26, 2026. Stocks are ranked in ascending order based on total return since their addition to the index. We also included hedge fund sentiment for each stock. The data for the hedge fund sentiment for each stock was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q1 2026.

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. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).

Note: All the data is as of market close on June 26, 2026.

10. CRH plc (NYSE:CRH)

Percentage Change as of June 26: -10.77%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 86

Effective Date: December 22, 2025

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) was recently added to the S&P 500 index and has plunged over 10% since its inclusion.

CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) has undergone management changes, including the appointment of Aylwyn Bryan as CFO, effective May 12, 2026, and Danilo Juvane as Head of Investor Relations, effective May 26, 2026. Following the major leadership changes, CRH recently made a massive move with the agreement to acquire U.S.-based Arcosa for $8.5 billion. This is a record acquisition deal for CRH, notably increasing the firm’s presence in North America infrastructure and aggregates markets.

CEO Jim Mintern said that the acquisition reinforces CRH’s position as the number one infrastructure player in North America. Considering the robust demand for U.S. energy and utility infrastructure solutions, Mintern believes that this deal places the firm at the forefront of a major growth opportunity.

On June 26, Jefferies lifted the price target on CRH plc from $149 to $165.50, maintaining a Buy rating. The firm views the Arcosa acquisition as a 5-6% boost to CRH’s estimated earnings per share from 2027. The firm also added that the scale of the deal emphasizes CRH’s ability to drive meaningful growth through its organic growth and merger & acquisition channel.

​CRH plc (NYSE:CRH) manufactures and distributes a wide range of superior building materials and products used in infrastructure, commercial, residential, and public construction projects worldwide.

9. FedEx Freight Holding Company, Inc. (NYSE:FDXF)

Percentage Change as of June 26: -6.16%

Effective Date: June 1, 2026

FedEx Freight Holding Company, Inc. (NYSE:FDXF) is one of the stocks that were recently added to the S&P 500 index. The company was added to the index following a spinoff from FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX).

On June 26, TheFly reported that BofA raised its price target on FedEx Freight Holding Company, Inc. (NYSE:FDXF) from $185 to $187, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The firm retains a positive stance on FDXF following BofA’s above-target adjusted operating income for the first earnings release post-spin. During Q4 FY2026, revenue came in at $2.4 billion, up 4.8% year-over-year. The adjusted operating income was $363 million, a 23.9% decrease from a year ago. BofA has moved its target multiple for FDXF below the average of industry leaders. However, the firm raised its CY2027 earnings per share estimate to $5.41.

FedEx Freight now projects better results for CY2026, with revenue growth between 4% and 6% and operating income of $475-$515 million for the seven-month transition period ending December 31, 2026. The firm’s CEO, John Smith, mentioned that FedEx Freight is entering a new phase of strategy focused on profitable growth and service differentiation. Here is what CFO Marshall Witt added:

Our guidance for the seven-month transition period reflects our confidence in the underlying strength of the business. We believe FedEx Freight is well-positioned to deliver strong financial performance as we invest strategically in the business and generate durable shareholder value.

FedEx Freight Holding Company, Inc. (NYSE:FDXF) offers less-than-truckload freight transportation services. The company operates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company was incorporated in 2025 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

8. Flex Ltd. (NASDAQ:FLEX)

Percentage Change as of June 26: -2.88%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59

Effective Date: June 22, 2026

Flex Ltd. (NASDAQ:FLEX) is the most recent addition to the S&P 500 index, and year-to-date it has surged over 142%. However, since joining the index last week, the shares have plunged over 2.50%.

On June 1, Flex Ltd. (NASDAQ:FLEX) reported its latest additions at COMPUTEX 2026. The company has announced three new power solutions designed to manage the rising power demands of AI data center infrastructure. The company’s new additions are based around a 110 kW power shelf for the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 platform, a 30 kW Capacitive Energy Storage System, and the BMR317 intermediate bus converter.

Together, these solutions position Flex as a comprehensive power infrastructure partner for the AI data center builtout. They are focusing on covering the full power delivery chain from rack-level distribution to chip-level conversion. With NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform as a key customer use case, Flex is directly integrating its presence in a market with the highest AI compute demand.

On June 25, Flex’s subsidiary, JetCool, launched a liquid-cooled version of the Dell PowerEdge XE7745 server. The solutions offer fully integrated direct-to-chip liquid cooling, simplifying complex processes for enterprise customers through high-density AI infrastructure. The server supports dual 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors and nearly eight NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs. The system fits best for low-flow operation, allowing enterprises to replace older servers without changing existing facility water loops. The system is backed by Flex’s global manufacturing footprint and supply chain depth to expand server deployment across data centers.

Flex Ltd. (NASDAQ:FLEX) is a diversified manufacturing partner with a growing focus on AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and power solutions.

7. Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV)

Percentage Change as of June 26: 1.28%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

Effective Date: May 7, 2026

Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) was added to the S&P 500 in early May and thus appears on our list of the 10 stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently.

In the past week, Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) has gained over 11.5% following the acquisition of Copli and the launch of the AI-driven Veeva Falcon MLR platform. However, year to date, the shares are down over 23%.

On June 25, Veeva Systems announced the launch of Veeva EHS, its latest environmental, health, and safety application within Veeva Quality Cloud. The tool is designed to assist manufacturing and testing sites. The focus is on finding, managing, and mitigating operational and environmental risks. Veeva EHS is planned for early adopter availability in August 2026.

On June 23, Veeva Systems acquired Copli, a company offering agentic medical, legal, and regulatory solutions for the life sciences industry. Copli is now available as Veeva Falcon MLR. The agentic solution will speed up content review with the target of reducing 70% or more manual MLR labor within five years. The tool enhances agentic automation for marketing teams, agencies, and MLR groups.

Of 29 analysts covering VEEV, 20 rate the stock Buy, while 8 rate it Hold. An average price target of $235 implies an upside potential of more than 37%.

Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:VEEV) is a provider of cloud-based solutions for the global life sciences industry. Its offerings include cloud software, AI, data, and business consulting.

6. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY)

Percentage Change as of June 26: 3.32%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

Effective Date: April 9, 2026

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) has posted positive performance since its addition to the Index and ranks among the top stocks that were recently added to the S&P 500.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) is a solid stock considering its recession-resistant business model driven by small-town dominance. Casey’s high profitability and differentiated foodservice make it a notable stock for long-term investors. On June 25, RBC Capital lifted the price target on CASY from $794 to $850, keeping its Sector Perform rating. RBC believes that the company’s 8-10% compound annual growth rate in EBITDA through FY2029 is achievable amid its strong momentum and the required investments. Casey’s General Stores’ three-year plan is to add at least 400 outlets through new-store construction and acquisitions. Casey’s CEO Darren Rebelez said that they are focusing on expansion in the food business, growing store base, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and execution.

Similarly, on June 25, Goldman Sachs raised the price target for CASY from $695 to $795, while maintaining its Neutral rating on the stock. Goldman Sachs holds views similar to RBC’s on Casey’s three-year EBITDA goal.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY), along with its subsidiaries, runs convenience stores across the U.S. under the Casey’s and Casey’s General Store names. The company offers various products, including food items, health and beauty, automotive products, electronic accessories, and housewares. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa.

While we acknowledge the potential of CASY to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CASY and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

1281292 - 11759070 - 1