On August 7, Jonathan Krinsky, BTIG technician, joined CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ to discuss his thoughts on the current market standing. Krinsky explained what the charts indicated about the market’s future. He confirmed his belief that a pullback is likely and cited the structure of the market this year. The S&P 500 peaked around 6,100 in February before a decline in April. Since the index has now broken through that resistance level, Krinsky anticipates a check back to retest 6,100 as a new support level. This would represent only a 5% pullback from current highs and, he believes, would present an opportunity for investors to buy.
When asked about what might cause this pullback, Krinsky explained that while the overall bull market was driven by the tech and AI sectors, other areas are showing vulnerability. He mentioned consumer-focused names like transports, retail, and restaurant stocks. He also said that the tech sector had a great run, but the semiconductor industry looked vulnerable. He noted that software stocks tend to perform better than semiconductors in August, as noted for the past 5 years.
That being said, we’re here with a list of the 11 best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now.
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Our Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to compile a list of the 11 best-performing S&P 500 stocks with the highest year-to-date performance (more than 45%), as of August 11. We narrowed down our selection to stocks with the most hedge fund ownership. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their year-to-date performance. We’ve also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q1 2025, which was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.
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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
11 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now
11. IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 57.73%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 11, Piper Sandler raised the firm’s price target on Idexx Laboratories to $700 from $510 following the company’s Q2 2025 financial results. The firm kept a Neutral rating on the shares.
IDEXX Laboratories reported total revenues of $1,109 million in Q2, which was an increase of 11% as reported and 9% organically, compared to the prior year. This was driven by a strong performance from its Companion Animal Group/CAG and Water segments, which saw revenue increases of 11% and 9% as reported, respectively.
Within the Companion Animal Group, IDEXX VetLab consumables revenue grew by 15% as reported and 14% organically. The company also saw a 66% reported increase in CAG Diagnostics capital instrument revenues, driven by record placements of its new IDEXX InVue Dx instrument. Rapid assay products revenues, however, declined by 3% as both reported and organic, as some testing shifted to new modalities.
IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) develops, manufactures, and distributes products for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, dairy, and water testing industries in the US and internationally.
10. eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 53.83%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 51
eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. Susquehanna analyst Shyam Patil raised the firm’s price target on eBay to $95 from $70 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares. This decision followed the company’s Q2 2025 earnings report, which was driven by strength in the US and solid GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) growth acceleration in its focus categories.
eBay reported revenue of $2.7 billion, which was an increase of 6% on an as-reported basis and 4% on an FX-neutral basis compared to the previous year. GMV was $19.5 billion, also up 6% as reported and 4% on an FX-neutral basis. The company’s total advertising offerings generated $482 million in revenue, accounting for 2.5% of GMV.
For Q3, eBay is providing guidance that projects revenue between $2.69 and $2.74 billion, and GMV in the range of $19.2 to $19.6 billion. The company expects FX-neutral year-over-year growth for both revenue and GMV to be between 3% and 5%.
eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) operates marketplace platforms that connect buyers and sellers in the US, the UK, China, Germany, and internationally.
9. NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 68.51%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54
NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 4, NRG Energy announced that it finalized a loan agreement with the Public Utility Commission of Texas/PUCT and received initial funding for a new natural gas generation project. The project involves the construction of 2 new natural gas units at the company’s existing TH Wharton power plant in Houston, as part of the Texas Energy Fund/TEF Loan Program.
The 2 units will have a combined capacity of 456 MW and are expected to begin operations by the summer of 2026 in the constrained Houston load zone. Total project costs are estimated to be less than $360 million, with the 20-year TEF loan providing up to $216 million at a 3% interest rate. The loan term runs from July 31 this year through July 30, 2045. This project is the second loan agreement finalized under the TEF’s In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program.
The company is pursuing additional projects under the TEF program at its Cedar Bayou and Greens Bayou sites. These 2 projects are currently in the due diligence process. If all 3 projects are approved and completed, NRG’s TEF projects would bring over 1.5 GW of new natural gas generation to Texas by 2028, which is enough capacity to power more than 1.5 million homes annually.
NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is an energy and home services company in the US and Canada.
8. Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 50.17%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 11, the US discount retailer Dollar General announced a partnership with Uber Eats to provide on-demand deliveries of household essentials. The service officially began on August 8, and is set to expand to more than 14,000 Dollar General and pOpshelf locations across the country.
The partnership allows customers to order a variety of items, from food to household goods, for either on-demand or scheduled delivery directly through the Uber Eats app. Users can find the stores by navigating to the grocery or convenience categories within the app. The partnership with Dollar General is the latest in a series of similar collaborations for Uber Eats.
In July, Uber Eats partnered with John Lewis to pilot a rapid delivery service for nursery, premium beauty, and gifting items. In June, it teamed up with Dick’s Sporting Goods to offer on-demand or scheduled delivery for a wide range of sporting goods.
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is a discount retailer that provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern US.
7. Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 52.51%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On July 31, Dollar Tree announced a leadership change in its legal department. Jonathan B. Leiken, who served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for 2 years, decided to leave the company to pursue another career opportunity.
He will be succeeded by John S. Mitchell, Jr., effective August 11. Leiken will remain with the company until August 22 to assist with the transition.
John Mitchell has been with Dollar Tree since 2021, serving as Senior Deputy General Counsel. Before that, he was a partner at the law firm of Williams Mullen. Mitchell earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. According to CEO Mike Creedon, Mitchell’s promotion is the result of thoughtful succession planning.
Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) operates retail discount stores under the Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada brands in the US and Canada.
6. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 85.03%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On July 28, Scotiabank analyst Tanya Jakusconek raised the firm’s price target on Newmont to $72 from $69, while keeping a Sector Perform rating on the shares.
Newmont Corporation produced 1.5 million ounces of gold and 36,000 tonnes of copper in Q2 2025, keeping it on track to meet its full-year guidance for 2025. Newmont achieved a record quarterly free cash flow of $1.7 billion, with cash flow from operations reaching $2.4 billion.
The company also reduced its debt by $372 million since the last earnings call. Newmont is on track to generate $3 billion in after-tax cash proceeds from its divestment program for the year. However, production is also expected to decline in H2 of the year at several sites, including Cadia and Penasquito, as the company transitions to new mining areas.
Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) engages in the production and exploration of gold properties. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, lead, and other metals.
5. Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 58.11%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69
Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 4, Amphenol announced an all-cash deal to acquire CommScope’s connectivity and cable solutions unit for $10.5 billion. This is Amphenol’s largest acquisition to date and is expected to position the company as a key player in the US wireless infrastructure market.
For CommScope, the sale stood at $9.4 billion as of December 2024. After the deal, CommScope will use the proceeds to repay all of its debt and redeem all preferred equity held by the investment firm Carlyle, with significant excess cash remaining.
This is the third major acquisition Amphenol has made from CommScope. Earlier this year, Amphenol purchased CommScope’s mobile networks business, Andrew, for about $2 billion, and in 2024, it bought CommScope’s outdoor wireless network and distributed antenna systems businesses for $2.1 billion. The latest deal is expected to close in H1 2026 and will be immediately accretive to Amphenol’s diluted EPS in the first full year after closing.
Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH) designs, manufactures, and markets electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors in the US, China, and internationally. It operates through 3 segments: Harsh Environment Solutions, Communications Solutions, and Interconnect & Sensor Systems.
4. Tapestry Inc. (NYSE:TPR)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 65.25%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73
Tapestry Inc. (NYSE:TPR) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 4, Tapestry announced the completion of the sale of its Stuart Weitzman brand to Caleres. The sale was first announced previously, but the finalization makes Stuart Weitzman a part of Caleres’s portfolio of consumer footwear brands.
During the transaction, Tapestry was advised by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as its financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP as its legal advisor. On the other side, Caleres was advised by BofA Securities as its financial advisor and BCLP (Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) as its legal advisor.
With this sale, Tapestry’s brand portfolio now includes Coach and Kate Spade New York, while Caleres’s brands include Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer, and Vionic, among others. Stuart Weitzman has been a New York City-based luxury footwear brand since 1986. Caleres is a company with a history of more than 140 years in craftsmanship.
Tapestry Inc. (NYSE:TPR) provides luxury accessories and branded lifestyle products in North America, Greater China, the rest of Asia, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman.
3. DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 52.66%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 11, RELEX Solutions announced an expanded partnership with DoorDash to enhance operations across its DashMart network of fulfillment centers.
The collaboration implements RELEX’s forecasting and replenishment capabilities. The expanded partnership will see DoorDash deploy additional AI-driven supply chain optimization tools to support its ongoing expansion in the on-demand delivery sector.
DashMart locations function as fulfillment centers. By using RELEX’s unified supply chain planning capabilities, DoorDash aims to automate complex tasks. This move is expected to reduce manual processes and increase forecast accuracy.
DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) operates a commerce platform that connects merchants, consumers, and independent contractors in the US and internationally.
2. Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 47.01%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On August 11, Mizuho raised the firm’s price target on Micron to $155 from $150, while keeping an Outperform rating on the shares due to the company’s improved pricing, particularly in DRAM, and strong execution. The firm sees continued strength in legacy DRAM pricing into H2 and HBM driving a 5x higher average selling price bump from traditional DRAM.
Micron Technology made $9.3 billion in FQ3 2025 revenue, which marked a 37% year-over-year increase. This was driven by its DRAM segment, which generated $7.1 billion in revenue and represented a 51% increase, making up 76% of the company’s total revenue. The NAND segment also contributed $2.2 billion in revenue, which was an increase of 4%.
However, DRAM and NAND prices decreased in the low and high single-digit percentage ranges, respectively. The company is also navigating customer qualification challenges for its HBM3E and HBM4 products and is seeing a 10% structurally lower NAND wafer capacity by the end of FY2025 due to technology transitions.
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) designs, develops, manufactures, and sells memory and storage products in the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, China, India, and internationally.
1. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)
Year-to-Date Performance as of August 11: 65.00%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks to buy now. On July 28, BofA raised the firm’s price target on GE Aerospace to $310 from $230, while keeping a Buy rating on the shares. This sentiment by the firm followed the company’s raised 2025 guidance and 2028 expectations for double-digit compound annual growth in revenue and $11.5 billion operating profit.
GE Aerospace reported adjusted revenue of $10.2 billion in Q2, which is an increase of 23% year-over-year. This was driven by a 30% rise in its Commercial Engines & Services/CES revenue and a 7% increase in its Defense & Propulsion Technologies/DPT revenue. Total orders were also up significantly, increasing by 27% year-over-year.
Adjusted EPS grew by 38% to $1.66. The company also generated $2.1 billion in free cash flow, nearly doubling the amount from Q2 of the previous year. This strong cash position is backed by a robust backlog of over $175 billion, with commercial services accounting for more than $140 billion.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) designs and produces commercial and defense aircraft engines, integrated engine components, electric power, and mechanical aircraft systems.
While we acknowledge the potential of GE 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 GE and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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