In this article, we will take a look at the 12 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks in the Last 10 Years.
The S&P 500, the most widely used indicator of the US stock market, is difficult to beat. Since its inception in 1957, the S&P 500 has produced strong long-term financial performance, with average annual total returns of more than 10% before inflation and more than 14% per year between 2020 and 2025.
As of early 2026, Wall Street holds a favorable outlook for the stock market, with many analysts expecting the S&P 500 to deliver significant returns. Ben Snider, chief US equity strategist at Goldman Sachs Research, predicts that the Federal Reserve’s trajectory, the state of the US economy, and advancements in AI investment/adoption will be the most significant factors affecting the U.S. equity market this year. He mentioned that Goldman Sachs expects 12% earnings growth, which will support a 12% market return. Speaking on market drivers for this year, he said the following:
When valuations are high, it suggests a small surprise can have a really large negative consequence. We saw that a bit in early 2025 when the market was forced to second guess its earnings outlook for the year, and consequently, the S&P declined quite sharply. This year with valuations high we expect earnings will continue to drive the market, but it does leave open the possibility of another negative surprise.
If the expected 12% gain occurs, 2026 will fall within the historically usual 10%-20% return range. That would set it next to years like 2016 and 2010, which were decent, ordinary, and in line with long-term averages.
Our Methodology
For this list, we used stock screeners to identify S&P 500 stocks that were popular among analysts and elite hedge funds. We then narrowed these stocks further by 10-year performance (>1000%), selecting the 11 best performing from our initial pool.
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).
12. Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO)
Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 10 years. Following the company’s announcement of a new $1.5 billion share repurchase authorization, Needham reiterated its Buy rating and $1,975 price target for Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) on February 26. This new buyback initiative follows the conclusion of Fair Isaac’s previous $1 billion repurchase program, which was in effect from June 2025.
So far this quarter, Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) has repurchased around $181 million in stock, an increased quantity compared to previous quarterly buybacks.
Needham sees the accelerated repurchases as a solid indicator of Fair Isaac’s future free cash flow potential. According to the firm, the recent repurchases might add around $0.20 to annualized earnings per share, subject to execution details disclosed in the next earnings report.
Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) develops software with analytics and digital decisioning technologies that enable businesses to automate, enhance, and connect decisions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
11. Axon Enterprise Inc (NASDAQ:AXON)
Axon Enterprise Inc (NASDAQ:AXON) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 10 years. On February 25, TD Cowen boosted its price target for Axon Enterprise Inc (NASDAQ:AXON) to $950 from $925 while maintaining its rating on the company’s shares. The firm highlighted the company’s 53% bookings increase during the fourth quarter and revenue forecast of 27% to 30% for fiscal 2026, which topped the Street estimate of 25.5%.
The company’s software mix growth is expected to boost margins during the forecast period. Moreover, Axon announced a 125% net revenue retention rate, along with accelerated annual recurring revenue growth.
RBC Capital also cited Axon’s fourth-quarter 2025 performance and fiscal 2026 guidance as proof of the company’s ability to diversify into innovative product categories and sectors while maintaining its leadership position in US public safety. RBC Capital stated that Axon’s data moats and network effects equip the company to handle AI decentralization risk.
Axon Enterprise Inc (NASDAQ:AXON) is a global provider of public safety technology solutions. Its products include body-worn cameras, which it supplies to customers such as US law enforcement agencies.
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