In this article, we will take a look at the 15 Best Performing Stocks in S&P 500 Last 3 Months.
Evercore ISI increased its year-end 2026 prediction for the S&P 500 to 7750 on September 2, citing artificial intelligence as a driver that is similar to the late 1990s internet boom in terms of generating higher profitability and stock prices.
According to Julian Emanuel, the firm’s chief equity and quantitative strategist, the current surge is similar to the technology-driven bull market of that era, which saw quick recoveries from market declines and interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. That said, gains in recent years have been widely distributed rather than highly concentrated, in contrast to the dot-com era.
That said, following a weaker-than-expected jobs data on September 5, US stocks fell as investors bet on impending interest rate reduction in the face of a deteriorating labor market. In addition, the S&P 500 shaved off some gains, dropping 0.3% as it closed off its highest closing point ever recorded on September 4.
The jobs report, the first after President Trump removed the BLS head, wrapped up a week of data that revealed fractures in the labor market. That has boosted Wall Street’s confidence that a rate cut will occur at the Fed’s September meeting.
Our Methodology
For this list, we used stock screeners and identified stocks in the S&P 500 that were popular among elite hedge funds. We then checked their 3-month performance and selected the 15 best-performing stocks from our initial pool. The names on this list appear in ascending order of their favor among hedge funds.
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).
15. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW)
3-Month Performance: 32.06%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 26, Benchmark reiterated its Buy rating and $125 price target for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW), continuing to rank the transportation company on its Best Idea list for 2025.
Benchmark emphasized C.H. Robinson’s rise to prominence in the artificial intelligence space, pointing out that the company has implemented more than 30 AI agents that boost productivity by over 35% by streamlining operations, cutting down on manual procedures, and providing speedier service.
The firm also cited C.H. Robinson’s 1% year-over-year increase in North American Surface Transportation (NAST) volume, which represents the ninth consecutive quarter of market share growth.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) is an American company that focuses on freight, logistics, and supply chain solutions. The company provides truckload, less-than-truckload, air cargo, and maritime transport.
14. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)
3-Month Performance: 22.32%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 26, Goldman Sachs reaffirmed a Buy rating and price target of $89 for Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) shares following an investor meeting with the company’s senior management in Chicago. The bank’s analysis centered on growth catalysts for Hasbro’s Magic the Gathering franchise through 2026 and even beyond, emphasizing the trading card game’s sustained relevance in the company’s product line.
Goldman Sachs also reviewed Hasbro’s planned release of Exodus, the company’s inaugural self-published video game, and the possible margin effects related to this strategy shift toward direct game publishing.
Another significant topic discussed at the investor meeting was the prospect for increased profitability in Hasbro’s Consumer Products division, as well as a review of how future tariffs may affect this business unit.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) is a toy and gaming company that operates in four business segments: Consumer Products, Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming, Entertainment, and Corporate and Other.
13. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH)
3-Month Performance: 32.61%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 27, Tigress Financial Partners reaffirmed its Strong Buy rating on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) and increased its price target to $38 from its previous target. The firm pointed to Norwegian Cruise Line’s ongoing advantages from robust cruise demand, operational enhancements, and rising profit margins.
In particular, Tigress Financial highlighted Norwegian’s customer experience management and digital and AI-driven marketing as crucial components of the company’s expansion plan. These technology projects and marketing collaborations are expected to keep improving company performance.
The firm also highlighted Norwegian Cruise Line’s rapidly increasing cash flow, which is being used to finance balance sheet optimization, private island development, fleet expansion and upgrades, and other growth projects.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) is a leading American cruise company based in Florida. The company offers a number of travel itineraries to its customers across North America and the Caribbean, among other locations.
12. Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN)
3-Month Performance: 45.24%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 28, UBS raised its price target for Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) from Neutral to Buy, notably increasing it from $101 to $147. The upgrade is based on higher Macau forecasts and a more positive outlook for Wynn’s AI Marjan resort in the United Arab Emirates, which UBS anticipates will receive market recognition after Wynn’s December investor day.
According to UBS, the UAE project is expected to generate run-rate adjusted property EBITDAM of $730 million. This is 16% higher than Wynn’s base case estimate of $625 million at steady state and falls around the higher end of the company’s guidance range of $500-800 million.
The firm believes Wynn’s position as the only casino operator in the UAE will give it an important edge in garnering trust among ultra-high-net-worth foreign clients.
Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) is a luxury hotel and casino operator known for providing premium resort experiences and running high-end properties in Boston, Macau, and Las Vegas.
11. Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE)
3-Month Performance: 23.98%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 56
Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 26, Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating on Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), citing indicators that the online travel operator will win a moderate global hotel room night share by 2025. According to analysts, Expedia’s total nights climbed by 6.5% in the first half of 2025, which was marginally less than the 7.3% growth of the broader online travel agency (OTA) sector.
The firm further emphasizes that, while Expedia’s VRBO division faces growth hurdles due to to its stronger U.S. exposure, with planned growth of 3% vs the sector’s 8%, this disparity is shrinking in comparison to 2024’s estimated difference of 11 percentage points. Strong advertising income is also assisting in offsetting possible revenue headwinds from sales-boosting merchandise initiatives.
Expedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) is a US and international online travel company. The company is divided into B2C, B2B, and Trivago sectors.
10. United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI)
3-Month Performance: 39.48%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 29, KeyBanc maintained its Overweight rating on United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) while raising its price target from $960 to $1,075. The rise comes after KeyBanc’s recent study of secular non-residential development trends, with a focus on the data center industry. From January 2020 to July 2025, the firm monitored about 542 data center projects that were announced, with a total estimated investment value of $990 billion.
Despite potential hurdles involving interest rates, legal issues, and power grid limits that could cause certain projects to be delayed or cancelled, KeyBanc believes that forward investment visibility amounts to about $459 billion after adding a conservative 50% discount to outstanding project expenditure.
As an industrial equipment rental company, United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI) provides a variety of machines to customers mostly in the construction industry, including forklifts, cranes, tools, booms, and scissor lifts.
9. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE)
3-Month Performance: 32.43%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On September 3, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) reported third-quarter revenue that surpassed Wall Street forecasts due to robust demand in its networking and server divisions. The rise in GenAI has increased demand for HPE’s AI-optimized servers, which are capable of running complicated applications and are backed by Nvidia processors.
By acquiring Juniper, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) also strengthened its networking division, which typically experiences faster growth than traditional hardware.
Moreover, the company reached a truce with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, one of HPE’s largest shareholders with a holding over $1.5 billion, and recruited seasoned tech sector executive Robert Calderoni to its board in July.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) provides data services globally through its several divisions, including Corporate Investments, Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, and Financial Services. Additionally, the company offers software-defined infrastructure (SDI) solutions to help businesses with software development and deployment, automation, network management, and storage.
8. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)
3-Month Performance: 39.74%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66
Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On September 2, Macquarie lowered its rating of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) from Outperform to Neutral, with a $72 price target. The downgrade came as the mining behemoth beat its contemporaries in the gold mining industry by a significant margin.
According to Macquarie, Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) recently finished a number of strategic stages, such as renationalizing its portfolio, selling off non-core assets, stabilizing its operations, and integrating the NCM business.
Due to portfolio diversification and reduced guidance risk than rivals, Macquarie had upgraded Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) in late June. However, the stock’s recent outperformance has prompted Macquarie to conclude that the investment thesis has been satisfied.
Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is a key player in gold mining. The company’s broad portfolio comprises world-class gold and copper assets in North and South America, Australia, and Africa.
7. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)
3-Month Performance: 25.21%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. JPMorgan reaffirmed First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) as a “top pick” on August 25, setting the company’s price target for December 2025 at $241. In anticipation of the RE+ conference on September 8 and a possible announcement of a U.S. factory, the bank advises purchasing September call spreads on First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) in order to position for upside.
The firm backs First Solar’s risk-reward profile, noting the company’s greater insight into medium-term growth potential due to backlogs that will stretch this decade. JPMorgan also notes that First Solar’s production in the United States gives it an advantage over competitors due to more U.S. credits and lower tariff exposure.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is an American solar technology company and a global supplier of sustainably produced eco-efficient solar modules.
6. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)
3-Month Performance: 35.55%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69
Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. In a bid to improve care for Medicare Advantage members with musculoskeletal conditions, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) announced new value-based care agreements with Vori Health and HOPCo on August 27.
Through these collaborations, qualified Humana Medicare Advantage members will have access to care coordination teams that collaborate with their primary care physicians. These agreements also expand Humana’s established musculoskeletal care program, which comprises a partnership with TailorCare to serve Medicare Advantage members in Atlanta.
Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is focused on improving health and well-being by providing a variety of healthcare benefits to its medical and specialty members. These include fully insured medical and specialty health insurance that covers vision, dental, and supplemental health benefits, as well as administrative services only (ASO) packages for individuals and employers.
5. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)
3-Month Performance: 39.97%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On September 2, UBS boosted its price target for Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) from $65 to $84 and upgraded it from Neutral to Buy. The firm cited continuous AI-driven fiber expansion that continues to outperform market expectations, which UBS predicts will generate sustained higher growth and a re-rating of the GLW stock.
Through 2027, UBS projects that Corning’s optical division will have a sales CAGT of about 27%, which would account for a large portion of the company’s anticipated 13% overall sales CAGR during this time.
According to the firm’s revised adjusted earnings per share projections, 2026 and 2027 will see year-over-year growth of roughly 24% and 20%, respectively, exceeding consensus estimates by approximately 6% and 13%.
Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is an American multinational company that manufactures damage-resistant cover glass, precision glass for advanced displays, automotive glass, ceramics, optical fiber, wireless technology, and connection solutions.
4. Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX)
3-Month Performance: 47.35%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71
Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 25, Cantor Fitzgerald restated its Overweight rating on Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) with a $175 price target. The firm stated that Seagate emerged as one of the top performers in its coverage universe, surpassing the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX).
With client purchase orders and long-term contracts that last into the second half of 2026, Cantor Fitzgerald anticipates Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) to validate a robust supply and demand environment.
Along with reinforcing confidence in Seagate’s technology roadmap, the firm also expects price trends to continue supporting the company’s improvement in gross margin.
Potential tariff effects remain a prominent topic for investors, though Cantor Fitzgerald stated that Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) is seeking clarification from the Trump Administration on Section 232, with further information likely in the coming days.
Originally founded as Shugart Technology in 1978, Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:STX) is an American data storage company that formally started operations in 1979. The company offers a full portfolio of storage devices, systems, and services from edge to cloud.
3. Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC)
3-Month Performance: 67.19%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74
Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On September 3, Morgan Stanley boosted its price target to $99 and selected Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) as its new top choice in the storage industry. The bank also set a bull case price target of $125 for Western Digital, indicating substantial upside from current levels.
The move by Morgan Stanley comes after management discussions that boosted the firm’s trust in Western Digital’s technology strategy. According to the firm’s analysis, Western Digital’s current valuation discount of more than 20% in comparison to its peers seems excessive.
Morgan Stanley determined that rapid capital returns and sustained outstanding execution were significant factors that might assist Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) in reducing this value difference with rivals.
Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) is a well-known manufacturer and developer of data storage solutions and devices. The company’s product lines include external storage systems, NAND flash-based solutions, and hard disk drives (HDDs).
2. Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET)
3-Month Performance: 50.08%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On August 27, Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) spoke at Deutsche Bank’s 2025 Technology Conference, offering a strategic perspective of its cloud-based network and AI infrastructure breakthroughs. The company raised its revenue projection significantly, while simultaneously addressing market difficulties and operational efficiency.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) increased its revenue outlook by about $550 million, with the latest VeloCloud acquisition accounting for $50 million. In that line, the company sees enormous potential for expansion in the campus market, and intends to use the VeloCloud purchase to expand branch products.
Additionally, the company revealed alliances with major clients and a focus on software-defined networking during the presentation.
Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is an American computer networking company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The company specializes in developing and providing multilayer network switches that enable software-defined networking in large-scale data centers, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and high-frequency trading environments.
1. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)
3-Month Performance: 38.49%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 178
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) ranks among the best performing S&P 500 stocks in the last 3 months. On September 3, TD Cowen increased its price target for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) to $240 from $220 and retained a Buy rating on the company. The firm noted Google’s ability to respond to challenges from AI chatbots like ChatGPT as a result of its “massive scale & tech DNA,” backed up by proprietary survey data that demonstrates strong consumer adoption of AI Overviews and AI Mode features.
Despite competition from OpenAI and others, the firm expressed confidence that Alphabet can continue to lead the search market while making progress in generative AI, though it noted that Google Search confronts a “innovator’s dilemma” with the rise of GenAI chatbots.
According to TD Cowen, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is “an established and leading AI company at its core” and has “similar or better GenAI technology vs competing upstarts.”
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is a leading tech giant with a diverse portfolio, offering services such as Google Ads, Google Chrome, Google Cloud, Search, and YouTube.
While we acknowledge the potential of GOOG 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 GOOG and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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