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

4. Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW)

Year-to-Date Performance: 93.64%

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On March 31, Corning and Meta (NASDAQ:META) officially broke ground on a significant expansion of Corning’s optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina. This project is a key component of a multiyear agreement valued at up to $6 billion, established in January, to accelerate the buildout of advanced AI data centers in the US.

As the anchor customer for this expansion, Meta will use Corning’s latest innovations in optical fiber and connectivity to support its growing AI infrastructure and application ecosystem. The new state-of-the-art facility is expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain and reinforce North Carolina’s position as a global hub for optical manufacturing. Corning, which already employs over 5,000 people in the state, anticipates that this expansion could increase its local workforce by 15% to 20%.

This collaboration highlights a shift toward long-term, high-scale partnerships between tech giants and hardware manufacturers. By securing a domestic supply of critical optical technology, Meta ensures the resilience of its infrastructure while supporting American manufacturing jobs. For Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW), the expansion marks a milestone in its 175-year history, using its long-standing presence in North Carolina to meet the rapid speed and scale requirements of the current AI era.

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) provides glass for flat panel desktop monitors, notebook computers, display televisions, and other information display applications, carrier network, and enterprise network products. The company’s operations are divided into the following segments: Optical Communications, Display, Specialty Materials, Automotive, and Life Sciences.