In this article, we will list the 5 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks So Far in 2026. Please visit 10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks So Far in 2026 to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.
5. ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON)
Year-to-Date Performance: 80.19%
ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 27, ON Semiconductor and NIO expanded their collaboration to facilitate the automaker’s transition to next-gen 900V EV platforms. By integrating ON Semiconductor’s latest EliteSiC M3e technology, the partnership aims to enhance the efficiency and performance of NIO’s upcoming EV lineup.
This high-voltage architecture is designed to provide drivers with faster charging times, extended range, and more consistent power delivery, even under high-load conditions or at highway speeds. The collaboration represents a significant evolution from their previous work on 400V systems to a deep, system-level alignment. Key to this transition is Onsemi’s M3e technology, which reduces energy losses and improves thermal management within the drivetrain.
These technical advancements are already being implemented in NIO’s flagship models, such as the ES9 SUV, and several other vehicles debuting at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. Beyond technical specs, the agreement reflects a broader industry trend toward closer integration between semiconductor manufacturers and automakers. By aligning their technology roadmaps, ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON) and NIO are reducing development complexity and accelerating the time-to-market for high-performance electric drive systems.
ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON), founded in 1999 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, delivers intelligent power and sensing solutions, serving automotive and industrial markets.
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.
3. Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT)
Year-to-Date Performance: 97.88%
Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 27, Vertiv acquired Strategic Thermal Labs/STL, a specialist in advanced liquid-cooling technologies, to enhance its thermal management capabilities for high-density AI and HPC. This acquisition focuses on the critical interface between server-side liquid cooling and infrastructure, adding STL’s expertise in cold-plate design and high-density thermal validation to Vertiv’s portfolio.
By strengthening its ability to simulate and emulate real-world compute conditions, Vertiv aims to optimize the interaction between power and thermal chains, improving overall system reliability and lifecycle outcomes. A key driver for this move is the unprecedented power density required by modern AI workloads, which makes solving heat challenges at the chip level essential for system performance.
The integration of STL allows Vertiv to better validate system-level solutions, helping customers manage the increasing complexity of liquid-cooled environments. Vertiv noted that this acquisition will support its capacity to support clients through every stage of the process. Despite the acquisition, Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT) reaffirmed its commitment to an open ecosystem. The company will remain server and silicon-agnostic, ensuring its infrastructure solutions are interoperable across diverse compute environments.
Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT) is an electrical equipment & parts company that specializes in critical digital infrastructure technologies & life cycle services for data centers and communication networks
2. Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:TER)
Year-to-Date Performance: 105.39%
Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 16, Teradyne acquired TestInsight, a prominent developer of semiconductor test validation and conversion software, to address the increasing complexity of AI and data center hardware. The acquisition is aimed at tightening the workflow between initial design and final testing, a process often slowed by the intricate requirements of modern silicon.
By integrating TestInsight’s virtual test and pattern generation tools with Teradyne’s automated test equipment/ATE platforms, the company intends to shorten debug cycles and accelerate the time to ramp for new AI devices. The value of this deal lies in pre-silicon validation. As product lifecycles for AI chips shrink, the ability to prepare and validate test programs before the physical silicon even arrives is a critical competitive advantage.
Teradyne CEO noted that these advanced software tools are now essential for customers to meet narrow market windows without sacrificing device quality. The integration is expected to yield a more seamless design-to-test environment that improves overall fault coverage and production reliability. Despite the merger, Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) affirmed its commitment to an open ecosystem.
Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:TER) designs, develops, manufactures, and sells automated test systems and robotics products globally.
1. Seagate Technology Holdings (NASDAQ:STX)
Year-to-Date Performance: 115.48%
Seagate Technology Holdings (NASDAQ:STX) is one of the best performing S&P 500 stocks so far in 2026. On April 23, Seagate launched a refreshed lineup of consumer and prosumer storage solutions across its Seagate, FireCuda, and LaCie brands to address the rapid growth of personal and professional data. This new portfolio is specifically designed to handle higher-resolution media, massive gaming libraries, and AI-driven creative workflows.
A standout feature across the desktop range is the introduction of the industry’s first bus-powered USB-C 3.5-inch hard drives, which eliminate the need for external power adapters and simplify desktop setups by using a single cable for both power and data transfer. The product rollout includes the Seagate One Touch and FireCuda X Vault, catering to everyday users and gamers, respectively. The One Touch desktop drive offers straightforward backup options in capacities up to 24TB, while the FireCuda X Vault provides up to 20TB of storage optimized for archiving large game libraries and captured gameplay.
Both models feature a plug-and-play design and include Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services. For gamers, the FireCuda X Vault adds aesthetic appeal with customizable RGB lighting and holds Xbox on PC certification to ensure compatibility with modern gaming environments. For high-end creative professionals and production teams, Seagate introduced the LaCie 8big Pro5, a high-performance multi-bay RAID solution. Using Thunderbolt 5 technology, this system delivers transfer speeds up to 2800MB/s and supports massive storage configurations scaling up to 256TB.
Seagate Technology Holdings (NASDAQ:STX) is a data storage and technology company that offers a portfolio of advanced storage solutions to hyperscale cloud providers, enterprises, and consumers.
While we acknowledge the potential of STX 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 STX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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