In this article, we will take a look at the 5 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed. For a deeper discussion and an expanded list, please see 10 Stocks That Were Added to the S&P 500 Index Recently and How They Performed.
5. Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE)
Percentage Change as of June 26: 10%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 123
Effective Date: March 23, 2026
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) is one of the recent additions to the S&P 500 index and thus makes it to our list of the 10 stocks that were added to the S&P 500 recently. It has performed relatively well, with shares up nearly 10% since the addition to the index.
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) is witnessing extreme volatility due to a broader selloff in AI and optics stocks, following reports of OpenAI delaying its IPO. However, LITE remains solid fundamentally, with almost $400 million in backlog in optical circuit switches, backed by major partnerships with NVIDIA and other tech giants. There are concerns around LITE’s valuations given its remarkable growth so far in 2026 and high expectations around AI optics. However, analysts continue to maintain a positive stance on Lumentum. Analysts also see an upside of 38% with the stock already skyrocketing over 120% year-to-date.
On June 11, JPMorgan reiterated an Overweight rating on Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE), despite investor uncertainty around co-packaged optics adoption. The firm believes that these concerns are overstated as Lumentum continues to progress, especially its collaboration with NVIDIA and broader customer interest in its co-packaged and near-package optics are major evidence. This shows that Lumentum remains closely linked to the optical layer of AI data centers, a growing tier as AI cluster demand remains robust. During the Q3 FY2026 earnings call, Lumentum’s management highlighted co-packaged optics and optical circuit switches as future earnings drivers.
On June 9, Needham analyst Ryan Koontz also reiterated a Buy rating on Lumentum with a $1,040 price target, continuing to push its bullish stance amid the high AI optical networking demand as data centers transition traffic from copper links to optical connections. Koontz has named Lumentum a 2026 ‘pick of the year.’ The analyst believes that the company’s direct exposure to the bandwidth challenge, which Lumentum is well-positioned to fill through its optical components and photonics abilities.
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:LITE) provides optical and photonic products. It operates through two segments: Cloud and Networking, which deals with optical and photonic components, modules, and subsystems, and Industrial Tech, which includes solid-state lasers, kilowatt-class fiber lasers, ultrafast lasers, diode lasers, and gas lasers.
4. Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT)
Percentage Change as of June 26: 17.36%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96
Effective Date: March 23, 2026
Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) is one of the 10 stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently. So far, the stock has performed well, soaring over 17%.
Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) has been a highlight recently following the acquisition of Strategic Thermal Labs and ThermoKey, which expanded its thermal-management exposure and addressed critical needs in AI infrastructure. On June 12, Vertiv Holdings announced that it had completed the acquisition of ThermoKey. This addition expands Vertiv’s thermal-management portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to support high-end AI computing.
The addition of ThermoKey brings over 30 years of engineering experience along with technology that supports Vertiv’s existing portfolio. This gives Vertiv’s customers the flexibility to optimize for performance, site conditions, and growth as compute demands increase.
On June 23, Bernstein initiated coverage on Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:VRT) with an Outperform rating and a price target of $416. The analyst sees Vertiv as one of the only pure-play stocks in the data center infrastructure segment with the ability to scale. Vertiv’s FY2028 estimates are materially ahead of the sell-side, per the analyst, who cites its robust earnings power for the Outperform rating.
For the last three years, VRT has surpassed earnings estimates, and the potential for the data center market is still huge, which adds to its upside. According to a recent report from JPMorgan, around 60% of the planned data center capacity for 2027 has not yet been started. On June 18, GLJ Research analyst Austin Wang upgraded Vertiv Holdings from Sell to Hold. Wang believes that the recent breakthrough of CoolIT’s 15kW cold plate adds to the viability of Vertiv’s single-phase data center cooling offering beyond the 2030s.
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.
3. Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR)
Percentage Change as of June 26: 49.71%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Effective Date: March 23, 2026
Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) recently joined the S&P 500 and has surged nearly 49% since then, making it one of the top stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) shares have gained over 106% so far in 2026, driven by robust AI-driven demand for its optical networking hardware and a multi-billion-dollar equity collaboration with Nvidia. Coherent has federal backing under the CHIPS Act. On June 16, Coherent announced that it is set to receive up to $50 million in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. The company has signed the letter of intent to receive the funding for the expansion of its Indium Phosphide semiconductor manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas.
Coherent has already obtained nearly $20 million in a funding round through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund and the Sherman Economic Development Corporation. The expansion plan will double manufacturing production space and 4x wafer production capacity at the facility. The Sherman facility is already the world’s leading 6-inch Indium Phosphide manufacturing plant. The additional investment strengthens the core and long-term growth prospects of Coherent’s presence in the Indium Phosphide semiconductor market, on top of its expanded partnership with Nvidia.
Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) engages in the development, refinement, manufacturing, and marketing of engineered materials, opto-electronic components and devices, and lasers for use in the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets.
2. Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN)
Percentage Change as of June 26: 77.13%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73
Effective Date: February 9, 2026
Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) is one of the top stocks that have surged notably since it was added to the S&P 500. CIEN has gained over 77%, making it one of the top stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently.
Ciena Corporation is focusing on AI demand and innovative solutions. On June 17, Ciena’s Blue Planet division revealed Configuration and Change Management (CCM) to improve network management efficiently using AI-driven workflows. The AI solution is designed to interconnect configuration, change, and lifecycle management across multi-vendor networks. The newly designed system carries AI workflows that replace fragmented tools and manual processes focused on minimizing risk, avoiding outages, and enhancing the core for autonomous networking. The company’s Senior Vice President Joe Cumello stated that the launch of CCM is part of a broader industry shift toward AI-driven autonomous workflows.
In addition to product development, Ciena is aiming to improve its supply chain capacity and return value to shareholders through a newly issued $2.5 billion offering of convertible senior notes.
Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) has gained over 105% year-to-date, and analysts still see potential in the stock. On June 5, Argus analyst Jim Kelleher increased the price target on CIEN from $370 to $650, keeping a Buy rating on the stock. Kelleher remains positive on CIEN following above-consensus revenue and EPS for Q2 2026. The company has also lifted its FY2026 sales and profit outlook, now expecting revenue to reach around $6.3 billion, reflecting 31% growth from a year ago. The analyst pointed out that Ciena’s growing AI networking opportunity has strengthened its backlog, which is key to long-term growth.
Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) builds and sells networking hardware, software, and related services that help telecom and other network operators increase capacity, automate operations, and deliver better services.
1. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX)
Percentage Change as of June 26: 94.14%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Effective Date: December 22, 2025
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) has skyrocketed since joining the S&P 500 index, making it one of the best stocks on our list of stocks that were added to the S&P 500 index recently.
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) is making headlines as a major beneficiary of the growing data center and AI infrastructure build-out across the U.S. The company operates across 197 locations and serves commercial, industrial, and institutional clients, giving Comfort Systems the advantage of gaining from the ongoing expansion of hyperscale data centers and mission-critical facilities.
On June 5, TheFly reported that Erste Group initiated coverage on Comfort Systems with a Buy rating. The firm sees growth potential in Comfort Systems amid the robust demand from the technology sector and expects sales growth to reach the mid-to-high 20% range for 2026. The gross margin is also expected to stay at a high level following the recent developments.
In Q1 2026, the company’s organic revenue soared 51% from a year ago, driven by its ability to meet underlying demand and execute strongly at scale. The company’s backlog is at its highest, reported at around $12.45 billion as of March 31, 2026. Analysts are bullish on FIX, estimating earnings per share to grow from $35.10 to $43 on a consensus basis. This implies a 49% earnings growth compared to 2025 levels.
On June 8, UBS lifted the price target on Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE:FIX) from $1,992 to $2,125, keeping its Buy rating on the stock. The bullish sentiment around Comfort Systems is based on its strong backdrop, driven by data centers and its potential in markets such as semiconductors, healthcare, and education, according to the analyst firm.
Comfort Systems USA Inc. (NYSE:FIX) provides mechanical and electrical installation, renovation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services across the U.S.
While we acknowledge the potential of FIX 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 FIX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: Starter Stock Portfolio: 14 Safe Stocks to Buy Now and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026.
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