Palantir Technologies is still the top S&P 500 stock this year. But it's starting to get tougher competition.
Shares of the high-tech defense stock are up 79% this year so far. That edges out the No. 2 gainer, NRG Energy, with a 77.9% gain, says an Investor's Business Daily analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSurge.
What's amazing is that Palantir is still the year's top stock despite gaining just 2.7% in June. That was a disappointing rise given that the S&P 500 added 5% in the month.
The rest of the S&P 500 is catching up. "During the second quarter ... as investors concluded that the correction had overcompensated for this unjustified concern (of a U.S. recession), the S&P 500 jumped 10%, to complete the opposite leg of the 'V-shaped' hiccup, along with gains for both sizes and styles, plus eight of 11 sectors," said Sam Stovall of CFRA.
Looking At Some Massive S&P 500 Gainers This Year
All told, six members of the S&P 500 are now up 60% or more this year. That's not just Palantir and NRG, but also Howmet Aerospace, Seagate Technology, Super Micro Computer and GE Vernova.
Such winners are at the vanguard of the market's turnaround. The average S&P 500 stock is up just 3.7% this year.
"Year to date through June 27, not only has the S&P 500 advanced 5%, but it has also recaptured all that it lost in the recent correction," Stovall said. "Now the S&P 500, along with the S&P 500 Growth and Value Indices, as well as seven of 11 sectors and nearly 60% of the 155 subindustries within the S&P 1500, are up on the year."
Sizing Up The Winners
Palantir's chart certainly has lots going for it. The RS Rating is a perfect 99 and the EPS Rating isn't far off at 98. Analysts think the company's profit will rise 42% in 2025 after gaining 64% in 2024. The stock, however, is slightly extended from its cup-and-handle base of 125.25.
Houston-based utility NRG, meanwhile, is cashing in on a spike in demand for power from training AI models. Its chart is compelling too; the stock holds an RS Rating of 97 and an EPS Rating of 77. Analysts think profit will dip 9% in 2025 but jump 16% in 2026.
So while Palantir is still holding on to its lead for the year, the gap is narrowing fast.
Top S&P 500 Stocks This Year
| Company | Ticker | YTD change | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palantir Technologies | PLTR | 79.03% | Information Technology |
| NRG Energy | NRG | 77.88% | Utilities |
| Howmet Aerospace | HWM | 70.04% | Industrials |
| Seagate Technology | STX | 66.45% | Information Technology |
| Super Micro Computer | SMCI | 61.53% | Information Technology |
| GE Vernova | GEV | 60.85% | Industrials |
| Newmont | NEM | 56.21% | Materials |
| Uber Technologies | UBER | 54.55% | Industrials |
| General Electric | GE | 54.24% | Industrials |
| CVS Health | CVS | 53.35% | Health Care |
