The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026
Published . Updated .
Key takeaways
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Tech stocks claim 17 of the S&P 500's 20 biggest gainers of 2026's first half, led by Sandisk's 858% climb.
Directly affected
- SNDK Sandisk-38.0% 30d
Named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- DIA SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF+0.1% 30d
SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story.
- QQQ Invesco QQQ-9.8% 30d
Invesco QQQ: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story.
- XLK Technology Select Sector SPDR+9.2% 14d
Technology Select Sector SPDR holds the technology sector that Sandisk belongs to, so it often moves with news about it.
- WDC Western Digital-26.7% 30d
Western Digital is a peer of Sandisk in computer storage devices; rivals often move on the same news.
- NTAP NetApp-2.9% 30d
NetApp is a peer of Sandisk in computer storage devices; rivals often move on the same news.
- P Everpure-12.3% 30d
Everpure is a peer of Sandisk in computer storage devices; rivals often move on the same news.
- STX Seagate Technology Holdings-34.4% 30d
Seagate Technology Holdings is a peer of Sandisk in computer storage devices; rivals often move on the same news.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNDKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DIA | +1.47% | -0.00% | base | +2.47% | after close | after close | after close |
| QQQ | +5.88% | +0.76% | base | +1.20% | after close | after close | after close |
| XLKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WDCNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NTAPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| STXNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026 qz.com
Source: qz.com
Vanguard Index Fds (VTI) since this story, compared with the market
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust (DIA) | that day | +2.47% | still updating |
| Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust (DIA) | three days earlier | -0.00% | final price |
| Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust (DIA) | five days earlier | +1.47% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | that day | +1.20% | still updating |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | three days earlier | +0.76% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | five days earlier | +5.88% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Western Digital (WDC) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros sold Western Digital (WDC), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 18 Sep 2026. That is 47 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Everpure (P), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 68 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Seagate Technology Holdings (STX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Oct 2026. That is 12 days before publication. Filed 28 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lisa McClain sold Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) (held by a spouse), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 30 Sep 2026. That is 35 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Seagate Technology Holdings (STX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 15 Sep 2026. That is 50 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Vanguard Index Fds (VTI)
Companies carried with this story
- VTI Vanguard Index Fds
Vanguard Index Fds (VTI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 4 Nov 2026 story “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026.” Reason on file: Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
- DIA Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust
For “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026,” Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust (DIA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
- QQQ Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1
For “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026,” Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Invesco QQQ: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
- IWM Ishares Tr
Ishares Tr (IWM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 4 Nov 2026 story “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026.” Reason on file: iShares Russell 2000 ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
- RSP Invesco Exchange Traded Fd T
For “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026,” Invesco Exchange Traded Fd T (RSP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
Vanguard Index Fds (VTI)
On 4 Nov 2026, “The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026” is the story that connects Vanguard Index Fds (VTI) to this story.
Vanguard Index Fds (VTI) is on the page because Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
A second company, Spdr Dow Jones Industrial Average Etf Trust (DIA), is listed for a different reason: SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF: it is a broad US stock-market fund. Linked by “stocks” (the broad US market) in this story
Dates and price levels for Vanguard Index Fds (VTI)
DIA traded between 504.92 and 522.62 across 18 sessions. The latest close on file is 515.65. QQQ traded between 680.34 and 757.18 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 685.32.
A simple score for Vanguard Index Fds (VTI)
40 out of 100Price not final
“The 20 best-performing S&P 500 stocks in the first half of 2026” scores 40 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 5 linked companies. The price is not final yet.