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Just For You
3 Surprising S&P 500 Outperformers of 2026Author: Ryan Hasson. Published: 4/12/2026. 
Key Points
- LyondellBasell, APA Corporation, and Valero Energy rank 11th, 14th, and 25th among the S&P 500's top-performers on the year, while the index sits close to flat.
- All three have been driven by the same catalyst: the U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran, which sent oil prices surging.
- After their stellar runs, all three have pulled back sharply this week following ceasefire news, potentially offering investors a fresh entry point within each stock's broader uptrend.
- Special Report: Elon Musk: This Could Turn $100 into $100,000
In recent years, when investors have considered market outperformance, many of the usual suspects have likely come to mind, such as AI stocks, semiconductor names, and mega-cap technology. For much of the past few years, that has been the story. But 2026 has produced something different so far: many of the S&P 500's strongest performers year to date aren't tech companies. Three stand out in particular — a refiner, a petrochemical giant, and an oil producer. Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO), LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), and APA Corporation (NASDAQ: APA) rank 25th, 11th and 14th among S&P 500 performers year to date. The common thread is the geopolitical shock triggered by the U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran in late February, which sent oil prices surging and disrupted global supply chains. After a stellar run, all three have pulled back significantly — potentially creating fresh momentum entry points for investors. Valero Energy: The Refiner Built for This Moment
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Valero Energy is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners and fuel producers in the world. The company operates across refining, renewable fuels, ethanol production, and an extensive logistics network. Its business has historically been overlooked in favor of producers and explorers higher up the energy supply chain. But in 2026, refiners have been among the most powerful trades in the market, and Valero has led the way with close to a 44% year-to-date gain, ranking as the 25th best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The conflict with Iran has been the primary catalyst. Disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz tightened global refining capacity, pushed crack spreads higher and improved the economics of U.S.-based refiners like Valero that source feedstock domestically. The company had already demonstrated its earnings power before the geopolitical tailwind arrived. In Q4 2025, Valero posted earnings per share of $3.82, beating the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.55. Earnings are expected to grow nearly 32% in the coming year, to $10.45 per share. Institutional ownership stands at nearly 79% after significant inflows over the prior 12 months. The stock carries a 2% dividend yield. For investors seeking exposure to the refining giant, the recent 9% pullback from its 52-week high might offer a compelling opportunity if the uptrend holds. LyondellBasell: The Petrochemical Winner Nobody Saw ComingLyondellBasell is a global chemical company specializing in polyolefins and advanced polymers. Coming into 2026, the stock had fallen significantly in 2025 amid a prolonged industry downturn and negative earnings, so it wasn't on most investors' radar. Yet it has surged nearly 66% year-to-date, ranking as the 11th-best-performing stock in the S&P 500. With the conflict disrupting oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, input costs have sharply risen for international petrochemical producers that rely on oil-based naphtha cracking. LYB, which uses lower-cost North American natural gas liquids as feedstock, suddenly found itself with a meaningful competitive advantage. Earnings for the company are expected to grow 26.15% in the coming year, from $6.31 to $7.96 per share, as the company targets over $1 billion in cost savings by year-end. The cease-fire announcement earlier this week prompted profit-taking, sending the stock down almost 6%. If the stock can confirm a higher low, the pullback could be a strong momentum entry in one of the S&P 500's top performers this year. APA Corporation: The Oil Producer Quietly DeliveringAPA Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Permian Basin, Egypt and the North Sea. Like LYB, it wasn't generating significant buzz at the start of the year, but its nearly 60% gain year to date has made it the 14th-best-performing S&P 500 stock. The move has been driven by surging oil prices and operational improvements that largely flew under the radar. APA delivered over $1 billion in free cash flow in 2025 despite declining oil prices, cut annual costs by $300 million, and maintained flat production levels. In its most recent earnings report, the company posted earnings per share of $0.91, beating the consensus estimate by $0.29. Like the other two names, it recently pulled back following the decline in oil prices after the cease-fire was announced. That pullback could provide an attractive entry point for investors who believe supply-chain disruptions won't be solved overnight. The April 8 low of around $35 would need to hold for the stock to confirm a higher low within its uptrend and keep its year-to-date trend intact. |
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