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3 Surprising S&P 500 Outperformers of 2026Reported by Ryan Hasson. Originally 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.
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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's been the story. But 2026 has so far produced something different. Many of the S&P 500's strongest performers year to date aren't tech companies, and three in particular stand out: 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 offering investors fresh momentum-entry opportunities. Valero Energy: The Refiner Built for This Moment
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. The refining sector has historically been overlooked in favor of producers and explorers higher up the energy supply chain. But in 2026, refiners have been among the market's most powerful trades, and Valero has led the way with nearly a 44% year-to-date gain, ranking as the 25th best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The Iran conflict has been the primary catalyst. Disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz tightened global refining dynamics, pushing crack spreads higher and improving the economics of U.S.-based refiners like Valero that source feedstock domestically. The company had already demonstrated 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 55 cents. Earnings are expected to grow nearly 32% in the coming year, to $10.45 per share. Institutional ownership sits at nearly 79%, with significant inflows over the prior 12 months, and the stock carries a 2% dividend yield. For investors seeking exposure to the refining giant, the recent 9% pullback from its 52-week high could present a compelling entry 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 sharply in 2025 amid a prolonged industry downturn and negative earnings, so it wasn't on most investors' radars. Yet it has surged almost 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 risen sharply 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 significant competitive advantage. Earnings are expected to rise about 26% 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 LYB can confirm a higher low within this uptrend, the pullback could be an attractive momentum entry into one of the S&P 500's top performers so far 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 much buzz at the start of the year, but its nearly 60% gain on the year has made it the 14th-best-performing S&P 500 stock. The rally has been driven by surging oil prices and operational improvements that largely flew under the radar. APA generated 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 mentioned above, it recently pulled back in the week following the cease-fire-related drop in oil prices. That pullback—especially for investors who believe the supply-chain disruptions won't be resolved overnight—could present a timely entry. The April 8 low of roughly $35 would need to hold for the stock to confirm a higher low within its uptrend and keep its year-to-date momentum intact. . |
