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Just For You
3 Surprising S&P 500 Outperformers of 2026Reported by 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.
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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. 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 higher and disrupted global supply chains. After a stellar run, all three outperformers have recently pulled back, potentially giving investors a fresh momentum-entry opportunity. 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, with operations spanning refining, renewable fuels, ethanol production, and an extensive logistics network. Historically, refiners have been overlooked in favor of upstream producers and explorers. But in 2026, refiners have become one of the market’s most powerful trades, and Valero has led the way with close to a 44% year-to-date gain, making it the 25th best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The Iran conflict was the primary catalyst. Disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz tightened global refining capacity, pushing crack spreads higher and improving the economics for U.S.-based refiners like Valero that source feedstock domestically. The company had already shown 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%, 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 roughly 9% pullback from its 52-week high could offer a compelling entry if the trend holds. LyondellBasell: The Petrochemical Winner Nobody Saw ComingLyondellBasell is a global chemical company specializing in polyolefins and advanced polymers. The stock fell significantly in 2025 amid an industry downturn and negative earnings, so it wasn't on many investors’ radars. Yet it has surged nearly 66% year to date, ranking as the 11th-best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The conflict disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and input costs for international petrochemical producers that rely on oil-based naphtha cracking rose sharply. LYB, which uses lower-cost North American natural gas liquids as feedstock, suddenly had a meaningful competitive advantage. Earnings are expected to grow about 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. A recent cease-fire announcement prompted profit-taking, sending the stock down almost 6%. If LYB can confirm a higher low within this uptrend, the pullback may present an attractive momentum entry in one of the S&P 500’s top performers for the 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. It wasn’t widely discussed at the start of the year, but its almost 60% gain year to date has made it the 14th-best-performing S&P 500 stock. The move has been driven by higher oil prices and operational improvements that largely flew under the radar. APA generated over $1 billion in free cash flow in 2025, cut annual costs by $300 million, and kept production flat. 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, APA pulled back after oil prices eased following the cease-fire announcement. That pullback, however, could offer a good entry for investors who believe supply-chain disruptions won’t be resolved overnight. The April 8 low of almost $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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