Best & Worst Performing S&P 500 Stocks
The top gainers and biggest losers in the S&P 500 for 2026, 2025, 2024, ranked by annual return.
2026 Performance
In 2026, the average S&P 500 stock returned -0.5%, with 233 stocks (44%) posting gains and 301 declining. The best performer was MRNA at +73.9%, while the worst was DUOL at -43.2% — a spread of 117 percentage points. Among the top 10 gainers, Basic Materials stocks dominated with 3 out of 10.
Top 10 Gainers
Bottom 10 Losers
Top 15 Gainers - Details
Bottom 15 Losers - Details
2025 Performance
Top 10 Gainers
Bottom 10 Losers
Top 10 Gainers - Details
Bottom 10 Losers - Details
2024 Performance
Top 10 Gainers
Bottom 10 Losers
Top 10 Gainers - Details
Bottom 10 Losers - Details
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Return | -0.5% | 12.2% | 16.5% |
| Stocks with Gains | 233 (44%) | 337 (63%) | 367 (69%) |
| Best Performer | MRNA +73.9% | WDC +283.7% | RKLB +360.6% |
| Worst Performer | DUOL -43.2% | FMC -70.0% | INTC -59.6% |
| Best-to-Worst Spread | 117 pts | 354 pts | 420 pts |
| Top Sector (Gainers) | Basic Materials (3/10) | Technology (5/10) | Industrials (4/10) |
Understanding S&P 500 Stock Returns
Why Individual Stock Returns Vary So Much
While the S&P 500 index might return 10-20% in a given year, individual stocks within it can range from +300% to -60%. This dispersion is driven by company-specific factors like earnings surprises, product launches, regulatory changes, and sector trends. The index return is a weighted average — it masks enormous variation underneath.
Sector Patterns in Winners and Losers
Winners and losers tend to cluster by sector. In 2025, Technology stocks dominated both the top gainers (AI and semiconductor names) and the bottom losers (companies disrupted by the same trends). This sector concentration means that picking a sector matters almost as much as picking individual stocks. Explore our sector ETF performance page to compare sectors.
Index Funds vs Stock Picking
These extreme outcomes highlight the case for index investing: buying the entire S&P 500 through an ETF like SPY or VOO guarantees you own every winner (along with every loser). Most active fund managers fail to consistently pick winners over long periods, which is why index funds have become the default recommendation for most investors.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the best performing S&P 500 stock in 2026?
Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) was the best performing S&P 500 stock in 2026 with a return of +73.9%. It operates in the Healthcare sector.
What was the worst performing S&P 500 stock in 2026?
Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) was the worst performing S&P 500 stock in 2026 with a return of -43.2%. It operates in the Technology sector.
What percentage of S&P 500 stocks went up in 2026?
In 2026, 233 out of 534 S&P 500 stocks (44%) had positive returns. The average return across all stocks was -0.5%.
How much can individual S&P 500 stocks vary from the index?
The spread between best and worst S&P 500 stocks is enormous. In 2026, the gap between the top and bottom performer was 117 percentage points. This shows that while index returns may be modest, individual stock selection creates massive differences in outcomes.
Which sectors produce the most winners and losers?
In 2026, Basic Materials had the most stocks among the top 10 gainers (3 out of 10), while Technology had the most among the bottom 10 losers (4 out of 10). Sector trends shift year to year.
Does a stock that performs badly one year recover the next?
Sometimes. Stocks that crash can have strong rebounds (mean reversion), but there is no guarantee. Some of the worst performers in one year appear in the top gainers the next, while others continue to decline. Always research the fundamental reasons behind a stock's performance.
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Past performance does not guarantee future results.