Here Are the Top-Performing Stocks From the S&P 500 This Year
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 29 2025
0mins
Should l Buy HWM?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Market Recovery: The S&P 500 experienced a rapid recovery in 2025, bouncing back from a 15% decline to positive territory within six weeks, driven by expectations of resolving trade issues and controlled inflation.
Top Performers: Key stocks leading the market include NRG Energy, Palantir Technologies, and Howmet Aerospace, all showing significant growth due to strong earnings and strategic partnerships, particularly in sectors like utilities and technology.
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Analyst Views on HWM
Wall Street analysts forecast HWM stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 236.040
Low
209.00
Averages
236.77
High
258.00
Current: 236.040
Low
209.00
Averages
236.77
High
258.00
About HWM
Howmet Aerospace Inc. is a global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The Company’s primary business focus is on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and airframe structural components. Its Engine Products segment produces investment castings, including airfoils, and seamless rolled rings primarily for aircraft engines and industrial gas turbine applications. Its Fastening Systems segment produces aerospace fastening systems, as well as commercial transportation, industrial and other fasteners. Its Engineered Structures segment produces titanium ingots and mill products for aerospace and defense applications and is vertically integrated to produce titanium forgings, titanium extrusions, and machining services for airframe, wing, aero-engine, and landing gear components. Its Forged Wheels segment provides forged aluminum wheels and related products for heavy-duty trucks and the commercial transportation market.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysts Recommend Avoiding Deere and Other Industrial Stocks, Favoring Federal Signal and Others as Buys.
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- AI-Disruptible Services Lag: Companies focused on AI-disruptible services and software are not keeping pace with those producing tangible products.
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Industrials Post Best Start in 25 Years, Outlook Ahead
- Strong Sector Performance: In 2026, industrials have emerged as a star in the stock market, with the State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) rallying over 5% year-to-date, showcasing robust market demand among the S&P 500 sectors.
- Significant Stock Gains: Among the top 20 stocks by market cap, 14 have risen this year, with GE Vernova up 37%, Caterpillar up 25%, and Lockheed Martin up 26%, reflecting a strong recovery in the sector and increased investor confidence.
- Market Challenges Intensify: Despite the strong performance of industrials, the S&P 500 index has declined nearly 4% due to geopolitical risks and ongoing concerns in artificial intelligence and private credit, highlighting the complexity and uncertainty of the market environment.
- Cautious Future Growth: Trivariate Research notes that industrials are trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 24, indicating high valuations, and future earnings revisions are necessary to sustain current performance, adding to investor scrutiny and challenges.
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- Inflow Growth: The TRUC ETF added 40,000 units, marking a 40.0% increase in outstanding units, indicating strong investor interest and potentially reflecting market optimism towards the underlying assets.
- Positive Market Reaction: This significant inflow increase may attract more investor attention to the TRUC ETF, further enhancing its market performance and liquidity, thereby increasing its appeal in investment portfolios.
- Enhanced ETF Competitiveness: With the rise in inflows, the TRUC ETF's competitiveness among peers is expected to improve, potentially leading to lower management fees and providing investors with more attractive investment options.
- Increased Investor Confidence: The inflow increase not only reflects market confidence in the TRUC ETF but may also encourage other investors to reassess their investment strategies, further driving overall growth in the ETF market.
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The Importance of Market Capitalization Analysis
- Significance of Market Capitalization: Market capitalization provides investors with a true basis for comparing the value of stocks, with Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC) valued at $104.47 billion and Howmet Aerospace Inc (HWM) at $97.76 billion, highlighting their relative market sizes.
- Foundation for Value Comparison: Simply comparing stock prices does not reflect true company value; market capitalization accounts for the number of shares outstanding, enabling investors to make more accurate 'apples-to-apples' comparisons for informed investment decisions.
- Impact on Investment Choices: A company's market cap determines its size tier among peers, directly influencing which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock, as funds focused on large-cap stocks typically only consider companies valued at $10 billion or more.
- Market Performance Trends: As of Friday's close, NOC is down about 0.4% while HWM is off about 3%, reflecting differing market reactions to these companies and further emphasizing the importance of market capitalization in investment decision-making.
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ITA Stock Price Analysis and ETF Dynamics
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: ITA's 52-week low is $129.14 and high is $250.65, with the current trading price at $240.60, indicating that the stock is fluctuating near its high, which may influence investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide investors with valuable insights for technical analysis, helping to assess market trends and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the liquidity and market performance of the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding focuses on notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which can directly affect the individual stocks held within the ETFs.
See More
Middle East War Disrupts Oil Prices and Stock Market
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: The ongoing Middle East war has led to a 35.6% spike in U.S. WTI crude oil prices within a week, marking the largest weekly gain since trading began in 1983, closing above $90 per barrel, which directly contributed to a 3% drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a 2% decline in the S&P 500.
- Investor Sentiment Deteriorates: Despite the oil price surge, the market did not crash, indicating that investors are still searching for stocks that can remain stable in a high oil price environment, reflecting a focus on individual company performance amidst broader market volatility.
- Oracle Earnings in Focus: Cramer highlighted that Oracle's earnings report on Tuesday after the close is highly anticipated, with investors hoping for positive updates on its data center buildout and profitability, especially given the pressure from significant debt financing.
- Inflation Outlook Complicated: The consumer price index (CPI) data will be released on Wednesday, and the spike in oil prices complicates the inflation outlook; Cramer warned that if inflation does not show signs of decreasing, the Federal Reserve will struggle to justify further rate cuts, which could have profound implications for the market.
See More
Analysts Recommend Avoiding Deere and Other Industrial Stocks, Favoring Federal Signal and Others as Buys.
- Physical Goods Surge: This year has seen a significant increase in the production and sales of physical goods.
- AI-Disruptible Services Lag: Companies focused on AI-disruptible services and software are not keeping pace with those producing tangible products.
See More
Industrials Post Best Start in 25 Years, Outlook Ahead
- Strong Sector Performance: In 2026, industrials have emerged as a star in the stock market, with the State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) rallying over 5% year-to-date, showcasing robust market demand among the S&P 500 sectors.
- Significant Stock Gains: Among the top 20 stocks by market cap, 14 have risen this year, with GE Vernova up 37%, Caterpillar up 25%, and Lockheed Martin up 26%, reflecting a strong recovery in the sector and increased investor confidence.
- Market Challenges Intensify: Despite the strong performance of industrials, the S&P 500 index has declined nearly 4% due to geopolitical risks and ongoing concerns in artificial intelligence and private credit, highlighting the complexity and uncertainty of the market environment.
- Cautious Future Growth: Trivariate Research notes that industrials are trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 24, indicating high valuations, and future earnings revisions are necessary to sustain current performance, adding to investor scrutiny and challenges.
See More
TRUC ETF Sees Significant Inflow Increase
- Inflow Growth: The TRUC ETF added 40,000 units, marking a 40.0% increase in outstanding units, indicating strong investor interest and potentially reflecting market optimism towards the underlying assets.
- Positive Market Reaction: This significant inflow increase may attract more investor attention to the TRUC ETF, further enhancing its market performance and liquidity, thereby increasing its appeal in investment portfolios.
- Enhanced ETF Competitiveness: With the rise in inflows, the TRUC ETF's competitiveness among peers is expected to improve, potentially leading to lower management fees and providing investors with more attractive investment options.
- Increased Investor Confidence: The inflow increase not only reflects market confidence in the TRUC ETF but may also encourage other investors to reassess their investment strategies, further driving overall growth in the ETF market.
See More
The Importance of Market Capitalization Analysis
- Significance of Market Capitalization: Market capitalization provides investors with a true basis for comparing the value of stocks, with Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC) valued at $104.47 billion and Howmet Aerospace Inc (HWM) at $97.76 billion, highlighting their relative market sizes.
- Foundation for Value Comparison: Simply comparing stock prices does not reflect true company value; market capitalization accounts for the number of shares outstanding, enabling investors to make more accurate 'apples-to-apples' comparisons for informed investment decisions.
- Impact on Investment Choices: A company's market cap determines its size tier among peers, directly influencing which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock, as funds focused on large-cap stocks typically only consider companies valued at $10 billion or more.
- Market Performance Trends: As of Friday's close, NOC is down about 0.4% while HWM is off about 3%, reflecting differing market reactions to these companies and further emphasizing the importance of market capitalization in investment decision-making.
See More
ITA Stock Price Analysis and ETF Dynamics
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: ITA's 52-week low is $129.14 and high is $250.65, with the current trading price at $240.60, indicating that the stock is fluctuating near its high, which may influence investor buying decisions.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide investors with valuable insights for technical analysis, helping to assess market trends and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the liquidity and market performance of the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding focuses on notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which can directly affect the individual stocks held within the ETFs.
See More
Middle East War Disrupts Oil Prices and Stock Market
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: The ongoing Middle East war has led to a 35.6% spike in U.S. WTI crude oil prices within a week, marking the largest weekly gain since trading began in 1983, closing above $90 per barrel, which directly contributed to a 3% drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a 2% decline in the S&P 500.
- Investor Sentiment Deteriorates: Despite the oil price surge, the market did not crash, indicating that investors are still searching for stocks that can remain stable in a high oil price environment, reflecting a focus on individual company performance amidst broader market volatility.
- Oracle Earnings in Focus: Cramer highlighted that Oracle's earnings report on Tuesday after the close is highly anticipated, with investors hoping for positive updates on its data center buildout and profitability, especially given the pressure from significant debt financing.
- Inflation Outlook Complicated: The consumer price index (CPI) data will be released on Wednesday, and the spike in oil prices complicates the inflation outlook; Cramer warned that if inflation does not show signs of decreasing, the Federal Reserve will struggle to justify further rate cuts, which could have profound implications for the market.
See More
