In recent years, when investors consider the market's performance, many of the usual suspects may come to mind, such as AI stocks, semiconductor names, and mega-cap technology. Over the years, it has been the case. But 2026 has done something different so far. Many of the S&P 500's strongest performers year to date aren't technology companies, with three in particular standing out. They are a refiner, petrochemical giant, and oil producer. Valero Energy NYSE: VLOLyondellBasell NYSE: LYBand APA Corporation NASDAQ: APA ranks 25th, 11th, and 14th among S&P 500 year-to-date performers.
A common thread is the global shock caused by the US and Israel's conflict with Iran in late February, which sent oil prices soaring and disrupted global supply chains. And after an impressive run, all three top performers pulled back sharply, potentially giving investors a new entry point.
Valero Energy: A Refiner Built for the Era
Valero Energy is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners and fuel producers in the world. The company has operations that include refining, renewable fuel, ethanol production, and an extensive transportation network.
Valero Energy today
Valero Energy
- 52 week interval
- $106.11
▼
$258.43
- Dividend Yield
- 2.01%
- The P/E ratio
- 31.27
- Target Value
- $227.73
A business that was once neglected in favor of manufacturers and explorers who moved up the energy supply chain. But through 2026, refiners have been among the market's strongest performers, and Valero has led the way with a nearly 44% year-to-date gain, ranking as the 25th best-performing stock in the S&P 500.
The Iran conflict has been the main cause. The disruption of oil flows in the Strait of Hormuz has boosted global refining capacity significantly, pushing crack spreads higher and boosting the economy of US refiners such as Valero that import food at home. The company had already demonstrated its revenue potential before the arrival of the geopolitical storm. For 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 about 32% next year, to $10.45 per share. Institutional ownership is around 79%, with significant inflows over the previous 12 months, and the stock carries a 2% dividend yield. For investors looking to gain exposure to the refining giant, the recent 9% pullback from its 52-week high could provide a compelling opportunity if the trend remains unchanged.
LyondellBasell: The Petrochemical Winner No One Saw Coming
LyondellBasell is a global chemical company specializing in polyolefins and advanced polymers. By 2026, the stock had fallen sharply in 2025 amid a prolonged industrial downturn and negative wages. And because of that poor performance, it certainly wasn't a name on the radar of many investors. Yet it has risen nearly 66% year to date, ranking as the 11th best performing stock in the S&P 500.
LyondellBasell Industries Today
LyondellBasell Industries
- 52 week interval
- $41.58
▼
$83.94
- Dividend Yield
- 3.74%
- Target Value
- $68.67
With the conflict disrupting the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz, input costs have risen sharply for international petrochemical producers who rely on oil-based naphtha cracking. LYB, which uses low-cost North American natural gas liquids as its stock, suddenly found itself with a huge competitive advantage.
The company's earnings are expected to grow 26.15% next year, from $6.31 to $7.96 per share, as the company aims to save more than $1 billion in costs by the end of the year. The ceasefire announcement earlier this week spurred profit-taking, sending the stock down nearly 6%. If the stock can confirm a higher low within this rally, this pullback could turn into a quick entry point into one of the S&P 500's top performers of the year.
APA Corporation: Oil Producer Delivers in Peace
APA Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company operating in the Permian Basin, Egypt, and the North Sea. Like LYB, it wasn't generating significant buzz at the beginning of the year. But a nearly 60% year-over-year gain has made it the 14th best-performing stock in the S&P 500. The move has been driven by rising oil prices and performance improvements that have flown largely under the radar.
APA Today
As of 04/10/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $14.10
▼
$45.66
- Dividend Yield
- 2.59%
- The P/E ratio
- 9.68
- Target Value
- $37.23
APA delivered more than 1 billion in free revenue by 2025 despite falling oil prices, reducing annual costs by $300 million, and maintaining flat production.
In its latest earnings report, the company posted earnings per share of 91 cents, beating the consensus estimate by 29 cents. And like the two names mentioned above, it was recently postponed a week following the drop in oil prices after the ceasefire was announced.
But that pushback, especially for investors who believe supply chain disruptions won't be solved overnight, could provide a perfect entry point. The April 8 low of around $35 will need to hold firm for the stock to confirm the highs during its upswing, and maintain its year-to-date trend.
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