The S&P 500 index has risen 23% this year, significantly surpassing the average annual gain of 11% from 2014 to 2023. The top performers in the S&P 500 are all linked to artificial intelligence. Palantir (PLTR, Financial) led the charge, with its stock soaring 340% from $17 at the beginning of the year to $75 by the end of 2024, marking its best performance since its 2020 IPO.
Vistra Corp (VST) saw its stock price jump from $38 to $137, a 258% increase, making it the second best-performing stock. Its growth is attributed to its nuclear and natural gas capabilities, crucial for AI data centers.
NVIDIA (NVDA) comes in third, experiencing a 171% increase, making it the top performer among the 30 Dow Jones stocks.