Concentration in a relatively small number of mega-cap stocks, inflation, elevated oil and gas prices, and other concerns have not been enough to stop the S&P 500's bull run in the first half of 2026. Buoyed by strong corporate earnings and capital spending on AI-related projects, the economy has remained remarkably resilient despite significant challenges.
That backdrop has kept investors looking for stocks with summer momentum. Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY), Nebius Group (NASDAQ: NBIS), and The Metals Company (NASDAQ: TMC) show three very different versions of the same market: one steady compounder, one AI infrastructure winner, and one speculative bet still waiting for proof.