By Derek Lewis
Publication Date: 2026-03-05 23:11:00
While it may not feel like it given recent worries about technology, particularly in software and some other stocks tied to the broader AI frenzy, many in the industry are still hanging in there and making big gains in the new year.
And as far as all-star performers go, three stocks with the coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), SanDisk SNDK, Western Digital WDC and Teradyne TER reflect the best-performing S&P 500 stocks in 2026. What drove the positive sentiment?
SanDisk is rising
SanDisk shares have continued to rise in 2026 and 2026 as its role in the broader AI madness finally comes into focus. The stock is up nearly 140% in the new year alone, reflecting by far one of the strongest moves we’ve ever seen.
AI is leading to a huge increase in storage demand and this is where SanDisk comes into play. NAND prices are rising rapidly as AI data centers, cloud providers and edge devices all require more high-speed storage. The company’s increase in sales is reflected in…
