Stocks Extend 2026 Gains

Read a quick 3-minute summary featuring what happened in the market and how it affects your finances.

Highlights include:

• In August, the S&P 500 Index gained nearly 3% while the S&P MidCap 400 and the S&P SmallCap 600 Indices were flat for the month.
• Corporate earnings provided a positive backdrop for the broader market. Second-quarter results were strong across a range of industries, with 86% of S&P 500 companies reporting earnings above analysts’ expectations.¹
• On a year-to-date basis, smaller companies have had stronger performance than their larger peers. Through August 31, the S&P SmallCap 600 Index rose over 20% and the S&P MidCap 400 Index gained nearly 15%, ahead of the S&P 500’s 13% return.
• Some of 2026’s strongest-performing areas reflect several of the year’s biggest investment themes. Oil and gas refining and marketing stocks led the S&P 500 subsectors with a 116% year-to-date return and semiconductor equipment companies have gained nearly 70% through August.
• The Federal Reserve remains in focus heading into its September meeting. Markets are increasingly pricing in the possibility of a rate hike as policymakers weigh persistent inflation against signs of a softer labor market.

¹ FactSet, 8/28/26.

Download Full Report