A narrow list of market leaders is hitting new highs, but the real story is the kind of company driving the gains. As of Friday, August 21, just 20 S&P 500 stocks are trading at their 52-week highs, a narrow count while the index itself gained 3.7% over the last month.

A day of sharp moves raises the question of which gains have staying power and which are just noise. Robinhood Markets (HOOD) was the strongest S&P 500 stock of the day, returning +13.7%. The move came as the S&P 500 returned +0.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average returned +1.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X that ‘an economic D-Day’ was about to dawn on Iran on Monday, when Washington is expected to announce fresh sanctions against the Middle Eastern country.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has returned 14.8% year-to-date as of Aug. 21, about 3 percentage points ahead of cap-weighted S&P 500 ETFs, as…

Not only is this company offering a fat dividend yield, but it has also been hiking that payout at a respectable clip.

Not only is this company offering a fat dividend yield, but it has also been hiking that payout at a respectable clip.

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (NYSE: SPY) closed up +0.43% on Friday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (NYSE: DJIA) gained +0.98% and the Nasdaq

The Stock Market Is Repeating a Pattern Not Seen in Decades. Here's What History Says Comes Next.

Since President Trump's second term began in January 2025, the S&P 500 has gained about 28%, despite a sharp 12% drop in April following new tariffs. Trump's investment accounts saw over 1,000 trades in June alone, involving millions in major stocks like Berkshire Hathaway, Visa, and Meta Platforms. While the trades are managed independently and may reflect index strategies, they raise ethical concerns due to potential conflicts of interest, especially with companies like Palantir tied to government contracts. Meanwhile, Congress passed a bill restricting stock trades for lawmakers but exempted the president, highlighting ongoing challenges in regulating presidential investments. Investors are advised to focus on diversified, durable businesses rather than mimicking presidential trades.

To benefit from the compounding ability of owning the S&P 500 index, investors must keep some key information in mind.

Money is flooding into equal-weight stock market ETFs this year. Investing experts say it's not a fad.

This simple, low-cost S&P 500 ETF could deliver millionaire-making returns in the long run.

The company is reporting some of its best performance in years.

This simple, low-cost S&P 500 ETF could deliver millionaire-making returns in the long run.

The stock market is making history, but not necessarily in a good way.