Materials Stocks That Beat the S&P 500 Most Consistently
Steady sector leaders, not one-month wonders
Updated August 30, 2026
Sector rotation makes raw-return lists whiplash — a sector’s whole cohort looks brilliant in its quarter and terrible after. Weekly consistency cuts through that: it asks which Materials names finished ahead of the index week after week, through their sector’s good stretches and bad ones. For scale: the typical Materials stock managed 26 winning weeks of 52.
| # | Stock | Weeks > SPY | 1Y excess | 1Y return | 1M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STLDSteel Dynamics | 32 / 52 | +51.1% | +76.8% | −7.1% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 32 of its last 52 weeks, on a +76.8% total return — +51.1% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 2 | NUENucor | 32 / 52 | +41.4% | +66.6% | −2.5% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 32 of its last 52 weeks, on a +66.6% total return — +41.4% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 3 | NEMNewmont | 31 / 52 | +57.0% | +76.8% | +33.6% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 31 of its last 52 weeks, on a +76.8% total return — +57.0% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 4 | SWSmurfit Westrock | 29 / 52 | +3.6% | +5.8% | +1.6% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 29 of its last 52 weeks, on a +5.8% total return — +3.6% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 5 | FCXFreeport-McMoRan | 28 / 52 | +54.8% | +74.3% | +20.5% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 28 of its last 52 weeks, on a +74.3% total return — +54.8% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 6 | ALBAlbemarle Corporation | 28 / 52 | +46.1% | +56.7% | +16.6% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 28 of its last 52 weeks, on a +56.7% total return — +46.1% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 7 | DDDuPont | 27 / 52 | +26.5% | +40.2% | −1.3% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 27 of its last 52 weeks, on a +40.2% total return — +26.5% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 8 | CTVACorteva | 27 / 52 | +0.3% | +11.8% | −6.1% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 27 of its last 52 weeks, on a +11.8% total return — +0.3% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 9 | PPGPPG Industries | 27 / 52 | −11.8% | +1.9% | +2.0% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 27 of its last 52 weeks, on a +1.9% total return — −11.8% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 10 | CFCF Industries | 26 / 52 | +25.7% | +44.0% | +0.5% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 26 of its last 52 weeks, on a +44.0% total return — +25.7% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 11 | DOWDow Inc. | 26 / 52 | +18.2% | +23.3% | +1.4% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 26 of its last 52 weeks, on a +23.3% total return — +18.2% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 12 | PKGPackaging Corporation of America | 26 / 52 | +7.1% | +14.1% | −3.3% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 26 of its last 52 weeks, on a +14.1% total return — +7.1% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 13 | AVYAvery Dennison | 26 / 52 | −14.2% | +2.6% | +1.7% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 26 of its last 52 weeks, on a +2.6% total return — −14.2% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 14 | LYBLyondellBasell | 25 / 52 | +8.5% | +13.1% | +5.3% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 25 of its last 52 weeks, on a +13.1% total return — +8.5% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 15 | ECLEcolab | 25 / 52 | −14.0% | +2.3% | +2.7% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 25 of its last 52 weeks, on a +2.3% total return — −14.0% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 16 | IPInternational Paper | 25 / 52 | −24.8% | −18.7% | −8.9% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 25 of its last 52 weeks, on a −18.7% total return — −24.8% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 17 | MLMMartin Marietta Materials | 25 / 52 | −29.2% | −13.9% | −1.7% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 25 of its last 52 weeks, on a −13.9% total return — −29.2% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 18 | IFFInternational Flavors & Fragrances | 24 / 52 | +16.0% | +31.7% | +10.7% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 24 of its last 52 weeks, on a +31.7% total return — +16.0% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 19 | BALLBall Corporation | 24 / 52 | +2.8% | +21.9% | −2.4% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 24 of its last 52 weeks, on a +21.9% total return — +2.8% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||
| 20 | APDAir Products | 24 / 52 | −9.3% | +4.6% | +2.6% |
| Beat the S&P 500 in 24 of its last 52 weeks, on a +4.6% total return — −9.3% ahead of the index for the year. | |||||