Zacks names five non-AI S&P 500 stocks — ADM, CASY, DVA, CVS and BEN — that each returned more than 30% in the first half of 2026 and still carry a favorable rank. Their gains sit alongside a benchmark that rose 9.6% over the period, a rally that leaned heavily on AI names.
The AI trade did not have the first half of 2026 entirely to itself. Zacks Investment Research points to five S&P 500 stocks with no tie to AI application developers or infrastructure makers that each returned more than 30% over the period. Each carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy).
The five are Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), Casey's General Stores (CASY), DaVita (DVA), CVS Health (CVS) and Franklin Resources (BEN). They sit inside a benchmark that advanced 9.6% in the first half, a move Zacks ties mostly to a rally in AI-centric stocks.
Where the growth is expected
Archer-Daniels-Midland leads the group, benefiting from a rebound in its Nutrition segment. Zacks expects revenue and earnings growth of 6.5% and 36.2% for the current year, and the consensus earnings estimate has improved 2.9% over the last seven days.
Casey's General Stores draws on resilient inside sales and fuel strength, with the Fikes/CEFCO acquisition adding scale. Zacks projects revenue and earnings growth of 16.6% and 9.9% for the year ending April 2027.
Healthcare and asset management round out the list
DaVita remains a leading U.S. dialysis provider, with expected revenue and earnings growth of 4.8% and 39.8% for the current year. CVS Health, the only Rank #2 name, has benefited from improved results at Aetna and expects revenue and earnings growth of 1.7% and 10.2%, backed by a $20-billion technology investment.
Franklin Resources closes the group, with assets under management that recorded a CAGR of 3.1% over the last five fiscal years ending fiscal 2025. Zacks expects revenue and earnings growth of 5.4% and 24.8% for the year ending September 2026.
Zacks says the favorable rank across the five names points to more fire power for the second half of 2026, outside the AI names that led the S&P 500 in the first.
Source: Zacks Investment Research
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