The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is packed with companies that have built dominant market positions, making it a core index for investors. A select few continue to innovate and expand, setting themselves up for long-term success.
Identifying the best companies in the S&P 500 isn’t always easy, and that’s why we started StockStory. That said, here are three S&P 500 stocks that could deliver good returns.
CrowdStrike (CRWD)
Market Cap: $176 billion
Known for detecting the massive SolarWinds hack in 2020 that compromised numerous government agencies, CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) provides cloud-based cybersecurity solutions that protect endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data through its Falcon platform.
Why Are We Bullish on CRWD?
- Billings growth has averaged 24.9% over the last year, indicating a healthy pipeline of new contracts that should drive future revenue increases
- Projected revenue growth of 22.7% for the next 12 months suggests its momentum from the last two years will persist
- Fast payback periods on sales and marketing expenses allow the company to invest heavily and onboard many customers concurrently
CrowdStrike is trading at $682.01 per share, or 28.2x forward price-to-sales. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Market Cap: $36.36 billion
Founded in 1909, Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) is a producer of construction aggregates, primarily crushed stone, sand, and gravel.
Why Does VMC Stand Out?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 10.6% annual revenue growth over the last five years was exceptional
- Operating profits increased over the last five years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
- Free cash flow margin jumped by 5.4 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
Vulcan Materials’s stock price of $300.56 implies a valuation ratio of 31.2x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
S&P Global (SPGI)
Market Cap: $122.3 billion
Tracing its roots back to 1860 when it published the first railroad industry manual, S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides credit ratings, market intelligence, commodity data, automotive analytics, and financial indices that help investors and businesses make decisions.
Why Should SPGI Be on Your Watchlist?
- Decent 10.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years beat most of its peers, showing customers find value in its products and services
- Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 17% to outpace its revenue gains
- Market-beating return on equity illustrates that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures
At $410.45 per share, S&P Global trades at 20.6x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.
Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks — FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
