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7 Best-Performing Blue-Chip Stocks for May 2026
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7 Best-Performing Blue-Chip Stocks for May 2026
A blue-chip stock is a stock that comes from a well-known, established company. Blue-chip stocks have a strong history of performance and often pay dividends.
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19 years of experience Expertise Retirement planning investment management investment accountsArielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Published in Head of Content, Investing & Taxes + more + more
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9 years of experience Expertise Stocks ETFs economic newsSam Taube writes about investing for NerdWallet. He has covered investing and financial news since earning his economics degree from the University of Maryland in 2016. Sam has previously written for Investopedia, Benzinga, Seeking Alpha, Wealth Daily and Investment U, and has worked as an editor for Investment U, Wealth Daily and Haven Investment Letter. He is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Sam Taube writes about investing for NerdWallet. He has covered investing and financial news since earning his economics degree from the University of Maryland in 2016. Sam has previously written for Investopedia, Benzinga, Seeking Alpha, Wealth Daily and Investment U, and has worked as an editor for Investment U, Wealth Daily and Haven Investment Letter. He is based in Brooklyn, New York. Published in Lead Writer + more + more Nerdy takeawaysBlue-chip stocks are big companies known for being valuable, stable and established.
Blue-chips are popular among investors for their reliability, though they’re not immune to market downturns.
Most blue-chip stocks are part of a large-cap market index like the S&P 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average or Nasdaq 100.
A large-cap index fund or ETF is a good way to get exposure to blue-chip stocks.
While there is no formal definition of a blue-chip stock, these companies are known for being valuable, stable and established. They’re typically big names — often household names — in their industries, and investors count on them for their reliability.
While there is no formal definition of a blue-chip stock, these companies are known for being valuable, stable and established. They’re typically big names — often household names — in their industries, and investors count on them for their reliability.What is a blue-chip stock?
What is a blue-chip stock?A blue-chip stock is stock from a company with a large market capitalization, a long history of growth and a place in a major market index. Blue-chip stocks often pay dividends as well. Blue-chip stocks are well-established, have strong financial numbers and often have name recognition.
A blue-chip stock is stock from a company with a large market capitalization, a long history of growth and a place in a major market index. Blue-chip stocks often pay dividends as well. Blue-chip stocks are well-established, have strong financial numbers and often have name recognition.Large market capitalization. Market cap is a measure of the size and value of a company. Blue-chip stocks are often large-cap stocks, which typically means they have a market valuation of $10 billion or more.
Large market capitalization. Large market capitalization. Market cap is a measure of the size and value of a company. Blue-chip stocks are often large-cap stocks, which typically means they have a market valuation of $10 billion or more.Growth history. Blue-chips have a reliable, solid history of sustained growth and good future prospects. They might not be flashy like fast-growing tech stocks, but that’s because they’re already established.
Growth history. Growth history. Blue-chips have a reliable, solid history of sustained growth and good future prospects. They might not be flashy like fast-growing tech stocks, but that’s because they’re already established.Component of a market index. Blue-chip stocks are in major market indexes like the S&P 500, the S&P 100, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and/or the Nasdaq 100.
Component of a market index. Component of a market index. Blue-chip stocks are in major market indexes like the S&P 500, the S&P 100, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and/or the Nasdaq 100.Dividends. Not all blue-chip stocks pay dividends, but many do. Dividends are regular payments made to investors from a company’s revenue. Companies that pay dividends are often mature, which means they may no longer need to invest as much revenue back into their growth. (Interested in dividends? View our list of high-dividend stocks.)
Dividends. Dividends. Not all blue-chip stocks pay dividends, but many do. Dividends are regular payments made to investors from a company’s revenue. Companies that pay dividends are often mature, which means they may no longer need to invest as much revenue back into their growth. (Interested in dividends? View our list of high-dividend stocks .)Brokerage firms
Brokerage firms
Brokerage firmson Charles Schwab's website
on E*TRADE's website
on Vanguard's website
on Fidelity's website
7 best blue-chip stocks
7 best blue-chip stocksSince there is no hard and fast definition of blue-chip stocks, we filtered for stocks featured on the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100 or Dow Jones Industrial Average indexes with a market cap of $200 billion or more. We made sure those stocks offered a dividend and have been a public company for more than 20 years. Here are those stocks sorted by annual performance.
Since there is no hard and fast definition of blue-chip stocks, we filtered for stocks featured on the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100 or Dow Jones Industrial Average indexes with a market cap of $200 billion or more. We made sure those stocks offered a dividend and have been a public company for more than 20 years. Here are those stocks sorted by annual performance.The best-performing blue chip stock by one-year return is Micron Technology Inc (MU), which is up 0.57.
The best-performing blue chip stock by one-year return is Micron Technology Inc (MU), which is up 0.57.
The best-performing blue chip stock by one-year return is Micron Technology Inc (MU), which is up 0.57.Ticker
TickerCompany
CompanyDividend
DividendPerformance (Year)
Performance (Year)MU
MUMicron Technology Inc
Micron Technology Inc0.57
0.57614.17%
614.17%INTC
INTCIntel Corp
Intel Corp0.04
0.04371.55%
371.55%LRCX
LRCXLam Research Corp
Lam Research Corp1.04
1.04246.15%
246.15%CAT
CATCaterpillar Inc
Caterpillar Inc6.21
6.21173.08%
173.08%AMAT
AMATApplied Materials Inc
Applied Materials Inc1.8
1.8152.52%
152.52%KLAC
KLACKLA Corp
KLA Corp7.92
7.92148.93%
148.93%GOOGL
GOOGLAlphabet Inc
Alphabet Inc0.86
0.86133.41%
133.41%Source: Finviz. Data is current as of May 4, 2026 and is intended for informational purposes only.
Source: Finviz. Data is current as of May 4, 2026 and is intended for informational purposes only.» Looking to buy blue-chip stocks? You'll need a brokerage account first. Here's our list of the best online brokerages for stock trading.
» Looking to buy blue-chip stocks? » Looking to buy blue-chip stocks? » Looking to buy blue-chip stocks? You'll need a brokerage account first. Here's our list of the best online brokerages for stock trading .Why invest in blue-chip stocks
Why invest in blue-chip stocksNo one type of stock should make up the bulk of your portfolio. Diversification, as always, is key when investing, even if you’re investing in companies that are widely considered rock-solid.
No one type of stock should make up the bulk of your portfolio. Diversification, as always, is key when investing, even if you’re investing in companies that are widely considered rock-solid.Diversifying requires spreading your money around among many types of companies. That means including companies with small, mid and large market capitalizations, as well as companies from various industries and geographic locations. (Learn more about the types of stocks you can invest in.)
Diversifying requires spreading your money around among many types of companies. That means including companies with small, mid and large market capitalizations, as well as companies from various industries and geographic locations. (Learn more about the types of stocks you can invest in .)However, blue-chips are popular among investors, especially those closer to retirement or more risk-averse investors, because of their reliability. That doesn’t mean they’re immune to market downturns, but it does mean they’ve shown a history of weathering these storms and bouncing back.
However, blue-chips are popular among investors, especially those closer to retirement or more risk-averse investors, because of their reliability. That doesn’t mean they’re immune to market downturns, but it does mean they’ve shown a history of weathering these storms and bouncing back.Investors also appreciate the dividends blue-chip stocks typically pay. Dividends are especially attractive if you’re investing for income, as many investors do in retirement. Blue-chip stocks tend to pay reliable, growing dividends.
Investors also appreciate the dividends blue-chip stocks typically pay. Dividends are especially attractive if you’re investing for income, as many investors do in retirement. Blue-chip stocks tend to pay reliable, growing dividends.» Learn more: How to buy stocks
» Learn more: » Learn more: How to buy stocks ADEarn 3.69% APY by investing in U.S. Treasury Bills*
Earn 3.69 % APY by investing in U.S. Treasury Bills* Maximize your cash by investing in low-risk, government-backed T-Bills. All the work is done for you — just make the deposit and watch your money grow. Learn More *Rate when held to maturity. Rate shown is subject to price fluctuations.An alternative: Blue-chip funds
An alternative: Blue-chip fundsWhether you’re buying blue-chip stocks or not, building a portfolio out of individual stocks takes time and research.
Whether you’re buying blue-chip stocks or not, building a portfolio out of individual stocks takes time and research.That’s why many investors turn to low-cost index funds or exchange-traded funds instead. These funds contain a curated collection of investments and allow you to purchase a large selection of stocks in one transaction. It’s easy and instant diversification — at least, of course, among blue-chip companies.
That’s why many investors turn to low-cost index funds or exchange-traded funds instead. These funds contain a curated collection of investments and allow you to purchase a large selection of stocks in one transaction. It’s easy and instant diversification — at least, of course, among blue-chip companies.Index funds and ETFs track an index, which is a specific segment of the stock market. Since blue-chip stocks typically have large market caps, a large-cap index fund or ETF is a good way to get exposure to these companies. You can also buy a fund that tracks the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average since both include blue-chip stocks.
Index funds and ETFs track an index, which is a specific segment of the stock market. Since blue-chip stocks typically have large market caps, a large-cap index fund or ETF is a good way to get exposure to these companies. You can also buy a fund that tracks the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average since both include blue-chip stocks.» Ready to get started? Here’s more on how to invest in index funds.
» Ready to get started? » Ready to get started? Here’s more on how to invest in index funds . Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. About the authors Arielle O'Shea Arielle O'Shea Arielle is a NerdWallet authority on retirement and investing, with appearances on the "Today" Show, "NBC Nightly News" and other national media. See full bio. Sam Taube Sam Taube Sam Taube writes about investing for NerdWallet. He has covered investing and financial news since earning his economics degree in 2016. See full bio.Helpful resources
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