8
7 Best-Performing Tech Stocks for May 2026
7 Best-Performing Tech Stocks for May 2026
The best tech stocks based on one-year performance include Sandisk Corp., and Western Digital Corp.Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
Updated · 3 min read Written by Editor & Content Strategist + more + more Edited by Managing Editor SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATEDThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
Tech companies have long been of interest to investors because of their growth potential. But while these companies have a role in how modern society will evolve in the future, they also have a place in the here and now. Those lucky enough to be on the first waves of tech innovation — investors in Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN), for example — made significant sums of money by buying and holding for years. But this required patience and a stomach for enduring bouts of major volatility. The pandemic might have been a catalyst for increased interest in companies that could provide innovative solutions for a changed world, but the last couple of years have not always been kind to the technology sector. Worries about a potential recession, extensive and wide-ranging layoffs, high inflation, and the perception that these stocks are often overvalued have all taken some of the shine off an industry sector that many investors have at times considered bulletproof. However, tech stocks can still bring value to your portfolio. Not just in terms of being able to invest in tech solutions that we use or access on a daily basis, but in acknowledging the impact that next-generation offerings such as artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics and quantum computing will have on society as a whole. With that in mind, here's an overview of what tech stocks are, a list of the best-performing tech stocks right now and your options for buying them.Best-performing tech stocks
Below are the seven best-performing stocks in the Nasdaq-100 index from the technology sector, in order of one-year returns. The best-performing Nasdaq-100 tech stock by one-year return is Sandisk Corp (SNDK), which is up 3162.29%. Ticker Company Performance (Year) SNDK Sandisk Corp 3162.29% WDC Western Digital Corp 842.95% STX Seagate Technology Holdings Plc 670.48% MU Micron Technology Inc 570.21% INTC Intel Corp 378.88% AMD Advanced Micro Devices Inc 267.80% LRCX Lam Research Corp 255.93% Source: Finviz. Data is current as of May 1, 2026 and is intended for informational purposes only.What is a technology stock?
Technology stocks are publicly traded shares of companies specializing in the development and sale of technology products and services. You’re likely at least familiar with four of the major players in this sector that we noted above, all of which are part of what stock market analysts refer to as the "Magnificent Seven” — Meta Platforms (META), Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) round out the list. These companies are all considered to be tech behemoths with some of the highest market capitalizations on the stock market. However, you might be less aware of companies like Palantir Technologies (PLTR), Strategy (MSTR) and Shopify (SHOP). Palantir, a data analytics platform that works in both the public and private sectors, has been around since 2003 but didn’t go public until 2020. Its stock price has increased nearly 600% in the past five years, and the company is widely considered to be at the forefront of AI-driven data collection. Fun fact: Palantir is probably the only tech firm in the Nasdaq-100 index that has a direct link to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The tech sector is also one of the largest and most diverse sections of the stock market. Companies that fall under the tech umbrella span multiple industries and offer a huge range of services and products. The Global Industry Classification Standard makes this easier to digest by grouping tech stocks into three main categories: software and services, hardware and equipment, and semiconductors. Companies can fall within one category or stretch across a few, depending on their offerings. » View our top picks for online brokerage accounts » View our top picks for online brokerage accounts Software and services Software and services Hardware and equipment Hardware and equipment Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment Companies that produce software or services for technology-based industries such as cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing and storage, artificial intelligence, workflow and project management, video streaming and conferencing, and social media. Companies that manufacture or sell physical tech products such as laptops and computers, printers, hard drives, AI home assistants, GPS devices and smart watches, phones or appliances. Companies that create and manufacture various chips, circuits and other physical components that power electronic devices such as phones, computers and cars. Brokerage firms Learn more Learn moreon Charles Schwab's website
Learn more Learn moreon E*TRADE's website
Learn more Learn moreon Vanguard's website
Learn more Learn moreon Fidelity's website