U.S. News & World Report's 2026 stock picks trail the S&P 500 by 1 point after 3 days

3 Days Later — Aug 14, 2026

How are U.S. News & World Report's 2026 stock picks performing after three days?

U.S. News & World Report's nine picks for 2026 posted an average return of -0.2% in the first three trading days, lagging the S&P 500's +0.8% gain by a full percentage point.

Four of the nine selections managed to outpace the benchmark. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) led the group with a +3.0% gain, while the remaining picks either fell short or declined modestly in early trading.

Three days offers little signal about year-long performance—stocks routinely swing in the opening sessions after publication. The spread between the top and bottom performers will likely matter more as the tracking window extends beyond the first week.