I'll readily admit that I don't know how the stock market will perform in 2026. It could continue to climb. On the other hand, the momentum from last year could evaporate.
However, I think the individual stocks that outperform the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) this year will be those with key catalysts. With that in mind, I predict that three stocks will crush the market in 2026.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Alphabet
Google parent Alphabet (GOOG +0.18%) (GOOGL +0.18%) has delivered tremendous gains over the last 12 months, even with a recent pullback. I expect the good times will keep rolling for the artificial intelligence (AI) stock this year.
Alphabet provided a big hint in its fourth-quarter update that bodes well for its near-term prospects. CFO Anat Ashkenazi mentioned that Google Cloud's backlog soared by 55% quarter over quarter in Q4 and more than doubled year over year to $240 billion. As Google Cloud converts much of that backlog into recognized revenue throughout 2026, Alphabet's earnings should grow significantly.
NASDAQ: GOOGL
Key Data Points
To put that backlog figure into context, Google Cloud's annual revenue run rate at the end of 2025 was around $70 billion. There's no mystery why the backlog has grown so much. Customers are flocking to Google Cloud's enterprise AI products and services built on top of its powerful Gemini 3.0 AI models.
Agentic AI is another reason I think that 2026 could be a banner year for Alphabet. Google Antigravity, a development platform that uses AI agents to plan and execute complex software functions, is already a big hit with developers, only a few months after its launch. Google has embedded agentic AI into the Chrome browser. It's also incorporating more powerful AI agents in tools for advertisers. My hunch is that we'll see these investments begin to pay off in a visible way this year.
2. BeOne Medicines
Biotech stocks can usually be counted on to provide powerful catalysts over the course of a year. I think that BeOne Medicines (ONC 0.55%) could have three such catalysts in 2026.
BeOne, formerly known as BeiGene, already has a blockbuster drug in its lineup with Brukinsa. The blood cancer drug now ranks as the top BTK inhibitor in the market after steadily taking market share away from the previous top therapy, Imbruvica. BeOne could have more good news for Brukinsa soon. The company plans to announce results from a Phase 3 study evaluating Brukinsa in combination with rituximab as a first-line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in the first half of 2026.
NASDAQ: ONC
Key Data Points
While I expect continued momentum for Brukinsa over the next four quarters, it probably won't be the biggest story for BeOne. Instead, that honor belongs to sonrotoclax. The company hopes to win U.S. regulatory approval for sonro for the treatment of relapsed or refractory MCL in the first half of this year.
Those aren't the only potential catalysts for BeOne in 2026, though. The drugmaker could also file for accelerated approval of BGB-16673 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the second half of the year, pending positive results from a Phase 2 clinical study.
3. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (RYTM 4.28%) is another biotech stock (in this case, a mid-cap stock) that I think could easily trounce the market in 2026. Rhythm currently markets only one product, Imcivree. The drug is approved for treating three rare genetic obesity disorders.
However, a fourth approved indication could be right around the corner. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is scheduled to announce its decision on the approval of Imcivree for the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity (HO) by March 20, 2026. Positive news would likely cause Rhythm's shares to soar. Acquired HO affects more patients in the U.S. than the three already approved indications for Imcivree in the U.S. and European Union combined.
NASDAQ: RYTM
Key Data Points
Investors also have other catalysts to look forward to. Rhythm expects to report top-line data from a Phase 3 study evaluating Imcivree in four other genetic diseases in the first quarter of 2026.
The company plans to disclose six-month results from an exploratory Phase 2 study evaluating the drug for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome in the first half of the year. While Prader-Willi syndrome is rare, it affects around 400,000 people worldwide and therefore represents a significant market opportunity for Rhythm.
