August 2025’s S&P 500 Champions: These 3 Stocks Absolutely Crushed It

While traditional markets celebrated modest gains, three S&P 500 stocks delivered returns that'd make even crypto bulls do a double-take.

Tech Titan's AI Surge

First up: the semiconductor giant that's eating Nvidia's lunch. Their new neural processing units aren't just fast—they're rewriting the rules of machine learning infrastructure.

Biotech Breakthrough Bonanza

Next, a pharmaceutical player that turned gene therapy skeptics into believers overnight. FDA fast-track approval sent their stock soaring while competitors scrambled to play catch-up.

Energy Disruptor's Grid Revolution

Rounding out the trio: an energy storage company making power utilities nervous. Their grid-scale batteries are solving renewable energy's biggest headache—and Wall Street's finally paying attention.

Sure, these returns look impressive—until you realize they still got smoked by half the DeFi tokens on any given Tuesday. Traditional finance: where 'outperformance' means barely keeping pace with inflation.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Albemarle

(ALB 2.41%) is among the world's largest miners of lithium, a key raw material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, electronics, and energy storage systems. Lithium carbonate prices hit a one-year high in August after Chinese EV battery giant and lithium producer CATL suspended operations at a mine as its license expired. Albemarle stock surged 25.2%, making it August's biggest S&P 500 mover.

With CATL about to resume operations and lithium prices falling back to the ground, Albemarle stock has already reversed course. It's down 14% this month, as of this writing.

2. UnitedHealth Group

(UNH 2.07%) was among the biggest losers in the S&P 500, dropping 50% through the end of July. But it made a dramatic comeback, surging 24.2% in August after legendary investor Warren Buffett disclosed a $1.6 billion stake in the beleaguered health insurer.

On July 29, UnitedHealth reissued an outlook for 2025 after suspending it in May. UnitedHealth projects around 12% revenue growth and net earnings of at least $14.65 per share versus 2024 earnings of $15.51 per share. UnitedHealth stock is up another 12% this month so far.

3. Intel

Two announcements sent(INTC -0.63%) shares 23% higher last month. On Aug. 18, Japanese conglomerate(SOBK.Y 1.70%) agreed to invest $2 billion in Intel at a price of $23 per share. Days later, the U.S. government announced an investment of $8.9 billion in Intel stock, equivalent to a 10% stake, funded with $5.7 billion in unpaid grants under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program.