NRG Energy vs. Palantir: Which of These Top-Performing S&P 500 Stocks is the Better Buy

As the S&P 500 moves more cautiously in 2025, two companies have distinguished themselves with impressive gains. Palantir (PLTR -0.38%), up over 90% on surging AI adoption, and NRG Energy (NRG -3.10%), up roughly 60% (at the time of writing), now sit atop the index as two of its best performers. Both have delivered blockbuster returns, punched above consensus earnings, and unfurled sails to catch the AI tailwinds. But as we head into the back half of 2025, when markets often test even the hottest stories, w ...