Yahoo Finance reported that, so far this year, three dividend stocks—ExxonMobil (XOM), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), and Texas Instruments (TXN)—have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 Index in 2026. The S&P 500 has risen more than 8% year-to-date, while ExxonMobil’s stock has climbed about 29%, driven primarily by rising commodity prices. UnitedHealth Group’s stock has risen 28% due to improved cost management and the use of AI technology. Texas Instruments saw the largest gain, rising about 62%, driven primarily by strong demand for embedded chips in the automotive and industrial sectors, particularly from AI data centers.