Best Performing U.S. Stocks of February 2026

February was a month defined by three major forces: geopolitical shockwaves, a flight to safety, and a shift towards profitable tech. With the Iran escalations dominating the headlines, global oil supplies were threatened, prompting a rush of capital into domestic and offshore energy companies. Simultaneously, fear drove investors into precious metals (gold and silver) as safe havens. Finally, the AI rotation meant investors stopped buying every tech stock with an AI label and rewarded only those that proved they could actually turn a profit. Here's the breakdown of the top seven best-performing US stocks of February 2026, what they do, why they surged, and a speculative look at what March might hold for them.

Top 7 Stocks of February 2026

1. Fastly, Inc. (FSLY) | +107.15%

• What they do: Fastly operates an edge cloud platform (a Content Delivery Network) that helps developers build, secure, and deliver digital experiences; in other words, they make the internet run faster and more securely. 
• Why it surged: Fastly delivered a massive Q4 earnings beat in mid-February, reporting narrowed losses and a surprisingly strong 2026 revenue outlook. They proved that AI-related traffic and security services are finally becoming high-margin, profitable business drivers.
• March Outlook: The stock hit a 52-week high, and technical indicators suggest it is overbought. Profit-taking is highly likely in early March, which could pull the price back down.

2. Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS) | +71.32%

• What they do: Kosmos is an independent deepwater oil and gas exploration company, primarily operating off the coasts of Africa (Ghana, Equatorial Guinea) and the US Gulf of Mexico.
• Why it surged: Two massive tailwinds: First, global oil prices spiked due to the Middle East conflict. Second, KOS announced the strategic sale of its Equatorial Guinea assets for up to $219.5 million, injecting substantial liquidity into the company. 
• March Outlook: As long as the Strait of Hormuz (where a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped from) remains threatened and oil prices stay inflated, Kosmos potentially provides an attractive, non-Middle Eastern oil play.

3. Valaris Limited (VAL) | +65.46%

• What they do: Valaris is one of the world’s largest offshore drilling contractors, providing ultra-deepwater drillships and jack-up rigs to energy companies.
• Why it surged: The geopolitical crisis caused an immediate scramble for energy security. Oil companies are rushing to secure offshore drilling capacity outside conflict zones, causing the daily rental rates for Valaris's rigs to skyrocket.
• March Outlook: Steady Growth. Offshore drilling contracts are locked in for months or years. The panic in February secured long-term revenue for Valaris, making it a potentially stable hold for March.

4. First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG) | +53.91%

• What they do: A Canadian-based mining company that acquires, explores, and produces silver and gold, heavily focused on operations in Mexico. 
• Why it surged: Silver is incredibly volatile. AG surged as part of a massive flight to safety by investors terrified of the expanding war, combined with heavy short-covering (traders being forced to buy back the stock). 
• March Outlook: Highly Volatile. If the US-Iran situation de-escalates, the fear premium on silver will vanish, and AG could suffer a sharp drop. If the war expands, it could test new highs.

5. Texas Pacific Land Corporation (TPL) | +55.72%

• What they do: One of the largest landowners in Texas, TPL makes money by leasing its massive Permian Basin acreage for oil and gas royalties, water sales, and surface rights.
• Why it surged: TPL benefited from the surge in domestic oil prices, but it also gained a new identity: an AI infrastructure play. The market realized their vast, resource-rich land is perfectly positioned for energy-hungry AI data centres.
• March Outlook: TPL is essentially a monopoly on prime Texas real estate. It remains a potentially premium stock that could pay out regardless of whether the land is used for oil or tech.

6. Oil States International, Inc. (OIS) | +54.36%

• What they do: They manufacture deepwater capital equipment and provide well-site services to the oil and gas industry. If you want to drill a well, you buy their gear.
• Why it surged: Similar to Valaris and Kosmos, OIS surged on the back of the War Trade. An expectation of increased US drilling activity to offset Middle Eastern supply disruptions directly benefits their bottom line. 
• March Outlook: If the US government pushes for more domestic drilling to stabilise gas prices, OIS will see an immediate influx of orders.

7. Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) | +48.70%

• What they do: They operate the CLEAR biometric identity platform, famous for allowing travellers to skip standard airport security lines using eye and fingerprint scans. 
• Why it surged: CLEAR has been aggressively expanding beyond airports into healthcare, financial services, and stadiums. Strong user growth and highly profitable subscription renewals drove the stock higher during the February earnings report. 
• March Outlook: While their enterprise growth remains strong, potential disruptions to global air travel from security threats could slow their core airport business in March.

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FAQ

Q: What stocks gained the most in February 2026?

A: The biggest gainers in February 2026 were: FSLY (+107%), KOS (+71%), VAL (+65%), AG (+57%), TPL (+56%). These monthly rankings show which stocks had the strongest short-term momentum.

Q: Which sectors performed best in February 2026?

A: The top performing sectors in February 2026 included Technology, Energy, and Basic Materials, based on the stocks with the highest monthly gains. FSLY led the Technology sector

Q: How is monthly stock performance calculated?

A: Monthly stock performance is calculated by comparing the closing price on the last trading day of the month to the opening price on the first trading day. Split-adjusted prices ensure accuracy.

Disclaimer: Raenest is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser or member of FINRA. Securities offered by Alpaca Securities LLC ("Alpaca Securities"). Alpaca Securities is a member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Raenest does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk & investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. U.S. stock investments are held with Alpaca Securities LLC, a U.S.-licensed broker-dealer regulated by the SEC and FINRA. Your assets are custodied under strict regulatory and security standards, and you retain full visibility into your holdings and performance at all times. Investment feature is offered in partnership with City Investment Capital Limited, a firm licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria.