Ad tech firm AppLovin (APP) and trading platform Robinhood (HOOD) stocks rose over 6% in after-hours trading on Friday, while Emcor Group (EME), an engineering and services firm, also gained 2% after S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the three companies will join the S&P 500 Index (SPX). The additions will take effect before the market opens on September 22, 2025, as part of the quarterly rebalancing.
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The shake-up will see the trio replace MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX), Caesars Entertainment (CZR), and Enphase Energy (ENPH), which will move to the S&P SmallCap 600.
Big Gains Ahead of S&P 500 Entry
AppLovin has surged nearly 480% over the past year, driven by strong demand for its AI-driven ad platform. Its Axon 2 engine has powered much of this growth, boosting ad volume and revenue. In Q2 2025, the company delivered its strongest results in more than four years, with revenue up 77% year-over-year to $1.26 billion. With the S&P 500 inclusion, analysts expect fresh buying from funds that track the index, adding further support to the stock.
Robinhood has gained nearly 435% over the past year. The trading platform posted strong Q2 results, with revenue rising 45% year-over-year to $989 million, ahead of expectations of $914.6 million. Earnings per share came in at $0.42, topping consensus estimates of $0.31. The steady rise in Bitcoin prices has fueled higher revenue from interest-earning assets and growing transaction volumes. Its S&P 500 entry could attract more institutional investors and improve liquidity.
Meanwhile, Emcor Group has climbed nearly 77% over the past year. In Q2 2025, the company posted revenue of $4.3 billion, up 17% from last year, and earnings per share of $6.72, up 28%. Emcor ended the quarter with a backlog of $11.9 billion, pointing to continued demand across its construction and services business. Its addition to the S&P 500 highlights how steady earnings outside of tech can also secure a place in the benchmark index.
Which Is the Best Stock to Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, out of the three stocks pictured below, analysts are most bullish on AppLovin, rating it a Strong Buy, while Robinhood and Emcor carry Moderate Buy ratings.
Meanwhile, analysts see the most upside in Robinhood, with a price target of $113.71, implying a 12.3% gain. AppLovin follows with 8.2% upside, while Emcor Group offers 5.7%.
