Greenway, May 23 | Motley Fool Energy Expert Matt DiLallo: The performance of the S&P 500 index to record highs this year was driven by several factors, but many investors may have overlooked one factor, which is the impact of energy stocks on the index. According to the return measurement of SPDR ETFs in the energy select sector, the performance of energy stocks in the S&P 500 index this year was surprisingly better than the general market index. In most cases, the rise and fall of energy stocks is related to oil and gas prices. While ExxonMobil has performed strongly this year, other energy stocks have returned even better. The three best-performing energy stocks in the S&P 500 Index in 2024 are Targa Resources, Diamondback Energy, and Valero.