Big names down, the rest flat
In May 2026 the Nifty 50 fell 1.9%, but the typical stock in it barely moved. 24 of the 50 current constituents rose and 26 fell, and the median stock lost just 0.5%. NSE's NIFTY50 Equal Weight index, which weights every stock the same, rose 0.4%.
The Nifty 50 weights its members by size, so a gap like that means bigger companies did worse than the rest. Among the familiar names, Reliance fell 7.7%, TCS 8.7%, State Bank of India 9.7%, ITC 8.9% and HDFC Bank 3.5%. Only 17 stocks fell more than the index did.
The figures compare closes on 30 April and 29 May 2026, the last trading days of the two months. The list is the current Nifty 50 membership. The month's index numbers are in May 2026 in numbers.
May's best and worst
| Best | May | Worst | May | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adani Enterprises | +22.0% | ONGC | −11.4% | |
| Tata Motors PV | +15.3% | State Bank of India | −9.7% | |
| Grasim | +11.7% | ITC | −8.9% | |
| Asian Paints | +9.3% | Power Grid | −8.7% | |
| Adani Ports | +8.9% | TCS | −8.7% | |
| Hindalco | +8.6% | Reliance | −7.7% | |
| Apollo Hospitals | +7.1% | Titan | −7.1% | |
| Cipla | +7.0% | Coal India | −4.9% |
Adani Enterprises went from ₹2,408.40 to ₹2,937.40, on top of April's 36.9% gain. The oil and gas group, which had held up best in March, was the weakest in May: ONGC, Reliance and Coal India all fell.
The year so far
From 31 December 2025 to 29 May 2026 the Nifty 50 fell 9.9%. The median of the 49 stocks we can measure fell 3.5%, and 19 of them are up.
| Leaders | 2026 so far | Laggards | 2026 so far | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adani Enterprises | +31.2% | TCS | −29.6% | |
| Hindalco | +27.1% | ITC | −28.8% | |
| Adani Ports | +22.8% | Infosys | −28.1% | |
| NTPC | +17.4% | HCL Technologies | −27.1% | |
| Apollo Hospitals | +16.1% | HDFC Bank | −24.9% | |
| Tata Steel | +15.5% | Wipro | −22.4% | |
| Coal India | +14.8% | Maruti Suzuki | −21.4% | |
| Bajaj Auto | +12.0% | HDFC Life | −20.7% |
Trent is left out of the year-to-date figures. Its price history in our data drops by a third between 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026, and the prices on either side of that day are on different bases, which looks like a corporate-action adjustment rather than a trade. Monthly figures within 2026 are unaffected.
ITC's fall is real, and a large part of it came on the first trading day of the year: it lost 9.7% on 1 January, and the Nifty FMCG index fell 3.2% with it.
By sector, this year
Each stock counted equally, 31 December 2025 to 29 May 2026:
| Sector | Stocks | Up | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metals & Mining | 4 | 4 | +20.9% |
| Power | 2 | 2 | +13.6% |
| Oil, Gas & Fuels | 3 | 2 | +3.1% |
| Healthcare | 5 | 3 | +1.7% |
| Automobiles | 5 | 2 | −4.4% |
| FMCG | 4 | 1 | −6.7% |
| Financial Services | 11 | 1 | −10.9% |
| Information Technology | 5 | 0 | −22.8% |
The largest group, financials, and the IT group have gone the wrong way. Ten of the eleven financial stocks are down, by an average of 10.9%, and all five IT stocks are down, by an average of 22.8%. Together they are 16 of the 50 names. Every metals and power stock has risen.
What this does not tell you
Membership is the current list. Stocks that joined or left the Nifty 50 during the year are treated as members throughout.
Price changes only. Dividends are left out, and over a year they can be a meaningful part of a stock's return.
Five months is a short record. This year's leaders and laggards have changed places before, as February, March and April showed. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any stock.
Where to go from here
The stocks page shows which mutual funds own each company, for example Adani Enterprises and TCS.
Technology fund returns shows what the IT fall has meant for funds that specialise in it, and FII vs DII in May 2026 covers the month's institutional flows.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nifty 50 stocks did best in May 2026?
Among the 50 current Nifty 50 constituents, Adani Enterprises rose most in May 2026, 22.0%, from ₹2,408.40 on 30 April to ₹2,937.40 on 29 May. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (+15.3%), Grasim (+11.7%) and Asian Paints (+9.3%) followed. ONGC fell most, 11.4%.
Which Nifty 50 stocks have done best in 2026 so far?
From 31 December 2025 to 29 May 2026, Adani Enterprises rose 31.2%, Hindalco 27.1%, Adani Ports 22.8% and NTPC 17.4%. Over the same period the Nifty 50 fell 9.9%. All four metals and mining stocks in the index are up for the year.
Which Nifty 50 stocks have fallen most in 2026?
TCS has fallen 29.6% from 31 December 2025 to 29 May 2026, ITC 28.8%, Infosys 28.1%, HCL Technologies 27.1% and HDFC Bank 24.9%. Four of the five IT stocks in the index are down more than 22% for the year; Tech Mahindra is down 6.7%.
This is commentary on published data, not investment advice. WealthTicker is not a SEBI-registered adviser or distributor. Figures are as of the dates stated and can be revised by their source.
Keep reading
Nifty 50 stocks in the first half of 2026: IT at the bottom
In January–June 2026, 24 of 49 current Nifty 50 stocks rose. Adani Enterprises led (+35.6%); all five IT stocks fell over 11%, Infosys 38.1%. The table.
Nifty 50 stocks in April 2026: 47 of 50 rose
47 current Nifty 50 stocks rose in April 2026, led by Adani Enterprises (+36.9%); HCL Tech fell 10.6%. Three of March's four worst led the gains.
Nifty 50 stocks in March 2026: 46 of 50 fell
Only 4 current Nifty 50 stocks rose in March 2026; Coal India led with +4.6% and Tata Motors PV fell 22.6%. 24 stocks fell more than the index. Best and worst.