Booking Is February's Seasonal Leader, With Nvidia And 5 Stocks Joining The Trade

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) stands out as the strongest seasonal performer in February among S&P 500 stocks. February is often a frustrating month for investors, with the S&P 500 posting an average gain of just 0.1% and finishing higher only 55% of the time over the past three decades.

But while the broader market tends to stall, seasonality data reveals a handful of stocks that have reliably thrived during February.

According to long-term February performance tracked by TradingView, Booking, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and five other large-cap names are also showing consistently favorable February trends.

While never a guarantee, seasonality is widely used by traders to identify periods when historical probabilities have historically tilted in their favor. February's data reveals a surprisingly broad mix of travel, technology, industrial, insurance and commodity-linked stocks that have delivered above-average gains during the month.

Booking Leads February Seasonality

Booking Holdings, the online travel company, has historically been the clear standout in February.

Over the past 20 years, the stock has posted an average February gain of 8.72%, making it the company's best-performing month, with a 76% winning ratio, meaning shares have finished the month higher in more than three-quarters of observed years.

The strongest February performance occurred in 2009, when Booking surged 26.49%, while the weakest came in February 2022, when the stock fell 11.6%.

Nvidia's February Strength Extends AI Momentum

Nvidia also ranks among February's most consistent winners. The stock has delivered an average February gain of 6.57%, making it the company's third-best month historically, with a 76% win rate.

Nvidia recorded a 28.58% rally in February 2024, reflecting sustained demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure and data center investment.

The weakest February performance came in 2008, when shares declined 13.01%, underscoring how broader macro shocks can still overwhelm seasonal patterns.

Industrials And Materials Join The Trade

Other cyclical stocks also display strong February seasonality:

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) averages a 4.85% February gain, its second-best month, with a 71% winning ratio. The strongest February performance came in 2024 (+22.71%), while the weakest was a 12.35% decline in 2025.
• CF Industries Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CF) posts an average February gain of 6.06%, also its second-best month, with a 70% win rate. The standout year was 2009, when shares surged 36.87%.
• Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) delivers an average February gain of 6.35%, making it the company's best-performing month. However, the stock is more volatile, with a 52% winning ratio and a wide range between its best (+65.86% in 2016) and worst (-21.2% in 2006) February outcomes.
• The Mosaic Co. (NYSE:MOS) averages a 6.39% gain in February, also its best month, with a 67% win rate. The strongest February came in 2022 (+31.24%), while the weakest was a 14.23% decline in 2025.

A Defensive Name Also Stands Out

February strength is not limited to cyclical exposure. Aon plc (NYSE:AON) emerges as a defensive name with strong historical performance.

The stock averages a 5.32% gain in February, its best-performing month, with a 76% winning ratio. Its worst February decline was a relatively modest 5.56% in 2020, while its best was a 15.75% gain in 2006.

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