October 7, 2026
Nearly $25 Trillion in Market Cap — and a Third of the Index
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 6 that the Seven's combined market cap has risen to just under $25 trillion, a new high, accounting for roughly a third of the S&P 500's total value. Money keeps pouring in: September delivered the largest monthly inflow ever for ETFs tracking the seven stocks. But beneath the boom, undercurrents run — the group spent most of 2026 trailing the broader market, with the MAGS ETF down as much as 16% earlier this year before rebounding since August. JPMorgan notes that heavy AI capital spending is squeezing free cash flow at names like Microsoft; the valuation discount is largely priced in, but the pressure hasn't gone away.
The Money Is Coming From New Faces: Micron, Chevron, and Friends
The Rotation Trade Emerges: Equal-Weight Looks Far Cheaper
What to Watch Next: Can AI Spending Turn Into Real Profits?
The season's biggest question remains AI. Goldman Sachs estimates S&P 500 EPS grew 51% year over year in Q2, with AI investment accounting for nearly half of this year's earnings growth. But investors want evidence that astronomical spending on chips, data centers, and infrastructure turns into sustainable revenue and profit. JPMorgan still projects 20% earnings growth for the Seven in 2026 versus 11% for the rest — the gap persists. Whether the "other 493" actually overtake the giants depends on Q4 delivery. One thing is certain: the market is no longer listening to just seven stories.
Sources: CNBC, FactSet, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MarketWatch, Barron's, JPMorgan, Investor's Business Daily
