As 2026 gets underway, investors are asking whether three of the most talked‑about financial stocks, Robinhood Markets, Better Home & Finance, and Forge Global, that outperformed in 2025, can sustain their momentum in 2026. No doubt each financial stock had enjoyed notable growth last year, but varied business models and market realities make the road ahead uncertain.

Robinhood Markets

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) is perhaps the most resilient stock performance of the year 2025 in the fintech industry. Robinhood Markets’ stock jumped significantly as data indicated a massive hike of more than 200% in the past year due to an increase in retail trading activity, crypto trading, and new product expansion offerings from the company. Some research even highlighted the incredible rise of HOOD shares by 405.4% in a year as of mid-2025.

The financial performance also reflected strong business growth. In the first quarter of 2025, Robinhood reported its revenues up 50 % year‑over‑year to $927 million, throughout its quarterly performance, along with net income, which surged by 114%.

This surge was fueled by increased transaction volumes — equities, options, and crypto —. By late 2025, the company’s total funded accounts and platform assets had climbed significantly, with total platform assets nearly doubling year‑over‑year and millions of funded accounts added.

This growth was driven by an increase in transaction volumes, such as equities, options, and cryptos, as well as strong adoption of new features like Robinhood Gold. By the end of 2025, total funded accounts and total platform assets had increased substantially for the company, with total platform assets doubling annually.

What’s Next In 2026?

However, the overall magnitude of last year’s performance creates a challenging baseline: it might be difficult to maintain such double-digit growth in a market where trading volume moderates or in the case of any change in macroeconomic fundamentals. But there could be support from new product offerings, such as global expansion and brokerage services for retirement and advisory offerings.

Better Home & Finance

Another company that drew the attention of investors in 2025 was Better Home & Finance (NASDAQ: BETR), which gained 256% over the past year. This stock emerged as the top-performing U.S.-listed financial stock, with more dynamic mortgage and home finance investments.

Although figures for the annual percentage growth for 2025 are not consolidated in the market indices, there have been several reports about the stocks experiencing good price hikes during the year, with BETR stocks going up by 35.9% on a given day and well up from the previous months.

Behind the stock’s performance was real business progress. Better reported. Better’s revenue base has also expanded sharply, with 2024 revenue nearly 50 % higher than 2023, positioning the company as a fast‑growing mortgage and homeownership technology platform.

Behind the performance of the stock was the actual business momentum. To begin with, there were year‑over‑year increases in funded loan volume. For example, a 17 % rise in Q3 2025 compared with the same period last year, and funded loan volume growth excluding certain partnerships of 56 %.

Better’s revenue base has also expanded sharply, with 2024 revenue nearly 50 % higher than 2023, positioning the company as a fast‑growing mortgage and homeownership technology platform.

Though it’s growing, there are still some challenges: Better still posted a net loss as it invests in scale, and its margins are improving from negative levels. Analysts and company guidance suggest achieving adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of Q3 2026 as a key milestone.

What’s Next In 2026?

Regarding 2026 plans, the narrative for BETR revolves around its ability to sustain profitability through increased lending volume and tech efficiency gains. With growing interest in AI-powered home lending platforms, this looks promising. Macro environment dynamics, such as interest rates and housing cycles, would be significant influences here.

Forge Global

Forge Global (NYSE: FRGE), a U.K.-based private markets broker of qualified purchase and sale of private company stocks. The stock did register significant appreciation on several occasions in 2025 and saw its shares climb by nearly 219%.

Operationally, the signs are encouraging in the case of Forge, too. In the first half of 2025, revenue net of transaction-based expenses reached $52.7 million, which is a 28% increase from $41.2 million in H1 2024. In addition, the company improved its net losses as well as EBITDA losses.

However, much of Forge’s potential has become linked to an imminent acquisition deal announced late in 2025 by Charles Schwab. It is about $45 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $660 million.

What’s Next In 2026?

While Forge Global may not replicate the rapid stock gains of 2025, 2026 could be a year of strategic consolidation and business scaling, laying the foundation for stronger, more stable performance in the long term. For investors, the focus should shift from speculative stock moves to the value generated through Schwab integration.

What Analysts Expect In 2026?

Wall Street strategists retain an overall positive outlook for the finance industry in 2026, in light of the ease in interest rates and activity in corporate America. Analysts’ surveys imply that the S&P 500 index could gain 12% in 2026, with stocks in the finance industry set to benefit from expected gains in earnings per share of 14.5% for large banks.

The investment banking and fintech sectors are expected to benefit from strong merger and acquisition and initial public offering activity, while technology spend on artificial intelligence and platforms helps deliver growth. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, strong earnings and business activity are believed to be supporting the industry.

Bottom Line

Indeed, each of these three stocks Robinhood Markets, Better Home & Finance, and Forge Global has a convincing growth story going into 2026, underpinned by strong performance in 2025. Continuing gains now will be contingent upon execution, levels of market activity, macro conditions, and strategic integration, as with Forge Global.

Investors must strike a balance of optimism with caution and focus their perspective on both fundamental business growth and broader sector trends to help them navigate the year ahead.