2 growth shares beating Rolls-Royce stock so far this year

Jon Smith points out some growth shares that have come out of the blocks strongly in 2026, with momentum right now that could continue.

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So far this year, the Rolls-Royce share price is up 5%. Even though it’s outperforming the FTSE 100, other growth shares have done far better in 2026. Given concerns that Rolls-Royce may be overvalued, here are growth ideas I believe could continue to shine and are worth a look.

Benefitting from volatility

First up is IG Group (LSE:IGG). This stock’s already up 11% this year, with much of that driven by investor sentiment about bumper future earnings amid recent market volatility. After all, IG’s main source of revenue is fees and commissions from users trading on the platform. So during the recent weeks of stocks swinging higher and lower, not to mention commodities and other assets, I expect client activity has picked up significantly.

Even though volatility’s only been evident for a month or so, I think some investors are buying the stock almost as a form of protection against the risks of a longer-term conflict in the Middle East. If the situation doesn’t improve in the coming months, it could weigh on the stock market, but companies like IG Group could become defensive stocks that outperform in this environment.

Over the past year, the stock’s risen by 52%. Yet when I look forward, the sharp rally still only means the price-to-earnings ratio is 7.39. This is less than half the FTSE 100 average ratio, suggesting the stock could be undervalued. At the very least, it appears better value than Rolls-Royce.

In terms of risks, regulatory concern is up there. IG operates in leveraged products and services retail clients, which regulators are very strict on. Yet even with this, I think the outlook could support further gains.

Turning to emerging markets

Another option is Ninety One (LSE:N91). Up 10% in 2026 and 61% over the past year, the emerging markets asset manager is enjoying a strong inflow of client funds. In a January trading update, it noted assets under management (AUM) hit £159.8bn as of the end of 2025, up from £130.2bn the year before.

Demand for emerging market investments has risen over the past year, with lower interest rates in developed markets pushing investors to other areas in the hunt for yield. Further, the spike in energy prices in 2026 has helped many of these nations, given their net export nature of products like oil and gas.

Ninety One isn’t just being passive in its strategy either. Its new Sanlam partnership is a big deal as it gives access to a large South African client base with a steady pipeline of assets. This should help to boost the outlook going forward.

It’s true that one good year doesn’t mark a structural trend higher for the company. Emerging markets are notoriously volatile, meaning that investors could swiftly pull their money back out if things turn sour. But overall, I think it’s another growth share that looks more attractive than Rolls-Royce.

Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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