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Live Markets: Stocks Flip Green, PLTR and NFLX Shine
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Tech Triumph and Energy Rush
Technology stocks are leading the markets higher as the Nasdaq Composite tacks on a 1.1% gain. The Palantir Technologies rally is in full swing, as the data analytics company’s stock surpasses $100 per share for a $233.4 billion market cap. Tech is also fueling gains in the S&P 500, which is tacking on 40 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up too.
Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META) is headed for its 12th consecutive trading session of gains as shares rise a solid 1.3% in mid-afternoon trading. Over the winning streak – the longest ever for Mark Zuckerberg’s company – Meta’s market cap has expanded by a whopping $235 billion. Investors are bullish on Meta’s AI assistant and strategy, including $65 billion in AI spending in 2025.
Google parent Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOG) is up 2% ahead of the company’s quarterly earnings report due out after the closing bell. If history is any indication, Alphabet’s gains are justified as the company has beaten both top and bottom-line estimates for seven straight quarters leading into today’s print.
Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI) is up 9% on the day ahead of the company’s much anticipated business update next week amid SEC filing delays.
Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) is taking back some recent losses and is up about 1%. Piper Sandler analysts consider the EV stock a buy, saying it’s better protected from a trade war compared with other automakers.
A volatile Bitcoin price has dipped below the $100,000 level as trade war fears continue to grip the crypto markets.
The trade wars have buoyed the price of oil to $73 per barrel, fueling a rally in energy stocks. Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is up 2.3% despite Truist analysts slashing the price target to $160 from $164 on free cash flow worries.
Today’s market activity is a show of resilience as stocks come back from yesterday’s trade-war sell-off to make their way into positive territory. As of mid-morning, all three of the major stock market indices were trading higher. Stocks have been headline driven, but earnings are also having an effect on trading, which is turning out to be a good thing today.
Palantir Technologies (Nasdaq: PLTR) stock is lifting all boats, thanks to a 23% rally. Palantir’s AI-driven quarterly results can be summed up by unprecedented demand coupled with a strong outlook. Investors took the cue, fueling a rally in a stock that is already up a whopping 530% over the past 12 months and 40% so far in 2025.
Palantir’s value has now surpassed $235 billion, taking the No. 49 spot in the market cap rankings and muscling American Express (NYSE: AXP), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), General Electric (NYSE: GE), McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) out of the way. Mizuho analyst Matthew Broom nearly doubled his price target on Palantir stock to $80 from $44 per share with an “underperform” rating on the stock, fueled by what he called an “excellent” quarter.
Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) stock is up 2%, sending shares above the psychologically important $1,000 level and reigniting speculation of a potential stock split in 2025.
Here’s a look at the performance as of morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: up 37.61 (+0.08%)
Nasdaq Composite: up 217.76 (1.11%)
S&P 500: up 35.94 (0.60%)
Wall Street Bump
Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) stock got a bump after Bank of America analysts issued a report on the AI leader. Analysts believe that Nvidia is equipped to withstand the fire from China’s DeepSeek threat and trade war turmoil, saying that the stock has the potential to clinch a fresh all-time high. Bank of America analysts reiterated their “buy” rating on NVDA stock and attached a $190 price target, reflecting 61% upside potential.
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) is rising after Wall Street offered some insight into early 2025 performance. UBS analysts revealed Apple’s App Store revenue showed strength January despite facing a relatively easy comp. UBS rates AAPL stock as “neutral” with a $236 price target.
PayPal Holdings (Nasdaq: PYPL) stock is down almost 10% after failing to hit on all cylinders in its Q4 earnings report.
Key Points
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Stocks are rebounding after yesterday’s trade war-triggered sell-off.
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While the markets remain headline driven, earnings are also having an influence.
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Palantir Technologies stock is soaring by over 20% after sailing through its quarterly earnings with some AI tailwinds.
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