Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology is experiencing a significant surge in stock price due to increased demand for AI-driven memory solutions, with Bernstein raising its price target for the company [1][6]. Company Performance - Micron's stock closed at $315.42, reflecting a 10.52% increase in a single trading session, with trading volume reaching 41.9 million shares, which is 62% above the three-month average [2][3]. - The company has shown remarkable growth of 22,231% since its IPO in 1984 [3]. Market Dynamics - The rise in Micron's stock is attributed to analyst upgrades based on the anticipated demand for high-bandwidth memory, which is crucial for AI applications [3][6]. - Industry peers such as Seagate Technology and Western Digital also saw stock increases, indicating a broader market reaction to AI data-center expansions and global memory supply shortages [5]. Future Outlook - Micron's leadership indicated that the total addressable market for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) is projected to reach $100 billion by 2028, two years earlier than previously estimated [7]. - Bernstein forecasts continued growth in DRAM demand, suggesting a positive outlook for Micron's future performance [7].

Core Insights - The S&P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, achieved several all-time highs in 2025, closing with a gain of 16.6% [1] Performance Overview - The SPDR S&P 500 stock is exhibiting positive momentum, with a comparison of top-performing stocks in 2025 against previous years during President Trump's administration [2] - The S&P 500 has recorded three consecutive years of returns of 16% or better, with strong performance particularly noted in the semiconductor sector [3] Historical Context - The 2025 return of 16.6% is the fourth best among the five years Trump has been in office, and it is the worst return in the last three years, ranking as the seventh best over the past decade [5][6] - Historical returns during Trump's presidency include significant gains from top stocks, with SanDisk Corp leading at +560.2% and other notable performers like Western Digital Corp and Micron Technology [6] Sector Analysis - The semiconductor sector has been highlighted as a key area of interest, with several companies within this sector ranking among the top performers in 2025 [3][4] - Previous years under Trump's administration also saw strong performances in health care, consumer discretionary, and technology sectors, indicating a trend of sectoral strength during his terms [4] Future Outlook - Investors are hopeful for a return to strong gains similar to those seen in previous years, particularly as historical patterns suggest that the second year of presidential terms may yield lower returns [8]

Market Performance - Stocks fluctuated on the first trading day of 2026, with the Nasdaq down 6.36 points to 23,235.63, the S&P 500 up 12.97 points to 6,858.47, and the Dow climbing 319.10 points to 48,382.39 [1] - For the holiday-interrupted week, the Nasdaq fell by 1.5%, the S&P 500 decreased by 1.0%, and the Dow slid by 0.7% [2] Sector Performance - Semiconductor stocks experienced a significant increase, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surging by 4.0%, driven by Micron Technology, which rose by 10.5% to a record closing high [3] - Oil service stocks also showed strength, with the Philadelphia Oil Service Index increasing by 3.9% despite a modest decrease in crude oil prices [4] - Computer hardware, banking, and networking stocks had strong upward movements, while software stocks declined sharply [4] International Markets - Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region mostly moved higher, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up by 2.8% and South Korea's Kospi rising by 2.3% [4] - Major European markets also advanced, with the French CAC 40 Index up by 0.6%, and both the German DAX Index and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index rising by 0.2% [5] Economic Indicators - A lack of major U.S. economic data may have kept some traders on the sidelines ahead of key reports, including the monthly jobs report [3][5] - The yield on the benchmark ten-year treasury note increased by 2.4 basis points to 4.187% as treasuries extended their downward move [5]

Core Insights - Recent declines in U.S. stocks are concerning as they contradict the historical Santa Claus rally, yet major indexes posted solid gains in 2025 despite an April sell-off due to tariff declarations by President Trump [2] - The "January Effect" is expected to boost stock prices as investors reinvest year-end bonuses and engage in tax-loss harvesting, leading to renewed buying in the markets [3] Company Insights NVIDIA - NVIDIA is positioned for strong growth driven by demand for AI hardware and easing U.S.-China trade tensions, with projected fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 revenues around $65 billion [5][7] - The expected earnings growth rate for NVIDIA is 55.9%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share (EPS) at $4.66, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase [8] Micron Technology - Micron's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips are in continuous demand, expected to drive growth in fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenues between $18.3 billion and $19.1 billion [11][12] - The projected earnings growth rate for Micron is 278.3%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS at $31.36, indicating a 185.9% year-over-year increase [13] Palantir Technologies - Palantir is set for growth due to the increasing adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among U.S. government and commercial clients, projecting total revenues for 2025 between $4.396 billion and $4.400 billion [15][16] - The expected earnings growth rate for Palantir is 42.5%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS at $0.73, reflecting a 52.1% year-over-year increase [17]

Market Performance - US stocks mostly edged higher on the first trading day of 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining about 0.6% and the S&P 500 increasing by 0.2% [1] - The Nasdaq Composite fell below the flat line despite gains in semiconductor companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Micron [1] - The S&P 500 rose over 16% in 2025, while the Nasdaq Composite led with a more than 20% increase [2] Economic Outlook - The outlook for 2026 is optimistic, with Wall Street forecasters predicting a fourth consecutive year of stock market rallies [3] - However, risks remain, including potential faltering of the AI boom, surprises in the US economy, and uncertainties surrounding President Trump's tariffs [3] Commodity Performance - Gold and silver advanced at the start of 2026, building on their best annual performances since 1979, while aluminum crossed $3,000 per ton for the first time since 2022 [4] - The S&P 500 is down nearly 1% during the "Santa Claus rally" period, indicating a potential third consecutive down period for this seasonal trend [4] Federal Reserve Focus - The Federal Reserve remains a key focus for Wall Street in 2026, with ongoing divisions expected to continue from 2025 [5] - President Trump is expected to appoint a new chair to replace Jerome Powell, while traders anticipate the central bank will hold steady on interest rates later this month [5]

Group 1 - Micron Technology's stock increased by over 10%, reaching a new all-time high [1] - SanDisk's stock rose by more than 14% [1] - Western Digital's stock gained over 8% [1]

Micron (MU) stock is pushing meaningfully higher on Jan. 2 after a senior Bernstein analyst, Stacy Rasgon, issued a constructive note in it favor. Today’s rally drove MU’s near-term relative strength index (9-day) into the mid-70s, which is often interpreted as the overbought territory. More News from Barchart Including today’s gains, Micron shares are trading at nearly 5x their price in April 2025. www.barchart.com Why Does Bernstein Remain Bullish on Micron Stock? Stacy Rasgon expects MU stock to p ...

Core Viewpoint - Micron stock (NASDAQ: MU) experienced a nearly 10% increase, driven by a combination of supply scarcity, record earnings momentum, and aggressive re-ratings from Wall Street [1] Group 1: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The stock surge is attributed to a perfect storm of supply scarcity, indicating a tight market for Micron's products [1] Group 2: Financial Performance - Micron is witnessing record earnings momentum, suggesting strong financial performance that is likely contributing to investor confidence and stock price appreciation [1] Group 3: Market Reactions - Aggressive re-ratings from Wall Street reflect a positive shift in analyst sentiment towards Micron, further fueling the stock's upward movement [1]

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 index is experiencing a stable opening in 2026, with semiconductor stocks, especially Nvidia and Micron, showing strength to offset declines in other technology sectors [1] Group 1: Market Performance - The S&P 500 opened with little movement, indicating a cautious market sentiment [1] - Semiconductor stocks, particularly Nvidia and Micron, are performing well, contributing positively to the overall market despite weaknesses in other tech stocks [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average has slightly moved into positive territory, reflecting a mixed performance across major indices [1]

Core Viewpoint - Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) has experienced a significant surge in stock price over the past three months, distinguishing itself in the AI chip market [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Micron's stock has gone parabolic, indicating a dramatic increase in value [1].