The market moved in tandem with a volatile tech sector for most of the week, while a handful of key economic indicators were in focus as well. Software giant Oracle (ORCL) was one of the biggest players, dragging tech earlier in the week, but boosting the market toward the end after news that TikTok agreed to sell its U.S. operations to an Oracle-led investor group. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) snapped a four-day losing streak on Thursday, with help from softer-than-expecte ...

Core Insights - TikTok has made significant progress in maintaining its US operations by signing a deal to spin off its US unit, which has positively impacted Oracle shares, increasing nearly 8% [1] - The new US-based TikTok will be responsible for US data management, content moderation, and algorithm security, requiring retraining of its algorithm on US user data while integrating with the global TikTok [2] - TikTok currently holds only 4% of the US digital ad spending market, significantly lower than Meta's 23% and Google's 25%, indicating potential for growth if user engagement and advertiser results remain stable [3] Group 1 - TikTok's new US entity is preparing to compete with existing social media giants, raising questions about its ability to manage transitions for its 170 million US users and advertisers [1] - The transition may introduce challenges in consumer experience, advertiser infrastructure, and algorithmic performance, as highlighted by industry analyst Brian Weezer [1] - Maintaining a consistent experience for users, advertisers, and creators is crucial amid the upcoming changes [1] Group 2 - The new US TikTok will manage interoperability, e-commerce, and advertising, which must be globally integrated to sustain its value [2] - Successful execution of these transitions will directly impact TikTok's share of US digital ad spending [2] - If TikTok can navigate these changes effectively, it may gain market share from competitors like Snap, which is currently experiencing a decline in stock value [3]

Group 1 - Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) faced significant stock price decline, dropping 10.8% following disappointing quarterly results, which were part of a broader downturn in AI data center stocks [1] - The company is experiencing challenges related to its relationship with OpenAI and concerns regarding its balance sheet, which have raised doubts about its future performance [1] - Oracle provides a range of services including cloud and on-premise software, databases, IT infrastructure, hardware, consulting, and support services to help businesses manage operations [2] Group 2 - While Oracle is recognized for its potential as an investment, there are other AI stocks that may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk [3]

Oracle’s stock jumped 7% Friday after the cloud provider joined a group of investors slated to lead TikTok’s U.S. operations. In a memo to employees Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the social media company’s U.S. division will be run by a joint venture that includes Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. The deal is expected to close on Jan. 22. ...

TikTok has signed a deal to sell its US business to a consortium of investors led by Oracle. Here's what to know https://t.co/n8mdkpnmnH ...

Nike slumped 9.6%, as the impact from tariffs overshadowed an otherwise strong quarterly profit report. Frozen potato maker Lamb Weston fell 19.8%, despite also beating Wall Street's profit and revenue forecasts. Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday and further trimmed losses from earlier in the week for several major indexes. The S&P 500 jumped 0.8%, adding to gains made on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 283 points, or 0.6%, as of 10:05 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq jumped 1% an ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index fell 1.16% to close at 6,721.43, marking the fourth consecutive day of decline due to an ongoing AI infrastructure selloff [1] - Despite the recent downturn, the S&P 500 is up 14.28% year-to-date, indicating a potential for a third consecutive year of double-digit gains [2] Analyst Insights - Brian Mulberry from Zacks Investment Management noted a rotation from large-cap growth to large-cap value, suggesting investors are adopting a more defensive posture ahead of next year [2] - A survey of nine major investment banks indicated a forecasted 10% gain in the S&P 500 over the next 12 months, with expectations that the index will surpass 7,500 by 2026 [3] Investment Methodology - The article identifies the top 14 S&P 500 stocks based on positive analyst sentiment and hedge fund interest, utilizing data from Insider Monkey's database as of Q3 2025 [5] - The strategy has historically outperformed the market, returning 427.7% since May 2014, significantly beating its benchmark [6] Company Highlights Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) - Ranked 14th among the best S&P 500 stocks, with 121 hedge fund holders and a consensus Strong Buy rating [7] - Analysts have set a one-year average price target of $640.30, representing a 12% upside [7] - Wells Fargo raised its price target to $675 from $635, citing favorable U.S. government policies and growth projections [8] - Citigroup upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral, increasing its price target to $660 from $580, driven by onshoring trends and increased pharmaceutical spending [9] - The stock has gained 8% year-to-date [10] Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) - Ranked 13th with 122 hedge fund holders and a consensus Moderate Buy rating [11] - Barclays maintains an Overweight rating with a price target of $310, while RBC Capital cut its target to $250 from $310 [11] - Oracle's diluted EPS of $2.26 exceeded estimates, but revenue and other key metrics fell short of expectations [12] - The company anticipates capital expenditures to be $15 billion higher than initially projected [13] - Future share price stability will depend on capital efficiency and free cash flow recovery [14] - Analysts have set a one-year average price target of $308.87, indicating a 67% upside [15]

Who's grabbing control of TikTok's US assets?On Thursday, TikTok told staffers it had TikTok told staffers it had signed a deal to form a joint venture for its US business with a group of investors, according to an internal memo sent by CEO Shou Chew, which was viewed by Business Insider. The company expects the deal to close in January late, per the memo. Three managing investors will each hold a 15% stake in the new venture: Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm M ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is experiencing a midday surge, with all three major indexes in positive territory, driven by a rebound in technology and AI-related shares [1][2] - The Nasdaq Composite is leading with a gain of approximately 0.9%, followed by the S&P 500 at around 0.7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average at about 0.5% [2] Economic Indicators - The November Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a year-over-year increase of only 2.7%, below the expected 3.0%, which has raised hopes for further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2026 [3] - The prospect of a more accommodative monetary policy is seen as a tailwind for equities [3] Corporate Developments - Oracle (ORCL) shares surged by approximately 7% due to reports of a joint venture with China's ByteDance, granting American investors, including Oracle, a controlling stake in TikTok's U.S. operations [8] - Micron Technology (MU) shares jumped another 5.5% after a 10% increase the previous day, driven by strong earnings and robust guidance amid tightening supply for AI data centers [9] - Other chipmakers like Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also saw gains of about 3.5% and 5.5%, respectively, due to renewed enthusiasm for AI [13] Company Performance - Winnebago Industries (WGO) shares soared by 12.3% after exceeding analysts' expectations in its fiscal 2026 first quarter and raising its full-year outlook [13] - Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) rose 1.8% after reporting strong second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue that surpassed consensus estimates [13] - Cintas Corporation (CTAS) gained 1.3% after reporting second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate [13] - Conversely, Nike (NKE) slumped nearly 10% despite exceeding earnings expectations, impacted by declining sales in China and tariffs affecting gross margins [13] - Enerpac Tool Group Corp. (EPAC) shares declined 8.8% after missing earnings expectations for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [13] - FedEx (FDX) slid more than 2% as its quarterly results failed to impress investors [13]

Carnival Corporation - Carnival Corporation reported adjusted earnings of $0.34 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations of $0.25 per share, with a record revenue of $6.33 billion, slightly below estimates [2] - For fiscal 2026, Carnival anticipates adjusted net income of $3.5 billion, surpassing the record levels of 2025 and the Visible Alpha consensus of $3.37 billion [2] - The company's board reinstated a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, reflecting confidence in future performance and commitment to shareholder value [3] Market Reaction - Following the positive quarterly results and optimistic guidance for fiscal 2026, shares of Carnival surged by 8% [1] - Shares of competitors Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises also saw increases of 4.5% and 2.5%, respectively [3]