Core Insights - The Russell 1000 Index experienced a strong performance in Q3, closing up approximately 7%, although the average stock returned about 4%, indicating that gains were concentrated among a few high-performing stocks [1]. Top Performers - Four stocks in the Russell 1000 achieved gains exceeding 100% during the quarter, highlighting significant outperformance [2]. - Sandisk Corp. (NASDAQ:SNDK) saw a remarkable 150% increase, benefiting from its position as a major supplier of NAND flash memory semiconductors and strong AI demand [4]. - Astera Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) surged 111% due to a 149.5% year-over-year revenue growth to $191.93 million and high demand for AI connectivity solutions [4]. - Applovin Corp. (NASDAQ:APP) posted a 102% gain, driven by favorable sector-wide trends [4]. - MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) benefited from a $400 million investment from the Trump administration and a $500 million supply agreement with Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) [4]. - Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) experienced an 84% surge, capitalizing on data center build-out trends [4]. - QuantumScape Corp. (NYSE:QS) saw significant returns driven by retail investor interest and optimism regarding its solid-state battery technology [4]. - Ciena Corp. (NYSE:CIEN) rose due to increased demand for AI-driven networking solutions and investments from major cloud providers [4]. - Wayfair, Inc. (NYSE:W) gained 70% in Q3, attributed to strategic advancements in ecommerce and retail technology [4].