NVIDIA, ranked first in Wednesday's US stock trading volume, closed up 0.78%, with a turnover of $27.357 billion. UBS raised its price target for NVIDIA from $235 to $245. In a recent report, Goldman Sachs increased its performance expectations for NVIDIA's fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 and maintained a $250 price target, emphasizing that revenue visibility for 2027 is a key catalyst. Institutional ratings show that over 90% of analysts hold a "Buy" or "Overweight" view, with an average target price of $260.26, reflecting market optimism regarding AI computing demand. However, Goldman Sachs also highlighted risks such as a potential slowdown in AI infrastructure investment and increased competition.
Tesla, the second highest by volume, closed up 0.80%, with a turnover of $24.343 billion. According to reports, Tesla Vice President Raj Jagannathan announced his departure on LinkedIn on February 9, ending his 13-year career at the company. This is the latest in a recent wave of executive departures from companies under Elon Musk's leadership. Prior to this, several key executives have left both Tesla and xAI. Jagannathan wrote, "Summarizing 13 years in one post isn't easy. My journey at Tesla has been like an evolving process. As I leave, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and excitement for the future."
Micron Technology, ranked third, closed up 9.94%, with a turnover of $19.06 billion. Morgan Stanley raised its price target for the stock from $350 to $450 on Wednesday, while maintaining an "Overweight" rating on the memory chip manufacturer's shares. This new target price is above Micron's closing price of $410.34 on Wednesday and aligns with the generally bullish analyst consensus. Public data shows that the average analyst rating for the stock is 1.56 (Strong Buy).
Microsoft, ranked fourth, closed down 2.15%, with a turnover of $16.655 billion. Media reports indicated that Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation, made an unexpected appearance in Shanghai's Zhangjiang on the evening of February 11 to attend an event named "Action Creates Hope." This visit marks Gates's first trip to China in approximately two and a half years, following his previous visit in June 2023. In an interview, Gates directly addressed the controversy surrounding his relationship with Epstein, clarifying, "Between 2011 and 2014, I did have dinners with Epstein on several occasions, but there's really nothing new to add on this matter. I never met with any victims, and I never went to his island."
Alphabet (GOOGL), ranked fifth, closed down 2.39%, with a turnover of $14.044 billion. Reports indicate that Google is adding a new feature allowing consumers to make direct purchases when obtaining AI-powered answers from its search engine and its Gemini chatbot. This is part of its broader plan to more directly monetize user interactions with AI. In a letter to the advertising community on Wednesday, the company stated that its AI-powered Google Search is testing new ad formats that allow retailers and other advertisers to display products there. Google said users can now purchase directly from Etsy and Wayfair within Gemini. A new "Direct Offers" feature in the AI mode will allow brands to offer discounts to potential shoppers.
SanDisk Corp., ranked eighth, closed up 10.65%, with a turnover of $11.951 billion. US memory-related stocks generally rose on Wednesday.
Palantir Technologies Inc., ranked eleventh, closed down 2.75%, with a turnover of $7.071 billion. Daiwa Capital Markets believes Palantir Technologies' stock has the potential to recover its earlier losses this year. The investment bank upgraded the software analytics company from Neutral to Buy. However, analyst Shigemichi Yoshizu lowered his price target from $200 to $180.
Shopify, ranked fifteenth, closed down 6.70%, with a turnover of $6.221 billion. Reports state that Shopify is positioning "Agentic Commerce" as an expansion channel rather than a product feature. Company President Harley Finkelstein stated on an analyst call that orders originating from AI-driven searches were "approximately 15 times" the volume from the same period last year. He noted that while this growth is from a small base, it is sufficient for Shopify to view 2025 as a year for "laying the foundation" and 2026 as a year for scaling. This effort centers on its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), developed jointly with Google, which aims to define how AI agents conduct transactions. Additionally, its Agentic Storefronts now synchronize merchant catalogs with Google's Gemini, ChatGPT, and Microsoft's Copilot. Through its "Agentic Program," this reach also extends to non-Shopify sellers. Finkelstein said that if AI leads to more transactions, Shopify can generate more GMV-linked revenue.
Robinhood Markets, ranked seventeenth, closed down 8.91%, with a turnover of $5.233 billion. Piper Sandler lowered its price target for Robinhood Markets from $155 to $135.