Meta Platforms Inc. (META) surged 11.3% on Monday, closing over 9% for the week, buoyed by its Meta Connect event, which highlighted advancements in artificial intelligence and a strategic pivot toward augmented reality (AR) hardware. The company’s Muse AI initiative, including AR glasses and a keychain-like device called Muse Charm, gained traction in the iOS app store, with strong download metrics and heightened promotion. Analyst Lloyd Walmsley of Mizuho Securities maintained an outperform rating, citing momentum for continued share-price expansion, with a price target of $750. Walmsley emphasized that Meta’s AI-driven growth strategy—including expanded hardware investments—could drive further valuation multiples.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) also posted a strong week, with shares rising 10% on Monday and 15.2% over the past week. The chipmaker surpassed a $1 trillion market cap, becoming the fourth U.S. semiconductor company to reach the milestone, alongside Nvidia, Broadcom, and Micron. Investors are focusing on AMD’s expanding role in AI computing, as the company continues to compete with Nvidia in high-performance data centers and cloud infrastructure.
Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) saw a 7.5% weekly gain, after opening sharply higher on Friday at $125.23 before settling at $115.50. The company announced a $11.6 billion, seven-year deal with Anthropic, expanding its cloud infrastructure services (CIS) commitments to potentially $14.6 billion year-to-date. Analyst Rudy Kessinger of DA Davidson maintained a buy rating, projecting an EBIT margin of around 30% at full revenue run-rate, suggesting that the deal could substantially boost earnings per share (EPS) and future growth estimates.
Moderna Inc. (MRNA) climbed 25.7% over the week, extending a month-long rally driven by optimism around its mRNA technology applications beyond COVID-19. The company reported Phase 3 data from the INTerpath-001 study, combining its personalized cancer vaccine intismeran autogene with Merck’s Keytruda in high-risk melanoma patients. The results showed improved outcomes compared to Keytruda alone, reinforcing Moderna’s potential in oncology and positioning it for further clinical trials.
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) experienced a 8.2% decline, closing at $139.54, after Bloomberg reported that the company issued a force majeure notice to Blue Owl Capital for its New Mexico data center project. The notice, intended as a precautionary measure rather than a formal admission of delay, followed local opposition and regulatory hurdles. While Oracle confirmed that Project Jupiter remains on schedule with 26% construction completion, the notice raised concerns about potential payment suspensions if the facility misses its 2028 launch. Analyst Brad Reback of Stifel maintained a buy rating with a price target of $200, noting that recent court rulings on permitting had been favorable.
ProPicks AI Strategy outperformed its benchmarks, with the Energy Elite fund beating its benchmark by 37% year-to-date, Mid Cap Movers up 21%, and the Tech Titans (Flagship) portfolio surpassing the S&P 500 by 112% since its launch three years ago, highlighting strong sector-specific momentum.
