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Key Points

Nvidia continues to dominate its industry. Sandisk is thriving from the memory chips shortage. Amazon and Microsoft have thriving cloud computing units. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia ›

There are several strong artificial intelligence (AI) stock picks available in the market right now. The AI infrastructure build-out is expected to last through at least 2030, so scooping up shares now with a long-term investing mindset is a smart way to approach the current market environment. These five in particular look like solid buys right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »

Nvidia

Nvidia(NASDAQ: NVDA) has been the top AI stock pick since 2023 for a good reason: Its products sit at the core of the AI build-out. Nvidia makes GPUs (graphics processing units), which are the primary computing units deployed in data centers to handle AI workloads. Though it's already the world's largest company by market cap, Nvidia continues to see incredible growth, with its revenue rising 85% in its most recent quarter.

Its growth is far from over, given projections that annual data center capital expenditures will rise to the $3 trillion to $4 trillion range by 2030. That's a major, long-term investing opportunity. With Nvidia's chips likely to be at the center of that, it's well worth buying its shares now.

Sandisk

Because of the AI infrastructure build-out, demand for memory chips now far exceeds supply, and the companies that make those chips are profiting from the shortage. When the supply of any commodity lags behind rising demand, basic economics dictates that the commodity price will soar, and that's exactly why Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) has done so well lately. It makes NAND memory for solid-state drives (SSDs) for long-term data storage in data centers. Its revenues and profits are undergoing monstrous growth, and even though the stock has risen by a tremendous amount over the past year, it doesn't appear to be stopping.

Wall Street analysts expect 336% growth during Q4 of its fiscal 2026 (which ends this month), and 122% in fiscal 2027. With the memory chip crunch expected to persist for years, that makes Sandisk a solid investment pick right now.

Microsoft

Microsoft(NASDAQ: MSFT) used to be one of the more popular investment options in the AI realm. However, the market has lost some faith in it, and the stock is down around 25% from its all-time high. Yet all that Microsoft has been doing is growing its two primary AI divisions.

Microsoft's annual recurring AI revenue (from products like Copilot) crossed $37 billion last quarter, up 123% year over year. Its cloud computing division, Azure, saw 40% revenue growth, reflecting the huge demand for AI computing resources. Microsoft looks like a bargain buy right now, and investors should scoop up shares of this proven winner before it returns to setting new all-time highs.

Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms(NASDAQ: META) is probably the biggest wildcard among the four AI hyperscalers. It doesn't rent out its computing capacity to others, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims it's using it all. So, all of its AI spending has gone into boosting its own capabilities, which has worked out well for it on the advertising front.

Meta Platforms operates the social media platforms Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and WhatsApp, and advertising on these platforms generates nearly all of Meta's revenue. Meta has used its AI investments to improve the effectiveness of its ad platform, which has led to solid 33% revenue growth. However, investors want more.

Meta is working on "more" with some products like AI glasses and a personal superintelligence model. If either of these two is a hit, Meta's stock could be primed for a major upside. Even if they don't pan out, Meta's ad business is still a solid reason to buy and hold the stock.

Amazon

Although many may focus on Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) e-commerce business, as an investor, I prefer to look at its cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS provides more than half of Amazon's operating profits, so it's one of its most important business units. In Q1, it grew revenue by 28% year over year -- its best pace in nearly four years. With demand for cloud computing capacity booming and Amazon spending $200 billion on data center capital expenditures this year alone, the growth rate for AWS will likely explode in the next few years.

Given that AWS' profit margins are substantially better than those of the e-commerce segment, this should lead to outsize growth on the bottom line, which is why I expect Amazon to be one of the best-performing stocks over the next few years.

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Keithen Drury has positions in Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up +0.29%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.37%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.41%.  June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.28%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.39%.

Stocks are seeing support again today as reports circulate that a preliminary US-Iran peace agreement could be signed as early as this weekend, ending the military hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the US blockade on Iran and its oil exports.  Negotiations would then begin on the more intractable issues, such as sanctions against Iran, the release of $24 billion of frozen Iranian assets, and the resolution of Iranian nuclear issues.  Iran claimed it would continue to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz even after a new ceasefire agreement.Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.

Stocks surged on Thursday after President Trump said he canceled planned military strikes against Iran, citing "discussions" with Iranian leadership.  He added that a "time and place of the signing" of a negotiated end to the war would "be announced shortly," and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz "will remain in full force and effect until this transaction is finalized."

WTI crude oil prices (CLN26) are down more than -1% today on hopes for a near-term US-Iran agreement and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tech stocks are being undercut today by weakness in chip and software stocks.

In some positive news for stocks, the University of Michigan’s US Consumer Sentiment index rose +4.1 to 48.9, which was stronger than expectations for a rise to 46.0.

The markets are waiting to see how SpaceX will open for trading today after its IPO on Thursday.  Nasdaq says the shares will be released for quotation at 9:50 AM ET today, but it may take some time for regular trading to begin.

The markets are discounting a 4% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on June 16-17.

Overseas stock markets are higher today.  The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.4%.  China's Shanghai Composite closed up +1.12%.  Japan’s Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +2.81%.

Interest Rates

September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -8 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield is up +3.2 bp at 4.493%.  T-notes are seeing weakness today as the 10-year inflation expectations rate is up +0.7 bp at 2.313%, despite today’s drop in oil prices.  The T-note market remains worried about inflation pressures, which are likely to remain sticky even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.  The T-note market has some carry-over weakness from Thursday, when demand was lackluster for the Treasury’s 30-year bond auction.

European government bond yields are trading lower.  The 10-year German Bund yield is down -1.6 bp at 3.015%.  The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -4.2 bp at 4.863%.

On Thursday, the ECB, as expected, raised the deposit facility rate by +25 bp to 2.25% from 2.00% and said, "The outlook remains uncertain, with upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth." Swaps are discounting a 37% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on July 23.

US Stock Movers

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPCX), doing business as SpaceX, is expected to begin trading this morning after raising a record $75 billion in its IPO on Thursday.  The stock is expected to open substantially above its IPO price of $135.  The IPO was more than four times oversubscribed, indicating strong demand for the stock.  A strong showing by SpaceX today would be positive for investor sentiment and could help the upcoming IPOs for AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI.

Space-linked stocks are trading lower despite the SpaceX debut, with EchoStar (SATS) down more than -6%, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) down more than -5%.

Chip stocks are trading mostly lower today after Thursday’s sharp rally, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) trading slightly lower after Thursday’s rally of +8.39%.  Thursday’s rally was sparked by signs that AI spending is continuing after Oracle reported quarterly capital expenditures that were higher than expected, driven by increased data center spending.  Chip leaders today include AMD (AMD) and Intel (INTC), with gains of more than +3%.

Adobe (ADBE) is down more than -8% after CFO Dan Durn said he would leave the company on June 15, following news earlier this year that Adobe’s CEO would resign.  The Adobe news put continued downward pressure on software stocks, which were undercut on Thursday by negative earnings news from Oracle (ORCL).  ServiceNow (NOW), Atlassian (TEAM), and Workday (WDAY) are all trading down by more than -3%.

Airline stocks are seeing continued support after oil prices today moved lower, adding to Thursday’s decline.  United Airlines (UAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are trading up more than +0.5%.

Energy stocks and service providers are mixed despite today’s continued slump in oil prices.  Baker Hughes is down more than -1%, but Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) are up more than +1%.

Astera Labs (ALAB), CoreWeave (CRWV), Nebius Group (NBIS), Rocket Lab (RKLB), and Teradyn (TER) are seeing support today after Nasdaq announced on Thursday that those stocks will join the Nasdaq 100 Index, effective at the market open on June 22.  Stocks leaving the Nasdaq 100 include Charter Communications (CHTR), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Insmed (INSM), Verisk Analytics (VRSK), and Zscaler (ZS).

Travelers (TRV) is down more than -1% after Barclays cut its rating on the stock to underweight from equal-weight due to a downbeat outlook for profits in the property and casualty sector.

Earnings Reports(6/12/2026)

America's Car-Mart Inc/TX (CRMT), Atlantic International Corp (ATLN), Friedman Industries Inc (FRD), Liberty Live Holdings Inc (LLYVA), Pioneer Bancorp Inc/NY (PBFS), Richtech Robotics Inc (RR), Seneca Foods Corp (SENEB), Whitestone REIT (WSR). On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

More news from Barchart

S&P Futures Climb as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Nears, SpaceX Debut in FocusStocks Climb Before the Open on U.S.-Iran Peace Hopes, PPI Data in FocusNasdaq Futures Plunge as Tech Selloff Deepens, U.S. Inflation Data in FocusStocks Set to Extend Rebound Amid AI Dip-Buying

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up +0.58%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.91%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.64%.  June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.70%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.79%.

Stocks are seeing support again today as reports circulate that an interim US-Iran peace agreement could be signed as early as this weekend, ending the military hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the US blockade on Iran and its oil exports.  Negotiations would then begin on the more intractable issues, such as sanctions against Iran, the release of $24 billion of frozen Iranian assets, and the resolution of Iranian nuclear issues.  However, Iran said its leaders still need to make a final decision on the proposed interim peace deal.Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.

Stocks surged on Thursday after President Trump said he canceled planned military strikes against Iran, citing "discussions" with Iranian leadership.  He added that a "time and place of the signing" of a negotiated end to the war would "be announced shortly," and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz "will remain in full force and effect until this transaction is finalized."

WTI crude oil prices (CLN26) are down more than -3% today on hopes for a near-term US-Iran agreement and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In positive news for stocks, the University of Michigan’s June US Consumer Sentiment Index rose +4.1 to 48.9, which was stronger than expectations for a rise to 46.0.  Also, the University of Michigan’s June 1-year inflation expectations rate eased to +4.6% from +4.8% in May, and was weaker than expectations of +4.9%.  The June 5-10 year inflation expectations rate eased to +3.4% from +3.9% in May, weaker than expectations of +3.8%.

The markets are discounting a zero percent chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on June 16-17.

Overseas stock markets are higher today.  The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.9%.  China's Shanghai Composite closed up +1.12%.  Japan’s Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +2.81%.

Interest Rates

September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -3 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield is up +1.6 bp at 4.477%.  T-notes are seeing weakness today as the 10-year inflation expectations rate is up +0.1 bp at 2.306%, despite today’s drop in oil prices.  The T-note market remains worried about inflation pressures, which are likely to remain sticky even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.  The T-note market has some carry-over weakness from Thursday, when demand was lackluster for the Treasury’s 30-year bond auction.

European government bond yields are trading lower.  The 10-year German bund yield is down -3.3 bp at 2.999%.  The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -6.6 bp at 4.839%.

On Thursday, the ECB, as expected, raised the deposit facility rate by +25 bp to 2.25% from 2.00% and said, "The outlook remains uncertain, with upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth." Swaps are discounting a 37% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on July 23.

US Stock Movers

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPCX), doing business as SpaceX, started trading today near $160 per share, up nearly +20% from Thursday’s IPO of $135.  The IPO was more than four times oversubscribed, indicating strong demand for the stock.  A strong showing by SpaceX today would be positive for investor sentiment and could help the upcoming IPOs for AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI.

Space-linked stocks are trading lower despite the favorable SpaceX debut, with EchoStar (SATS) down more than -9%, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) down more than -7%.

Chip stocks recovered from early losses and are trading mostly higher.  The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is up +2.25% today, adding to Thursday’s sharp rally of +8.39%.  Thursday’s rally was sparked by signs that AI spending is continuing after Oracle reported quarterly capital expenditures that were higher than expected, driven by increased data center spending.  Chip leaders today include Arm Holdings (ARM)with a gain of more than +10%, and gains of more than +5% in Qualcomm (QCOM), AMD (AMD), and Intel (INTC).

Adobe (ADBE) is down more than -7% after CFO Dan Durn said he would leave the company on June 15, following news earlier this year that Adobe’s CEO would resign.  The Adobe news put continued downward pressure on software stocks, which were undercut on Thursday by negative earnings news from Oracle (ORCL).  Autodesk (ADSK) is down more than -3% and Intuit (INTU) is down by more than -2%.

Airline stocks are seeing continued support after oil prices today moved lower, adding to Thursday’s decline.  United Airlines (UAL), American Airlines (AAL), and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are all up more than +3%.

Energy stocks and service providers are trading higher with today’s continued sell-off in crude oil prices.  Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Valero (VLO), and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) are all up more than +2%.

Astera Labs (ALAB), CoreWeave (CRWV), Nebius Group (NBIS), Rocket Lab (RKLB), and Teradyn (TER) are seeing support today after Nasdaq announced on Thursday that those stocks will join the Nasdaq 100 Index, effective at the market open on June 22. Stocks leaving the Nasdaq 100 include Charter Communications (CHTR), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Insmed (INSM), Verisk Analytics (VRSK), and Zscaler (ZS).

Travelers (TRV) is seeing downward pressure after Barclays cut its rating on the stock to underweight from equal-weight due to a downbeat outlook for profits in the property and casualty sector.

Earnings Reports(6/12/2026)

America's Car-Mart Inc/TX (CRMT), Atlantic International Corp (ATLN), Friedman Industries Inc (FRD), Liberty Live Holdings Inc (LLYVA), Pioneer Bancorp Inc/NY (PBFS), Richtech Robotics Inc (RR), Seneca Foods Corp (SENEB), Whitestone REIT (WSR).

On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

The S&P 500 has climbed to near-record highs despite growing concerns about valuations, AI spending, and signs of speculative behavior across parts of the market.

The S&P 500 has rallied 8% year to date, after delivering double-digit gains in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Investors have recently watched Micron reach a $1 trillion valuation, shares of SanDisk and Intel soar, and demand for a potential SpaceXIPO reach a fever pitch. At the same time, the market suffered a sharp pullback on June 5 as investors questioned whether the AI trade had gone too far.

Goldman Sachs believes the recent volatility has not changed the bigger picture.

"The path will remain bumpy, but earnings growth should continue to lift US equities," Goldman analysts wrote in a recent note sent to TheStreet.

The firm expects the S&P 500 index to rise another 8% by year-end, reaching 8,000.

Earnings growth is the fundamental bull engine

While investors debate valuations and AI spending, Goldman says that corporate earnings remain the most important factor.

"Earnings growth should continue to lift US equities," the firm wrote.

Goldman expects S&P 500 earnings per share to grow 24% in 2026 and another 13% in 2027.The S&P 500 has rallied 8% year to date, after delivering double-digit gains in 2023, 2024, and 2025.Getty Images

The firm pointed to a strong first quarter, when aggregate S&P 500 earnings rose 18% year over year, excluding certain one-time items. The median company posted earnings growth of 14%, making it one of the strongest quarters in roughly a decade.

Goldman also pushed back against concerns that a surge in stock issuance could undermine the rally.

The firm estimates U.S. companies will issue roughly $700 billion of equity this year, equivalent to about 1% of Russell 3000 market capitalization and roughly in line with historical averages.

Related: Goldman Sachs sends strong message on next Fed rate cut

Meanwhile, Goldman expects companies to repurchase about $1 trillion of stock, helping absorb new supply.

The firm said IPO activity is increasing but remains far below the levels seen during previous market peaks. Goldman expects roughly 100 IPOs this year, compared with more than 250 in 2021 and nearly 400 during the dot-com era.

Goldman says the AI boom is still accelerating

Artificial intelligence remains at the center of the market's biggest debate. Some investors are concerned that the massive spending by technology companies may not ultimately generate returns enough to justify the industry's soaring valuations.

Goldman acknowledges those concerns but sees little evidence that spending is slowing.

"The AI investment boom shows no sign of slowing," the firm wrote.

Story Continues

Related: Cathie Wood buys $4.3 million of tumbling tech stock

According to Goldman, consensus forecasts call for the largest U.S. hyperscalers to spend more than $750 billion on capital expenditures this year, up 84% from 2025 and roughly $200 billion higher than estimates at the start of the year. The firm expect spending to climb another 20% next year to about $920 billion.

Goldman also estimates that AI infrastructure companies will generate roughly half of total S&P 500 earnings growth this year.

"AI infrastructure stocks will generate roughly half of S&P 500 EPS growth this year and have driven most of the YTD increase in index EPS estimates," the analysts wrote.

Still, investors remain uneasy about how long that dynamic can continue.

"The key question is whether the earnings boost from AI investment fades before broader returns on those investments appear across corporate America. But that question is unlikely to be resolved soon," Goldman wrote.

The June 5 selloff highlighted those concerns.

"Recent volatility is a precursor to more ahead," the firm wrote.

"As investors worried that the market had run 'too far, too fast,' a hot jobs print, renewed concerns about the economics of the AI ecosystem, and reports of hyperscaler equity issuance sparked a pullback."

The bank said narrow market leadership, elevated leverage, retail margin debt, and the growing popularity of leveraged ETFs could all contribute to continued volatility.

The risks Goldman is watching closely

Despite its bullish outlook, Goldman flags risks ahead. "For a bull market powered by earnings, the main structural risk is a weaker outlook for corporate profits," the firm wrote.

Historically, major bull markets have ended amid speculative excess, aggressive Federal Reserve tightening, surging equity issuance, or disappointing earnings growth.

The firm's biggest macro concern is the possibility of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a development that could drive energy prices higher, pressure corporate profit margins, and complicate expectations for lower interest rates.

Within the AI trade, Goldman said investors remain vulnerable to a sudden shift in either demand for or supply of AI computing power.

Goldman does not believe those conditions are fully in place today, although it noted that each appears somewhat closer than it did several months ago.

Related: Outdoor retail giant closes 59 stores in Chapter 11 bankruptcy

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Investing section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is down -0.31%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.09%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.53%.  June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are down -0.15%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are down -0.37%.

Stocks are trading lower but are seeing support again today as reports circulate that a preliminary US-Iran peace agreement could be signed as early as this weekend, ending the military hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the US blockade on Iran and its oil exports.  Negotiations would then begin on the more intractable issues, such as sanctions against Iran, the release of $24 billion of frozen Iranian assets, and the resolution of Iranian nuclear issues.  However, Iran claimed it would continue to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz even after a new ceasefire agreement.Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.

Stocks surged on Thursday after President Trump said he canceled planned military strikes against Iran, citing "discussions" with Iranian leadership.  He added that a "time and place of the signing" of a negotiated end to the war would "be announced shortly," and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz "will remain in full force and effect until this transaction is finalized."

WTI crude oil prices (CLN26) are down more than -1% today on hopes for a near-term US-Iran agreement and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tech stocks are being undercut today by weakness in chip and software stocks.

In some positive news for stocks, the University of Michigan’s US Consumer Sentiment index rose +4.1 to 48.9, which was stronger than expectations for a rise to 46.0.

The markets are waiting to see how SpaceX will open for trading today after its IPO on Thursday.  Nasdaq says the shares will be released for quotation at 9:50 AM ET today, but it may take some time for regular trading to begin.

The markets are discounting a 4% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on June 16-17.

Overseas stock markets are higher today.  The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.4%.  China's Shanghai Composite closed up +1.12%.  Japan’s Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +2.81%.

Interest Rates

September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -8 ticks, and the 10-year T-note yield is up +3.2 bp at 4.493%.  T-notes are seeing weakness today as the 10-year inflation expectations rate is up +0.7 bp at 2.313%, despite today’s drop in oil prices.  The T-note market remains worried about inflation pressures, which are likely to remain sticky even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.  The T-note market has some carry-over weakness from Thursday, when demand was lackluster for the Treasury’s 30-year bond auction.

European government bond yields are trading lower.  The 10-year German Bund yield is down -1.6 bp at 3.015%.  The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -4.2 bp at 4.863%.

On Thursday, the ECB, as expected, raised the deposit facility rate by +25 bp to 2.25% from 2.00% and said, "The outlook remains uncertain, with upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth." Swaps are discounting a 37% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on July 23.

US Stock Movers

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SPCX), doing business as SpaceX, is expected to begin trading this morning after raising a record $75 billion in its IPO on Thursday.  The stock is expected to open substantially above its IPO price of $135.  The IPO was more than four times oversubscribed, indicating strong demand for the stock.  A strong showing by SpaceX today would be positive for investor sentiment and could help the upcoming IPOs for AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI.

Space-linked stocks are trading lower despite the SpaceX debut, with EchoStar (SATS) down more than -6%, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) down more than -5%.

Chip stocks are trading mostly lower today after Thursday’s sharp rally, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) trading slightly lower after Thursday’s rally of +8.39%.  Thursday’s rally was sparked by signs that AI spending is continuing after Oracle reported quarterly capital expenditures that were higher than expected, driven by increased data center spending.  Chip leaders today include AMD (AMD) and Intel (INTC), with gains of more than +3%.

Adobe (ADBE) is down more than -8% after CFO Dan Durn said he would leave the company on June 15, following news earlier this year that Adobe’s CEO would resign.  The Adobe news put continued downward pressure on software stocks, which were undercut on Thursday by negative earnings news from Oracle (ORCL).  ServiceNow (NOW), Atlassian (TEAM), and Workday (WDAY) are all trading down by more than -3%.

Airline stocks are seeing continued support after oil prices today moved lower, adding to Thursday’s decline.  United Airlines (UAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are trading up more than +0.5%.

Energy stocks and service providers are mixed despite today’s continued slump in oil prices.  Baker Hughes is down more than -1%, but Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) are up more than +1%.

Astera Labs (ALAB), CoreWeave (CRWV), Nebius Group (NBIS), Rocket Lab (RKLB), and Teradyn (TER) are seeing support today after Nasdaq announced on Thursday that those stocks will join the Nasdaq 100 Index, effective at the market open on June 22.  Stocks leaving the Nasdaq 100 include Charter Communications (CHTR), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Insmed (INSM), Verisk Analytics (VRSK), and Zscaler (ZS).

Travelers (TRV) is down more than -1% after Barclays cut its rating on the stock to underweight from equal-weight due to a downbeat outlook for profits in the property and casualty sector.

Earnings Reports(6/12/2026)

America's Car-Mart Inc/TX (CRMT), Atlantic International Corp (ATLN), Friedman Industries Inc (FRD), Liberty Live Holdings Inc (LLYVA), Pioneer Bancorp Inc/NY (PBFS), Richtech Robotics Inc (RR), Seneca Foods Corp (SENEB), Whitestone REIT (WSR).

On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Haftungsausschluss: Der Text wurde mit Hilfe einer KI zusammengefasst und übersetzt. Für Aussagen aus dem Originaltext wird keine Haftung übernommen!

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SNDK has surged 724% YTD and WDC 224%, with Friday's 6% gains extending an AI storage melt-up to record territory. SanDisk locked in roughly $42 billion in multi-year supply contracts, while Susquehanna holds a Street-high $2,000 price target on SNDK. Bears cite stretched valuations and insider selling after SNDK's 12-month rip, while incoming NAND and HDD pricing data could test the rally. Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and SanDisk didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Shares of SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) are up 6% in Friday morning trading, changing hands near $1,989, while Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) stock up 6% to $561. The bid adds another leg to a furious AI storage melt-up that has lifted memory and disk-drive names into record territory.Thinkstock

SNDK stock has staged one of the most extreme runs in the U.S. market this year, as it's up 724% year to date (YTD) and 4,638% over the past 12 months. WDC stock has gained 224% YTD and 902% over the past year, riding the same AI infrastructure tailwind that has pulled NAND and hard-disk drive demand higher.

The catalyst extends well beyond any single headline. The market is debating whether this is the early innings of a multi-year AI memory supercycle or a late-stage melt-up vulnerable to a sharp reversal.

AI Storage Demand Fuels the Bid

The fundamentals behind SanDisk's run have been hard to dispute. The company's Q3 FY2026 results, reported April 30, delivered EPS of $23.41 versus a $14.66 consensus and revenue of $5.95 billion, up 251% year over year (YoY). Furthermore, SanDisk's data-center segment revenue jumped 645% YoY to $1.47 billion.

SanDisk guided Q4 FY2026 revenue to $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $30 to $33. CEO David Goeckeler called the quarter "a fundamental inflection point for SanDisk" as mix shifts toward datacenter customers under multi-year supply contracts.

Western Digital Rides the HDD Tailwind

Western Digital's own Q3 FY2026 report delivered non-GAAP EPS of $2.72 against a $2.39 consensus and revenue of $3.34 billion, up 46% YoY. The company's non-GAAP gross margin cleared 50% for the first time in recent memory as AI workloads tightened hard-disk drive supply.

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Western Digital's management guided its Q4 FY2026 revenue to roughly $3.65 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $3.25, plus or minus $0.15. CEO Irving Tan stated that "virtually every AI workload, from training, inference, agentic AI to physical AI, creates data that is stored persistently and cost-efficiently on HDDs."

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Bulls Battle Bears on Sustainability

The bull case rests on structural undersupply. SanDisk has reportedly locked in approximately $42 billion in multi-year supply agreements, and Susquehanna carries a $2,000 price target on SNDK stock, the highest on the Street. WallStreetBets sentiment scores ran 75 to 82 on Thursday, firmly in very bullish territory.

The bear case is more skeptical. SNDK stock trades at a stretched valuation after its 12-month rip, and insider selling has surfaced, including a director offloading 579 shares near $1,503 in early May. A separate bearish cohort on the "stockmarket" subreddit posted sentiment readings of 35 to 45, calling the move overextended and ripe for a reversal.

What to Watch Next

The near-term question is whether Friday's bid holds into the close. With SNDK stock near record highs and WDC stock just off its own peak, intraday volatility could intensify as traders rotate around the AI memory complex.

Investors can keep an eye on incoming NAND and HDD pricing data, which has been the dominant signal for the group all year. The next earnings cycle could either validate the lofty guidance or reset expectations after this run.

Position sizing matters here. The structural tailwinds may be real, but the velocity of the move argues for measured exposure rather than chasing strength in SNDK and WDC.

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Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) stock jumped 5.8% through 10:15 a.m. Friday -- and for a most curious reason.

In a filing with the SEC yesterday, Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) confirmed it is "exchanging" 1,038,681 shares of Sandisk stock for shares of Western Digital currently held by "certain institutional investors."

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This is curious because... investors in both semiconductor companies appear to think they're getting the better deal. Not only is Sandisk stock up 5.8%, but Western Digital stock is up 6.5%!Image source: Getty Images.

Bargains are in the eye of the beholder

S&P Global Market Intelligence data confirm that at last report, Western Digital owned 1.2% of Sandisk stock -- approximately 1.78 million shares. "Exchanging" 1 million of those shares for its own stock will reduce WD's stake in Sandisk to a mere 0.5%.

So what does that mean?

From one perspective, it means Western Digital thinks its own stock is a better bargain than SanDisk's. You can call a transaction an "exchange," but so is any sale or purchase. Effectively, what WD is doing today is selling Sandisk stock and buying WD stock instead.

Looked at from the other side of the transaction, "certain institutional investors" seem to have come to the opposite conclusion, and are happy to unload their Western Digital stock for more shares of Sandisk!

Who's right?

Who's right, Western Digital or the institutions? From a value investor's perspective, I lean Western Digital's way. Priced under 32 times trailing earnings, WD stock costs less than half the 64.3-times price-to-earnings ratio on Sandisk. It's the more obvious value stock.

On the other hand, analysts predict Sandisk will nearly triple its profits in 2027, while WD's profits are set to fall. Forward P/E ratios have the two stocks trading neck and neck -- 29x forward earnings for Sandisk; 28x earnings for WD.

With Sandisk the faster grower, it's probably the best bet for growth at a reasonable price.

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Why Did Sandisk Stock Pop Today? was originally published by The Motley Fool

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 12, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Micron Technology, Inc. MU, Marvell Technology, Inc. MRVL, NVIDIA Corporation NVDA and Sandisk Corp. SNDK.

Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Beyond Micron: 2 AI Stocks That Could Deliver Explosive Returns

Shares of Micron Technology, Inc. have delivered astounding gains over the past year, banking on strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The stock soared 657.5% during this period, which helped push Micron's market capitalization to $1 trillion, a milestone that very few semiconductor companies have achieved.

Although Micron's shares recently witnessed a sharp sell-off amid a broader market correction, its long-term growth outlook remains convincing, fueled by an incessant demand for its cutting-edge high-bandwidth memory chips as hyperscalers continue to increase their AI infrastructure spending.

Micron has now transitioned from a cyclical semiconductor stock to a critical supplier in the AI infrastructure ecosystem. However, investors willing to diversify their AI semiconductor holdings while capturing similar long-term growth trends should keep AI networking chipmaker Marvell Technology, Inc. and AI memory stock Sandisk Corp. on their radar. Let us thus look in detail at the key catalysts that could drive significant upside in these stocks –

Marvell Strengthens Role in AI Infrastructure Growth

Marvell recently increased its revenue growth outlook for 2027 and 2028, showcasing strong customer demand for its products and an improved revenue visibility. At the midpoint of its guidance, Marvell expects revenues of about $2.7 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2027, representing 35% year-over-year growth, according to investor.marvell.com.

Marvell's first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenues of $2.418 billion already exceeded expectations, driven mostly by strong demand in AI-related infrastructure. The revenue expansion is being driven by its growing presence in AI networking. The company's networking and connectivity chips power data centers, enabling thousands of interconnected processors to exchange data rapidly and efficiently. This is why NVIDIA Corporation's CEO, Jensen Huang, sees Marvell as a "trillion-dollar company" in the making.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Marvell generated a record $638.8 million in operating cash flow, strengthening its ability to invest more in research and development and support further growth. As a result, the company's expected earnings growth rate for the current and next fiscal year are 41.2% and 51.6%, respectively. Its shares have already soared 256.7% over the past year.

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Sandisk Sees Strong Growth Driven by AI Data Center Demand

Sandisk is expected to gain from strong demand for its memory products in AI-powered data centers supported by current supply constraints. Its robust pricing power across its product portfolio is likely to further strengthen its top-line performance.

The company projects $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion in revenues for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2026, according to investor.sandisk.com. The company's focus on high-value customers in the expanding data center market helped Sandisk report revenues of $5.95 billion in the fiscal third quarter, up 97% sequentially and above its own guidance.

Sandisk further projects non-GAAP earnings per share of $30 to $33 for the fiscal fourth quarter, up from $23.41 in the fiscal third quarter, indicating sustained sequential growth momentum. Moreover, Sandisk's strategic New Business Model agreements are expected to strengthen customer retention and boost revenue growth and profitability. Consequently, the company's likely earnings growth rate for the current and next fiscal year are 2096.7% and 177.3%, respectively. Its stock has already surged 3849.2% over the past year.

Sandisk currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Marvell has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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At Computex 2026, held from June 2 to June 5, Western Digital Corporation WDC showcased how next-generation storage solutions are becoming critical to the success of AI infrastructure. With enterprises racing to deploy AI models, autonomous agents and intelligent applications, WDC is positioning itself as a strong contender in the AI ecosystem. Its latest innovations highlight the growing importance of scalable, efficient and cost-effective storage architectures in supporting the rapidly expanding AI economy.

Western Digital demonstrated its Ultrastar HDD portfolio, featuring technologies such as UltraSMR, ePMR and HAMR. Apart from individual drives, it showcased a range of platform solutions designed for cloud providers, AI companies, neo-cloud operators and high-performance HPC environments, including Ultrastar Data Series JBOD systems, OpenFlex EBOF and RapidFlex NVMe-oF controllers. These platforms help organizations optimize capacity, improve performance, reduce infrastructure complexity and accelerate deployment timelines.

A key highlight is the Ultrastar Data 3000 JBOD platform, built for large-scale AI workloads. It features ArcticFlow cooling, IsoVibe vibration isolation, 24 Gb/s SAS-4 connectivity and enhanced scalability. These innovations can cut drive return rates by up to 62%, boosting reliability and efficiency. As AI datasets grow, the platform's higher bandwidth and stability could provide it with a solid competitive edge. In addition to enterprise and AI-focused solutions, Western Digital is displaying its broader storage portfolio, including WD Gold enterprise drives, WD Red NAS solutions, WD Purple surveillance storage and G-DRIVE external storage systems for creators. These products strengthen its strategy of a broad spectrum of modern data ecosystem, from consumer content creation to hyperscale AI deployments.

While competition remains intense from storage bigshots like Seagate Technology Holdings plc STX and SanDisk SNDK, WDC's strategic focus on AI-related data growth could expand long-term opportunities.

How Competitive is WDC in the AI Storage Arena?

Seagate is well poised to gain from AI-led storage demand, a robust technology roadmap anchored in Mozaic and HAMR and disciplined execution focused on converting demand into profitable growth and long-term value creation. In April 2026, it introduced a lineup of new and updated storage solutions for consumers and professional users under its Seagate, FireCuda, and LaCie brands. These include the Seagate One Touch desktop external hard drive, the FireCuda X Vault hard drive, and the LaCie 8big Pro5 multi-bay RAID storage system. In March, Seagate introduced its Mozaic 4+ platform, a breakthrough storage technology built on HAMR.

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Sandisk is benefiting from AI-led demand that is lifting enterprise SSD adoption and supporting pricing across NAND end markets. In February 2026, SNDK launched its next generation of portable SSD portfolio through a three-tier lineup designed to support larger file sizes, AI content, and the increasingly demanding digital workflows of everyday users, creators and professionals. It also partnered with SK hynix to develop High Bandwidth Flash (HBF), a next-generation memory solution for AI inference. Positioned between high-speed HBM and high-capacity SSDs, HBF aims to deliver a balance of performance, scalability and power efficiency, supporting the industry's shift toward inference-driven AI workloads.

WDC Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates

In the past six months, shares of WDC have surged 207.6% compared with the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry's growth of 283.6%.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 32.36 forward earnings compared with 14.23 for the industry.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WDC's estimate revisions are on an upward trajectory currently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC's earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised north 12% to $10.02 over the past 60 days, while the same for fiscal 2027 has gone up 23.9% to $17.62.Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Western Digital has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Western Digital Corporation (WDC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (STX) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Sandisk Corporation (SNDK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

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Recent developments in the Cloud AI landscape include Akamai Technologies earning a Solutions Partner with certified software designation for its API Security within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. This certification underscores the interoperability of Akamai's software with the Microsoft Cloud, offering cross-platform visibility and security for users operating in cloud environments like Microsoft Azure. This advancement emphasizes the growing demand for robust API protection as AI adoption intensifies, highlighting the critical need for businesses to safeguard their digital interactions comprehensively. As such certifications help partners stand out, they play a vital role in addressing the increasing demand for cloud-based solutions in the marketplace.

Akamai Technologies last closed at $132.46 up 1.9%. Microsoft last closed at $390.34 down 1.8%.

In other trading, Sandisk was a standout up 14.5% and closing at $1,881.51, not far from its 52-week high. In the meantime, Oracle lagged, down 8.5% to end the day at $184.10. On Wednesday, Oracle announced strong earnings growth for the fourth quarter and fiscal year, with significant increases in revenue and net income.

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Best Cloud AI Stocks

Apple finished trading at $295.63 up 1.4%. On Tuesday, Apple presented at the 2026 European Forum in Belgium. Alphabet finished trading at $357.77 up 0.4%. ServiceNow closed at $103.08 down 2.8%. On Thursday, the company's collaboration with Phenom aims to enhance AI-driven hiring processes by integrating Phenom's AI agents with its AI platform.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Sources:

Simply Wall St "Akamai Earns the Solutions Partner with Certified Software Designation for Security" from Akamai Technologies, Inc. on GlobeNewswire (published 10 June 2026)

Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:SNDKNasdaqGS:AKAMNasdaqGS:AAPLNasdaqGS:GOOGLNasdaqGS:MSFTNYSE:NOW and NYSE:ORCL.

This article was originally published by Simply Wall St.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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