In recent weeks, the stock market has experienced significant fluctuations, influenced by a series of unexpected events and economic developments. Following the December Monthly Meeting, various news items from Washington, including a U.S. military operation in Venezuela and recent tariff discussions concerning Greenland, kept investors on their toes. President Donald Trump, during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, confirmed he would not pursue European tariffs and indicated progress on reaching a “concept of a deal” regarding Greenland. Additionally, he mentioned that Venezuela would benefit from revenue stemming from the sale of 50 million barrels of oil shipped to the U.S.
From December 15 through the latest market close, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq showed modest gains, rising by 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Leading this performance were Qnity Electronics, Boeing, and Texas Roadhouse, all of which outpaced the market with impressive double-digit percentage increases.
Top Performers
Qnity Electronics: The spinoff from DuPont surged by 30.1%, driven by broader advancements in the semiconductor industry. A positive earnings report from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) ignited optimism, with TSMC announcing an increase in its capital budget due to robust demand. Encouraged by strong earnings and analyst upgrades, investors flocked to Qnity.
Boeing: Shares of Boeing saw an impressive gain of 22.6%, boosted by signs of strong demand for its aircraft. On Tuesday, Boeing sealed more orders with Ethiopian Airlines, contributing to a near 52-week high. The company also outsold European competitor Airbus for the first time since 2018, aided by a significant order of over 100 jets from Alaska Airlines.
Texas Roadhouse: The restaurant chain recorded a solid start to 2026, climbing 14.1%. Investors are hopeful for a turnaround after a challenging 2025, which saw increased cattle prices impact margins. Optimism stems from anticipated improvements in consumer spending due to tax refunds.
Bottom Performers
Salesforce: The company’s shares dipped by 15.5%, primarily due to the ongoing challenges facing enterprise software stocks amidst growing concerns over AI-driven industry disruption. CEO Marc Benioff has pushed back against fears that AI technology, which could reduce the demand for software licenses, threatens the business model.
CrowdStrike: Shares fell by 11.7%, prompted by reports that Chinese authorities barred domestic companies from utilizing CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity solutions due to national security risks. Despite this setback, CrowdStrike’s recent acquisition of the identity management firm SGNL for $740 million remains a positive development in its growth strategy.
Apple: The tech giant experienced an 11% decline, marking its eighth consecutive week of losses, attributed to rising memory costs and a shift away from large-cap tech stocks. Nonetheless, analysts maintain it is an opportune time to invest, as Apple recently announced a promising AI partnership with Alphabet, incorporating Google’s Gemini technology into its product offerings.
As market dynamics shift, investors are encouraged to stay informed and consider the implications of these recent earnings and news developments on potential investment strategies. For those following Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust, pre-trade alerts will continue to be issued, providing insight into stock moves and timing.
