Midday Stock Movers: Nvidia, Oracle, AT&T, and More Take Center Stage

The stock market saw significant fluctuations midday, with several high-profile companies making headlines due to unexpected developments across industries. Below is a detailed analysis of the biggest movers, the factors influencing their performance, and the broader market implications.

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Nvidia Faces its Worst Day Since 2020

Nvidia, a leader in the chipmaking industry, experienced a dramatic drop of nearly 16% as concerns emerged regarding artificial intelligence investments. The catalyst? A language model from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, whose performance raised skepticism about the scale and sustainability of AI-related investments. This marks Nvidia’s steepest single-day decline since March 2020, highlighting the volatility of the AI sector.

Chipmakers in Decline

Nvidia’s woes had a ripple effect on the semiconductor industry:

• Broadcom fell sharply by 17%.
• Micron Technology dropped approximately 11%.
• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) slid by nearly 6%.
  The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), a benchmark for the industry, plunged more than 9%. These declines reflect broader concerns about the semiconductor market’s heavy reliance on AI-related growth.

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Tech Titans Under Pressure: Microsoft and Oracle

Tech giants Microsoft and Oracle also saw significant losses, falling over 3% and 11%, respectively. The primary concern stems from their multi-billion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure.

• Microsoft announced plans to allocate $80 billion for data center construction in fiscal 2025, with half of this investment targeting U.S. projects.
• Oracle, a key backer of the AI initiative “Stargate,” announced by former President Donald Trump, also faced skepticism over its future returns.

These losses underscore the uncertainty surrounding the profitability of large-scale AI projects.

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Power Stocks Crumble Amid AI Data Center Concerns

Power companies involved in AI data center development were hit hard:

• Constellation Energy and Vistra tumbled by over 18% and 27%, respectively.
• GE Vernova and Talen Energy recorded even steeper declines, plunging 20% and 22%.

This sector’s struggles highlight the challenges of aligning energy infrastructure with AI’s rapid growth.

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Crypto Stocks Follow Suit

The tech stock rout extended to the cryptocurrency sector:

• Coinbase and MicroStrategy fell by 7% and 5%, respectively.
• Bitcoin mining stocks tied to AI ventures faced even deeper losses, with Core Scientific dropping 28%, TeraWulf losing 27%, and Iren (formerly Iris Energy) down 23%.

The crypto market remains closely tied to the tech industry’s movements, underscoring its volatility.

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AT&T Surges on Strong Earnings

Amid the broader selloff, AT&T provided a rare bright spot, rising nearly 6%. The telecom giant reported:

• Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share, surpassing analyst expectations of 50 cents.
• Revenue of $32.3 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $32.02 billion.

This performance highlights AT&T’s resilience in an otherwise turbulent market.

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Sector-Specific Movers

SoFi Technologies

Shares of SoFi slid 10%, overshadowed by a weak first-quarter outlook despite reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenue results.

Travel + Leisure

Bank of America upgraded Travel + Leisure to “buy” from “underperform,” citing double-digit earnings growth potential amid robust demand for leisure travel. The stock rose by 2% in response.

Titan Machinery

The equipment retailer surged 10% after Baird upgraded it to “outperform,” citing shrinking inventories as a positive catalyst for future performance.

Exelixis

Biotechnology firm Exelixis gained 2% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock, describing its valuation as “undemanding.”

Ralph Lauren

Luxury apparel brand Ralph Lauren fell 3% following a downgrade from Raymond James, which cited limited upside potential due to the strengthening U.S. dollar and the stock’s recent rally.

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Market Takeaways

This turbulent trading session highlights the market’s sensitivity to developments in AI, tech, and energy sectors. While some companies showed resilience, the broader trend of skepticism over AI investments serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with emerging technologies.

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