D-Wave soared by 33.37 percent on Thursday to close at $25.74 apiece, as investor sentiment was bolstered by the US government’s $2 billion in support to quantum and chipmakers, with the company named as one of the few beneficiaries.

The Department of Commerce announced on the same day that it will shell out $2 billion in financial backing to nine companies, including seven quantum computing firms and two in the chip sector.

For illustration purposes only

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) was among the selected firms, receiving $100 million in planned funding to support critical advancements in annealing and gate-model superconducting quantum computing systems, including qubit counts, error rates, and coherence through advanced dielectric material optimization, interface control, and high-density advanced packaging.

Other companies include Rigetti, Atom, Diraq, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum. In the chip sector, IBM and GlobalFoundries won a $1 billion and $375 million in funding awards.

The program is aimed at supporting companies critical to the development of quantum computers in a bid to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

“We believe that the US government’s strategic investment in D-Wave would advance the country’s global leadership position in quantum computing,” D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) CEO Alan Baratz said.

“The award would accelerate D-Wave’s ability to scale quantum innovation domestically, expedite key fabrication processes, and deliver real-world quantum applications to our global customers today. We see this as a transformative moment for not just D-Wave, but also for quantum computing and the United States,” he noted.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of QBTS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Infleqtion climbed by 31.48 percent on Thursday to close at $14.70 apiece, as investors gobbled up shares after being named as one of the beneficiaries in the US government’s $2 billion quantum computing and chips support program.

The Department of Commerce announced on the same day that it would shell out $2 billion for nine companies in support of the government’s aim to develop quantum computers to solve some of the world’s pressing problems.

Photo by George Morina on Pexels

Infleqtion Inc. (NYSE:INFQ) alone will receive $100 million in planned funding to help develop the underlying engineering systems and integration requirements for large-scale neutral-atom-based quantum computers and architectures, including high-powered optical systems, novel readout, and error correction systems.

Apart from Infleqtion Inc. (NYSE:INFQ), other companies also include Rigetti, D-Wave, Atom, Diraq, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum. Meanwhile, GlobalFoundries and IBM also received financial backing, with the latter taking up the largest slice at $1 billion, followed by the former at $375 million.

“Quantum computing is emerging as a foundational technology for economic competitiveness, technological leadership, and national security,” Infleqtion Inc. (NYSE:INFQ) CEO Matt Kinsella said.

“This investment reflects the transformative potential of quantum innovation, and we’re honored to work with the Department of Commerce to accelerate US leadership in quantum computing,” he noted.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of INFQ as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Rigetti Computing climbed by 30.57 percent on Thursday to close at $22.04 apiece, as investors snapped up shares after the company earned the backing of the US government in support of developing quantum computers to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

On the same day, the Department of Commerce announced that it would shell out $2.013 billion in federal incentives for nine companies to support the government’s CHIPS and Science Act.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

The said funds would support the development of seven quantum computing companies and two domestic global foundries to accelerate the creation of quantum computers to help solve complex problems.

The companies include Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI), D-Wave, Atom, Diraq, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum, while the two foundry companies are IBM and GlobalFoundries.

Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) alone will receive up to $100 million to address key technical challenges to develop and scale next-generation superconducting quantum computing technologies and architectures, such as miniaturizing and integrating novel readout electronics and next-generation cryostat architectures.

Meanwhile, IBM took the largest chunk at $1 billion, followed by GlobalFoundries at $375 million.

“Quantum computing will have far-reaching impacts on our nation’s national security, economic interests, and overall prosperity,” Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) CEO Subodh Kulkarni said.

“We are honored that the US government is seeking to partner with Rigetti to accelerate the pace of quantum computing commercialization and to bolster U.S. leadership in this revolutionary field. This investment will allow us to tackle key scaling bottlenecks more rapidly and get us closer to utility-scale quantum computing,” he noted.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of RGTI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Applied Digital soared to a fresh all-time high on Thursday, as investors gobbled up shares after the company clinched a new data center lease agreement with the potential to bring total leasing revenues across its AI data center portfolio to up to $73 billion.

This followed an expanded partnership with an existing US-based hyperscaler for the lease of its Polaris Forge 3, with the potential to rake in $18.2 billion in revenues if all renewal options are exercised. The base contract alone is expected to generate $7.5 billion in revenues.

A rendering of Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 2 data center. Photo from Applied Digital’s website

Following the news, shares of Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) climbed to its highest price of $48.57 at intra-day trading before trimming a few cents to end the session up by 21.51 percent at $48.02 apiece.

According to Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD), the customer was the same tenant associated with the Delta Forge 1 lease.

The Polaris Forge 3 alone is designed to deliver 300 MW of critical IT load, supported by approximately 430 MW of grid-connected utility power.

“Polaris Forge 3 is a direct extension of what we’ve proven works: a disciplined, repeatable AI Factory model that delivers large-scale capacity to the world’s most demanding compute customers,” Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) Chairman and CEO Wes Cummins said.

“This … reflects the confidence we’ve built through disciplined execution and our ability to consistently advance large-scale AI infrastructure projects. We’ve earned a seat at the table with blue-chip customers, and we intend to keep that position through flawless execution and long-term operational reliability,” he noted.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of APLD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Birkenstock extended its winning streak to a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, jumping 19.45 percent to close at $39.67 apiece, after executing a $250-million accelerated share buyback agreement with Goldman Sachs.

In a regulatory filing, the shoemaker said that it entered into an agreement with Goldman Sachs for the repurchase of its shares at a price of $33.21 apiece.

Photo by AlphaTradeZone on Pexels

Under the agreement, Goldman will make an initial delivery of 6 million shares, representing 80 percent of the total, with the final number of shares yet to be determined. However, based on the set purchase price, Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) is set to receive over 7.5 million shares from the transaction.

Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) said that it intends to fund the buyback through a combination of cash on hand and a revolving credit facility. It expects to close the transaction before June 30, 2026.

“Short-term market dynamics have resulted in what we believe is a strong disconnect between our share price and the strength of our underlying fundamentals,” Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) CEO Oliver Reichert said.

”We believe deploying our substantial cash position toward repurchasing our own shares represents the most attractive use of capital in the current environment. Given the volatile environment of the capital markets, we will continue evaluating market conditions to take advantage of further opportunities for share repurchases in the future,” he noted.

The agreement is not guaranteed and is subject to certain customary adjustments and termination provisions.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of BIRK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Canadian stocks have moved back into the conversation as investors look beyond the narrow U.S. mega-cap trade and toward markets with more exposure to commodities and hard assets.

Fidelity Investments Canada says it has “moved to overweight Canadian equities,” arguing that “Higher commodity prices are clearly bullish for Canadian equities.” The firm also says conditions are the “most conducive in memory” for positive relative performance of Canadian assets. TD Asset Management makes a similar but more measured point, saying Canadian equities have “demonstrated relative resilience year-to-date” and that “Canadian equity valuations remain reasonable.” RBC Global Asset Management adds that Canadian equities are “poised to benefit from robust earnings growth,” although it also flags “trade uncertainty” as a reason to stay careful. In summary, the best performing Canadian stock trades are not just about chasing performance. It is also about where earnings, commodities, and valuation support are lining up.

Against this backdrop, the best-performing Canadian stocks so far in 2026 are worth a closer look. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 Best Performing Canadian Stocks So Far in 2026.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

We used the Finviz screener to identify Canadian stocks that rallied by at least 20% year-to-date. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).

10. Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE:PBA)

On May 18, 2026, Citi analyst Spiro Dounis downgraded Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE:PBA) to Neutral from Buy while raising the firm’s price target to C$70 from C$63. Citi said the downgrade was driven primarily by valuation following the stock’s recent rally, with the firm now seeing a more balanced risk/reward profile at current levels.

On May 13, 2026, Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE:PBA) announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange approved the renewal of its normal course issuer bid, or NCIB, allowing the company to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares. The renewed program began on May 19, 2026, and will run through May 18, 2027, unless completed or terminated earlier. Based on the company’s 581.4 million shares outstanding as of May 5, Pembina is authorized to repurchase up to 29.1 million shares, which would be cancelled upon purchase.

On May 11, 2026, RBC Capital raised the firm’s price target on Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE:PBA) to C$68 from C$64 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares.

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE:PBA) provides energy transportation and midstream services through its Pipelines, Facilities, and Marketing & New Ventures segments.

9. Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII)

On May 7, 2026, TD Securities analyst Graham Ryding raised the firm’s price target on Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII) to C$205 from C$190 previously and maintained a Hold rating on the shares after Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII) disclosed its first-quarter financial and operational results.

On May 6, 2026, Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII) reported Q1 EPS of $2.25, versus the consensus estimate of 93c. Revenue totaled $142.95 million, versus the consensus estimate of $107.28 million. Chief Executive Officer Whitney George said assets under management climbed to $65.1 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared to $59.6 billion at the end of 2025, representing a 9% increase during the quarter. George added that while gold and silver prices experienced heightened volatility after reaching new highs earlier in the quarter, the broader long-term fundamentals supporting precious metals remain intact. The company’s management also highlighted the strong performance from Sprott’s critical materials strategies, which accounted for 96% of net sales across 13 different funds during the period.

Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII) is an asset management company providing portfolio management, wealth management, fund management, and advisory services.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/5-best-performing-canadian-stocks-so-far-in-2026-1766167/ Fri, 22 May 2026 00:40:24 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766167 In this article, we will list the 5 Best Performing Canadian Stocks So Far in 2026. Please visit 10 Best Performing Canadian Stocks So Far in 2026 if you would like to see the extended list and the methodology behind it.

Pixabay/Public Domain

5. Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH)

On May 5, 2026, Scotiabank raised the firm’s price target on Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH) to $80 from $70 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm said the stock could continue to move higher over time, given management’s disciplined capital allocation strategy and the potential for sustained upside in methanol pricing.

Meanwhile, CIBC analyst Hamir Patel raised the firm’s price target on Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH) to $69 from $66 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares. CIBC said the stronger methanol pricing environment should help accelerate deleveraging. While the firm still expects commodity prices to normalize over time, it noted that the Middle East accounts for roughly 20% of global methanol production, and prolonged supply disruptions could support an upside scenario where Methanex shares reach $83.

Earlier in the month, JPMorgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas downgraded Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH) to Neutral from Overweight while raising the firm’s price target to $65 from $56. JPMorgan said the company’s EBITDA is likely to more than double sequentially from Q1 to Q2 as methanol prices improve, though the firm believes the stock is fairly valued at current levels.

Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ:MEOH) produces and sells methanol and ammonia across Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and South America.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/quantum-computing-qubt-soars-19-on-us-govt-quantum-backing-1766929/ Fri, 22 May 2026 00:37:35 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766929 Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) is one of the 10 Stocks With Shocking Overnight Gains.

Quantum Computing rallied for a second day on Thursday, jumping 19.35 percent to finish at $11.41 apiece, after earning the backing of the US government for the development of supercomputers in a bid to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Under the CHIPS and Science Act, the US Department of Commerce is shelling out over $2 billion in federal incentives to support a portfolio of quantum companies in accelerating the development of utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

A stock market graph. Photo by energepic.com

Of the $2 billion, nine companies are set to receive a slice of the total amount, with IBM taking home the largest chunk, at $1 billion, followed by GlobalFoundries with $375 million. Other companies included D-Wave, Rigetti, Atom, Diraq, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum.

While Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) was not a direct beneficiary, the US government’s initiative sparked a broader optimism for the overall quantum sector, having been seen as an industry practically useful decades away.

In other news, Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) reported a dismal earnings performance in the first quarter of the year, having incurred a $4.05 million net loss, or a reversal of the $16.98 million net income in the same period last year.

Total revenues markedly jumped by 9,364 percent to $3.69 million from only $39,000 year-on-year.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of QUBT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Wolfspeed climbed by 18.56 percent on Thursday to close at $69.50 apiece, as investors welcomed the launch of two new power module families designed to address the power needs of AI data centers.

In a statement, Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) unveiled the 3.3kV silicon carbide (SiC) high-power half-bridge baseplate modules designed for less than 800 amp applications and optimized for demanding converter topologies for solar, grid-scale energy storage, and wind-power infrastructures.

Wolfspeed’s Silicon Carbide 200mm semiconductor wafer. Photo from Wolfspeed

It also introduced the scalable full-bridge baseplate-less modules for solid-state transformers (SSTs) and modular renewable energy infrastructure, engineered for modularity, offering flexibility to configure multi-level, series-stacked, or parallel converter architectures with consistent, matched performance.

In other news, Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) said that it slashed its net losses by 58 percent in the three months ending March 2026, at $119.9 million versus $285.5 million in the same period last year.

Revenues declined by 18.9 percent to $150.2 million from $185.4 million year-on-year, but fell within its earlier guidance of $140 million to $160 million.

CEO Robert Feurle said that Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) continued to make meaningful progress against its priorities, improving long-term growth trajectory and financial flexibility to execute strategic priorities.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of WOLF as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Enphase Energy notched a new 52-week high on Thursday, as investors resumed buying positions after the company earned a bullish rating and a double-digit price target upgrade from Goldman Sachs.

In intra-day trading, the stock climbed to a fresh record high of $63.27 before trimming gains to end the session just up by 17.29 percent at $62.34 apiece.

Photo by William Mead on Pexels

In a market note earlier in the week, Goldman Sachs upgraded its price target for Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) by 11.8 percent to $57 from $51 previously, while maintaining a “buy” recommendation.

The positive coverage came amid the looming July 4 deadline for a federal solar tax credit, under which projects must begin construction and equipment must be safely harbored by the deadline for developers to qualify for a 30-percent incentive. This is expected to boost sales of solar and technology companies on the expectation that customers would scramble to place their orders prior to the deadline to qualify for the incentive.

In other news, Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) on Monday unveiled a new PowerMatch technology for two IQ Battery systems—a 5P and a 10c—which intelligently adjust IQ battery operations to match a home’s real-time power needs.

The 10C variant is available for sale in the US and Puerto Rico, while the 5P is now for sale across North America and select countries in Central America and the Caribbean.

Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) said that the two products would help deliver more usable energy, improved efficiency, and long-term savings for its customers.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of ENPH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Arm Holdings notched a fresh all-time high anew on Thursday, as investors resumed buying positions after it earned an analyst’s highly optimistic outlook, with the company’s profits expected to grow fivefold over the next four years.

In intra-day trading, Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) climbed to a new high of $298.69 before trimming gains to end the session just up by 16.16 percent at $298.23 apiece, thanks to Bernstein’s outperform rating for its stock, alongside a $300 price target.

Photo from Arm Holdings

In a market note earlier in the week, Bernstein said that the coverage was based on the belief that Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) is capable of growing its profits fivefold by 2030, amid the renaissance of CPUs for agentic AI, given the rapid shift from chatbot to AI agents.

Bernstein also noted that Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) is expected to capture a fourfold increase in CPU market share over the next four years to hit $137 billion.

“Arm stands out in server CPUs given its unparalleled power efficiency,” the investment firm said.

In other news, Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) reported a 49 percent jump in its net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 to $313 million from $210 million in the same period last year. Revenues also increased by 20 percent to $1.49 billion from $1.241 billion.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 ending June, the company has set a revenue outlook of $1.26 billion, plus or minus $50 million. This would imply a 19.6 percent jump from the $1.053 billion reported in the same period a year earlier.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of ARM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

AXT Inc. climbed by 15.69 percent on Thursday to close at $121.02 apiece, in line with its participation at a conference during the day.

Investors loaded portfolios in anticipation of business updates from its participation in the 26th Annual B. Riley Securities Institutional Investor Conference in Los Angeles, California, on the same day.

For illustration purposes only. Photo by Sergei Starostin on Pexels

It will be followed by the 23rd Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference in Minneapolis on May 28. It would also join the Northland Securities Virtual Growth Conference on June 23.

Investors are expected to watch out for the company’s outlook and growth guidance for the rest of the year, after it adjourned its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting last week due to the lack of a quorum.

In other news, AXT Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI) earlier this month announced a huge improvement to its earnings performance for the first quarter of the year, with attributable net loss slashed by 81 percent to $1.62 million from $8.798 million in the same period last year. The drop was due to an 84 percent decrease in operating loss, at $1.585 million versus $10.275 million year-on-year.

Revenues also surged by 39 percent to $26.9 million from $19.3 million year-on-year.

Looking ahead, AXT Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI) posted a highly optimistic outlook about its business, with the company expecting to ride the booming artificial intelligence industry through a strong demand from data center operators.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of AXTI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

The stocks mirrored a broader market optimism, with the Dow Jones leading gains by 0.55 percent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also finished in the green, albeit picking up by merely 0.17 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively.

Indices aside, this article focuses on the 10 top-performing names on Thursday and breaks down the reasons behind their gains.

To come up with the list, we considered the stocks with a $2 billion market capitalization and 5 million shares in trading volume.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

10. AXT Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI)

AXT Inc. climbed by 15.69 percent on Thursday to close at $121.02 apiece, in line with its participation at a conference during the day.

Investors loaded portfolios in anticipation of business updates from its participation in the 26th Annual B. Riley Securities Institutional Investor Conference in Los Angeles, California, on the same day.

It will be followed by the 23rd Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference in Minneapolis on May 28. It would also join the Northland Securities Virtual Growth Conference on June 23.

Investors are expected to watch out for the company’s outlook and growth guidance for the rest of the year, after it adjourned its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting last week due to the lack of a quorum.

In other news, AXT Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI) earlier this month announced a huge improvement to its earnings performance for the first quarter of the year, with attributable net loss slashed by 81 percent to $1.62 million from $8.798 million in the same period last year. The drop was due to an 84 percent decrease in operating loss, at $1.585 million versus $10.275 million year-on-year.

Revenues also surged by 39 percent to $26.9 million from $19.3 million year-on-year.

Looking ahead, AXT Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI) posted a highly optimistic outlook about its business, with the company expecting to ride the booming artificial intelligence industry through a strong demand from data center operators.

9. Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM)

Arm Holdings notched a fresh all-time high anew on Thursday, as investors resumed buying positions after it earned an analyst’s highly optimistic outlook, with the company’s profits expected to grow fivefold over the next four years.

In intra-day trading, Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) climbed to a new high of $298.69 before trimming gains to end the session just up by 16.16 percent at $298.23 apiece, thanks to Bernstein’s outperform rating for its stock, alongside a $300 price target.

In a market note earlier in the week, Bernstein said that the coverage was based on the belief that Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) is capable of growing its profits fivefold by 2030, amid the renaissance of CPUs for agentic AI, given the rapid shift from chatbot to AI agents.

Bernstein also noted that Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) is expected to capture a fourfold increase in CPU market share over the next four years to hit $137 billion.

“Arm stands out in server CPUs given its unparalleled power efficiency,” the investment firm said.

In other news, Arm Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:ARM) reported a 49 percent jump in its net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 to $313 million from $210 million in the same period last year. Revenues also increased by 20 percent to $1.49 billion from $1.241 billion.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 ending June, the company has set a revenue outlook of $1.26 billion, plus or minus $50 million. This would imply a 19.6 percent jump from the $1.053 billion reported in the same period a year earlier.

8. Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Enphase Energy notched a new 52-week high on Thursday, as investors resumed buying positions after the company earned a bullish rating and a double-digit price target upgrade from Goldman Sachs.

In intra-day trading, the stock climbed to a fresh record high of $63.27 before trimming gains to end the session just up by 17.29 percent at $62.34 apiece.

In a market note earlier in the week, Goldman Sachs upgraded its price target for Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) by 11.8 percent to $57 from $51 previously, while maintaining a “buy” recommendation.

The positive coverage came amid the looming July 4 deadline for a federal solar tax credit, under which projects must begin construction and equipment must be safely harbored by the deadline for developers to qualify for a 30-percent incentive. This is expected to boost sales of solar and technology companies on the expectation that customers would scramble to place their orders prior to the deadline to qualify for the incentive.

In other news, Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) on Monday unveiled a new PowerMatch technology for two IQ Battery systems—a 5P and a 10c—which intelligently adjust IQ battery operations to match a home’s real-time power needs.

The 10C variant is available for sale in the US and Puerto Rico, while the 5P is now for sale across North America and select countries in Central America and the Caribbean.

Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) said that the two products would help deliver more usable energy, improved efficiency, and long-term savings for its customers.

7. Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF)

Wolfspeed climbed by 18.56 percent on Thursday to close at $69.50 apiece, as investors welcomed the launch of two new power module families designed to address the power needs of AI data centers.

In a statement, Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) unveiled the 3.3kV silicon carbide (SiC) high-power half-bridge baseplate modules designed for less than 800 amp applications and optimized for demanding converter topologies for solar, grid-scale energy storage, and wind-power infrastructures.

It also introduced the scalable full-bridge baseplate-less modules for solid-state transformers (SSTs) and modular renewable energy infrastructure, engineered for modularity, offering flexibility to configure multi-level, series-stacked, or parallel converter architectures with consistent, matched performance.

In other news, Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) said that it slashed its net losses by 58 percent in the three months ending March 2026, at $119.9 million versus $285.5 million in the same period last year.

Revenues declined by 18.9 percent to $150.2 million from $185.4 million year-on-year, but fell within its earlier guidance of $140 million to $160 million.

CEO Robert Feurle said that Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:WOLF) continued to make meaningful progress against its priorities, improving long-term growth trajectory and financial flexibility to execute strategic priorities.

6. Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT)

Quantum Computing rallied for a second day on Thursday, jumping 19.35 percent to finish at $11.41 apiece, after earning the backing of the US government for the development of supercomputers in a bid to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Under the CHIPS and Science Act, the US Department of Commerce is shelling out over $2 billion in federal incentives to support a portfolio of quantum companies in accelerating the development of utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

Of the $2 billion, nine companies are set to receive a slice of the total amount, with IBM taking home the largest chunk, at $1 billion, followed by GlobalFoundries with $375 million. Other companies included D-Wave, Rigetti, Atom, Diraq, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum.

While Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) was not a direct beneficiary, the US government’s initiative sparked a broader optimism for the overall quantum sector, having been seen as an industry practically useful decades away.

In other news, Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) reported a dismal earnings performance in the first quarter of the year, having incurred a $4.05 million net loss, or a reversal of the $16.98 million net income in the same period last year.

Total revenues markedly jumped by 9,364 percent to $3.69 million from only $39,000 year-on-year.

Click to continue reading and see the other 5 Stocks With Shocking Overnight Gains.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Photo by Mizuno K on Pexels

5. Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK)

Birkenstock extended its winning streak to a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, jumping 19.45 percent to close at $39.67 apiece, after executing a $250-million accelerated share buyback agreement with Goldman Sachs.

In a regulatory filing, the shoemaker said that it entered into an agreement with Goldman Sachs for the repurchase of its shares at a price of $33.21 apiece.

Under the agreement, Goldman will make an initial delivery of 6 million shares, representing 80 percent of the total, with the final number of shares yet to be determined. However, based on the set purchase price, Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) is set to receive over 7.5 million shares from the transaction.

Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) said that it intends to fund the buyback through a combination of cash on hand and a revolving credit facility. It expects to close the transaction before June 30, 2026.

“Short-term market dynamics have resulted in what we believe is a strong disconnect between our share price and the strength of our underlying fundamentals,” Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE:BIRK) CEO Oliver Reichert said.

”We believe deploying our substantial cash position toward repurchasing our own shares represents the most attractive use of capital in the current environment. Given the volatile environment of the capital markets, we will continue evaluating market conditions to take advantage of further opportunities for share repurchases in the future,” he noted.

The agreement is not guaranteed and is subject to certain customary adjustments and termination provisions.

ProFrac Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ACDC) is a technology-focused energy services company operating in the United States.

On May 19, BofA bumped up its price target on ProFrac Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ACDC) from $4 to $4.75, but kept its ‘Underperform’ rating on the shares. The target boost, which still reflects a downside of almost 41% from the current levels, comes as the analyst firm updated its oilfield services models for Q1 earnings and 10-Q reports. BofA noted that its forecasts for 2027 and 2028 EBITDA are on average 10% and 16% above consensus, respectively.

ProFrac Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ACDC) reported a net loss of $81 million in its Q1 2026 report on May 7, up from a net loss of $141 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. However, the company’s EBITDA of $54 million was down by over 11% sequentially. According to ProFrac, the operational disruptions caused by the harsh winter storm earlier this year resulted in an estimated $9.3 million reduction to its consolidated adjusted EBITDA.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of ACDC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE:GTY) is a publicly traded, net lease REIT specializing in convenience, automotive, and other single-tenant retail real estate.

On May 14, KeyBanc analyst Upal Rana bumped up the firm’s price target on Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE:GTY) from $33 to $36, while maintaining an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The revised target, which reflects an upside of over 8% from the current price level, comes following the company’s Q1 report and recent investor meetings.

KeyBanc believes that Getty Realty Corp. (NYSE:GTY)’s strong financial position, including its over $625 million of liquidity, leverage of 4.2 times, and healthy investment spreads of 150 bps, positions the company well to fund its $125 million pipeline and boost volumes and future earnings growth. Although GTY has already outperformed its peers by 1,070 bps YTD, the analyst firm still views its valuation as attractive, citing a modest 2.9% multiple premium to peers on 2026 AFFO/share and an implied cap rate of 7.7%.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of GTY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/expro-group-holdings-xpro-upgraded-to-hold-at-freedom-broker-1766867/ Thu, 21 May 2026 23:25:08 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766867 Expro Group Holdings N.V. (NYSE:XPRO) is included among the 10 Most Popular Small Cap Stocks to Buy.

Expro Group Holdings N.V. (NYSE:XPRO) is a global energy services company, delivering innovative, sustainable well solutions with a focus on safety, data, and performance.

Expro Group Holdings N.V. (NYSE:XPRO) received a boost on May 19 when Freedom Broker upgraded the stock from ‘Sell’ to ‘Hold’, while keeping its price target unchanged at $16. The analyst firm cited valuation considerations for the upgrade, but noted that the company’s share repurchase strategy “raises questions”.

Expro Group Holdings N.V. (NYSE:XPRO) reported better-than-expected results for its Q1 2026 on May 5, with the company beating estimates in both profits and revenue. The firm also announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Enhanced Well Technologies in a deal worth approximately $215 million. The acquisition will be immediately accretive to cash flows and EBITDA margins, and it adds over $275 million of order backlog to the company’s portfolio.

Expro Group Holdings N.V. (NYSE:XPRO) reaffirmed its guidance for full-year 2026. The company also sees a $10 million to $15 million revenue impact from the Middle East conflict in the second quarter.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of XPRO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/kosmos-energy-kos-among-the-10-most-popular-small-cap-stocks-to-buy-1766868/ Thu, 21 May 2026 23:24:49 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766868 Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) is included among the 10 Most Popular Small Cap Stocks to Buy.

Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) is a leading deepwater exploration and production company focused on meeting the world’s growing demand for energy.

On May 11, Bernstein boosted its price target on Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) from $2.10 to $2.40, while keeping a ‘Market Perform’ rating on the shares. The raised target still indicates a downside of over 24% from the current levels.

Bernstein acknowledged that the global oil markets could head in a multitude of directions in the current geopolitical landscape, including the extreme scenario of the waterway of Hormuz remaining closed for years. However, the firm updated its models assuming a return to normalcy by the mid of this year.

The target boost comes despite Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) falling behind estimates in its Q1 report on May 5. However, the company delivered a record daily and quarterly production during the quarter, driven by GTA fully ramped up and new wells at Jubilee. The energy firm expects to deliver production growth of 15% YoY in FY 2026, coming predominantly from its core, Jubilee, and GTA assets.

Moreover, Kosmos managed to reduce its operating costs by approximately 22% YoY, in addition to cutting its net debt by around 7% compared to year‑end 2025. The company intends to build on this momentum and raise its full‑year debt reduction target from 10% to approximately 20%.

Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) was also recently included in our list of the 10 Best Energy Stocks to Buy Under $20 According to Billionaires.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of KOS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/analyst-downgrades-ouster-oust-to-neutral-1766869/ Thu, 21 May 2026 23:24:23 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766869 Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ:OUST) is included among the 10 Most Popular Small Cap Stocks to Buy.

Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ:OUST) is a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI across industrial, robotics, automotive, and smart infrastructure.

On May 7, Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ:OUST) was downgraded by Cantor Fitzgerald from ‘Overweight’ to ‘Neutral’. According to the analyst, the move is based on valuation, despite the company reaffirming its 2026 outlook and launching its REV8 OS family of digital lidar sensors.

On the other hand, Oppenheimer turned more bullish on Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ:OUST) on the same day and raised its price target on the stock from $40 to $40, while keeping its ‘Outperform’ rating. The analyst firm highlighted Ouster’s status as a pioneer of the digital lidar technology, especially following the launch of REV8 and the advanced capabilities of its L4 chip family.

Oppenheimer expects Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ:OUST) to report a notable increase in sales as the year progresses and customers continue to adopt its technology. The analyst firm also expects a significant jump in demand once customers begin integrating REV8 data, enabling faster and more advanced capabilities into their products.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of OUST as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

]]> https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/oppenheimer-raises-agilysys-agys-price-target-by-10-1766870/ Thu, 21 May 2026 23:22:06 +0000 https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/?p=1766870 Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGYS) is included among the 10 Most Popular Small Cap Stocks to Buy.

Image by Alexsander-777 from Pixabay

Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGYS) provides a hospitality management system that connects PMS, POS, payments, and guest experiences to help brands go beyond traditional hospitality.

On May 19, Oppenheimer raised its price target on Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGYS) from $90 to $100, while maintaining an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The target boost, which represents an upside of over 35% from the current share price, comes on higher estimates and the company’s strong beat-and-guide-above in Q4. According to the analyst, the company has entered a strong upward trajectory in 2026 that should continue throughout the next year.

Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGYS) reported impressive results for its Q4 2026 results on May 18, with the company exceeding estimates in both profits and revenue. The firm delivered a record revenue of $82.9 million during the quarter, and its full-year 2026 revenue of $319.3 million ended up being well above guidance.

Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGYS) is now targeting its FY 2027 revenue to be in the range of $365 million to $370 million, with product revenue remaining flat and steady growth in services revenue. Moreover, the company expected 2027 to be the third consecutive year of subscription revenue growth of at least 30%.

[im-yf-promo]

While we acknowledge the potential of AGYS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

[/im-yf-promo]

READ NEXT: Top 12 Undervalued Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best US Stocks to Invest in According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

]]>