Ten stocks kicked off the trading week with double-digit gains, mimicking an overall market sentiment, thanks to a series of analyst ratings and positive company-specific developments, among others.
Meanwhile, Wall Street’s three major indices all finished in the green, led by the Nasdaq with a 0.90 percent jump, followed by the S&P 500 with a 0.47 percent increase, and the Dow Jones inching up by only 0.04 percent.
In this article, we spotlight the names of the 10 top-performing stocks and detail the reasons behind their gains.
To come up with the list, we considered only the stocks with a $2 billion market capitalization and 5 million shares in trading volume.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
10. Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR)
Intuitive Machines rallied for a second day on Monday, jumping 11.02 percent to close at $19.45 apiece despite the lack of fresh developments to boost buying appetite.
However, Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) mirrored a recent rally in fellow space stocks over the past few weeks after billionaire Elon Musk posted confidence for the industry, saying that it could be the most “cost-effective” way to produce AI compute.
As a company that could support initiatives through the delivery of equipment into space, Musk’s comments spelled good news for Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR).
In other recent developments, investment firm KeyBanc raised its price target for the space player to $26 from $20 previously, while maintaining a “buy” recommendation amid its optimism for the overall space and defense sectors.
Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) also received a higher price target of $22.50 from Canaccord, versus $15.50 previously, while reaffirming a “buy” rating on the shares.
Meanwhile, Stifel upgraded the stock to $20 from $18 previously, but downgraded the company to “hold” from “buy.”
Morgan Stanley is also bullish about the space sector, saying that the “banner year” for the sector in 2025 is expected to spill over this year.
9. IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG)
IAMGOLD grew its share prices by 11.30 percent on Monday to close at $21.28 apiece as investors positioned their portfolios ahead of the release of its earnings performance for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025.
According to the company, it is scheduled to announce its financial and operating highlights after market close on Tuesday, February 17.
IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG) is targeting to report record-breaking revenues for the period, expecting to register final sales of 817,800 ounces.
Meanwhile, attributable gold production stood at 765,900 ounces, achieving the midpoint of its 2025 guidance, thanks to strong operations at its mining sites, including the Cote Gold, which hit the upper end of its targets.
Gold sales in the fourth quarter alone reached 259,000 ounces at an average price of $4,190 per ounce.
The upbeat preliminary results were supported by a marked 65 percent jump in spot prices of gold during the year, as investors sought safety in precious metals while other US markets got beaten by a combination of geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties, and interest rate decisions.
For this year, IAMGOLD Corp. (NYSE:IAG) is gunning for attributable gold production of 720,000 to 820,000 ounces, as Cote Gold focuses on hitting nameplate operating rates.
8. Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEAmerican:USAS)
Americas Gold and Silver grew its share prices by 12.20 percent to close at $8 apiece as investors took heart from an investment firm’s bullish coverage for its stock.
In a market report, TD Securities issued a “buy” recommendation on shares of Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEAmerican:USAS) at a price of 13 Canadian dollars, marking a 20 percent upside potential from its latest closing price of 10.86 Canadian dollars.
Optimism spilled over to the mining firm’s US shares, with the overall outlook boosted by confidence for its silver production efforts, thanks to operational improvements at its Galena Complex in Idaho.
In other news earlier this year, Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEAmerican:USAS) said that consolidated silver production jumped by 52 percent in 2025 to 2.65 million ounces versus 1.74 million ounces in 2024.
Its Cosala site alone achieved an annual production of 1.19 million ounces, driven by a record quarter output of 463,000 ounces for the fourth quarter of 2025.
Americas Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEAmerican:USAS) is expected to announce the results of its next earnings performance on March 26, 2026.
7. Varonis Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS)
Varonis Systems surged by 13.07 percent on Monday to finish at $25.61 apiece as investors continued to take heart from a flurry of positive ratings for the stock.
Last week, Varonis Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS) received “overweight” and “buy” ratings from six investment companies, namely DA Davidson, UBS, B. Riley, Wedbush, Truist, and RBC, but all have downgraded their price targets for the stock to a range of $30 to $45 from $30 to $60 previously.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley maintained an “equal weight” rating, but reduced its price target to $27.
The coverage followed Varonis Systems Inc.’s (NASDAQ:VRNS) successful acquisition of AllTrue.ai—an AI trust, risk, and security management company that helps organizations understand and control how AI systems behave across the enterprise.
According to the company, its acquisition would bring real-time visibility and security to its AI systems and complement its deep understanding of enterprise data, identities, and access.
“AI can behave unpredictably. If you don’t know which AI systems you have, what they’re doing, or what data they can touch, you can’t safely use AI. By combining AllTrue’s AI visibility and enforcement with Varonis’ Data Security Platform, we’re giving organizations a way to adopt AI while keeping risk under control,” said Varonis Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS) CEO Yaki Faitelson.
6. Applovin Corp. (NASDAQ:APP)
Applovin soared by 13.19 percent on Monday to close at $460.38 apiece as investors poured funds back after a short seller withdrew earlier accusations of financial crimes against one of the listed firm’s major shareholders.
In a statement posted on X, CapitalWatch apologized to Applovin Corp. (NASDAQ:APP) shareholder Hang Tao, saying that it erroneously associated the latter with supposed money laundering activities in Southeast Asia.
“Upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity, we conducted a rigorous internal review of the report. We have determined that due to an insufficient independent verification process regarding a judgment from the Court of Bordeaux (France), we erroneously associated that judicial document with Mr. Tang,” CapitalWatch said.
“Furthermore, descriptions asserting direct connections between Mr. Tang and Chen Zhi, Prince Group, Jin Bei Group, Tang Jun, and Yang Zhihui were inaccurate and failed to meet our publication standards, which require cross-verification via multiple non-anonymous sources,” it added.
“Capitalwatch extends its sincere apologies to Mr. Tang for the distress caused and the potential impact on his personal reputation. We recognize the gravity of personal reputation and believe that any unfounded associations must be promptly corrected.”
The withdrawal came ahead of Applovin Corp.’s (NASDAQ:APP) scheduled release of its earnings performance after market close on Wednesday, February 11. A conference call will be held to elaborate on the results.
5. Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR)
Cipher Mining soared by 13.78 percent on Monday to finish at $16.76 apiece as investors took heart from Morgan Stanley’s bullish coverage and higher price target for its stock.
In a market report, the investment firm issued an “overweight” rating on shares of Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) with a price target of $38. The figure marked a 127 percent upside potential from its latest closing price.
According to Morgan Stanley, Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) stands to benefit from the growing demand for artificial intelligence power as companies see higher valuations from bitcoin to data center conversions.
It added that bitcoin miners with power assets and data center infrastructures could support both bitcoin mining and AI workloads.
Meanwhile, Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) is scheduled to announce the results of its earnings performance in the fourth quarter and full-year 2025 before market open on Tuesday, February 24. A conference call will be held to elaborate on the results.
Last week, the company announced plans to raise $2 billion in fresh funds through the issuance of senior secured notes.
The notes have a yield rate of 6.125 percent and will mature in 2031.
Proceeds from the offer will be used to finance the remaining cost of the Black Pearl Facility, a high-performance computing data center in Wink, Texas; reimburse Cipher approximately $232.5 million for its prior equity contributions to Cipher Black Pearl LLC; fund debt service reserves; and pay fees and expenses in connection with the offering.
4. ImmunityBio Inc. (NASDAQ:IBRX)
ImmunityBio saw its share prices jump by 14.55 percent on Monday to finish at $6.93 apiece as investors loaded portfolios ahead of its participation in an event later this month by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
According to the company, it would participate in the three-day 2026 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium on February 26 and 28 at the Moscone West in San Francisco, California.
Held annually, the event focuses on the latest research and treatments for GU cancers, including prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancer.
Meanwhile, investors will be watching out for developments about ImmunityBio Inc.’s (NASDAQ:IBRX) own cancer treatment, Anktiva.
Earlier this year, ImmunityBio Inc. (NASDAQ:IBRX) announced that it achieved a 700 percent sales jump from its therapy Anktiva, and that it would expand its operations into Saudi Arabia.
According to the company, it is set to begin selling Anktiva, in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, for lung cancer patients in Saudi Arabia after securing the latter’s FDA approval.
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types in Saudi.
3. TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF)
TeraWulf soared by 16.52 percent on Monday to finish at $16.62 apiece as investors took heart from Morgan Stanley’s bullish coverage for its stock.
In a market report, the investment firm issued an “overweight” rating for TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) with a price target of $37. The figure marked a 123 percent upside potential from its latest closing price.
According to Morgan Stanley, the company stands to benefit from its gradual transition to servicing the artificial intelligence sector from being a pure play bitcoin mining firm.
It said that once a miner has built a data center and signed a long-term lease contract with a creditworthy partner, the asset should be valued for its stability and ability to rake in cash flow in the long term.
Meanwhile, TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) is scheduled to release the results of its earnings performance in the fourth quarter and full-year 2025 after market close on Thursday, February 26.
Earlier this month, TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) announced the acquisition of two land parcels capable of housing 1,480 MW of new digital and power capacity.
The first one is a former industrial site in Hawesville, Kentucky, capable of housing 250 buildable acres for compute capacity, high-voltage transmission lines, an on-site energized substation, and a direct connection to the regional transmission network.
At present, the Hawesville site operates 480 MW of existing power and has the potential to expand over time. Redevelopment of the area is expected to occur in phases.
In Maryland, TeraWulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) successfully acquired a 250-acre parcel of land, which currently houses the Morgantown Generating Station, a grid-connected power generation facility capable of powering approximately 210 MW of operational generation capacity.
The land currently houses substantial electrical infrastructure and associated real property, with the ability to house an expanded 1 GW power generation capacity.
2. Bullish (NYSE:BLSH)
Bullish soared by 16.76 percent on Monday to finish at $32.05 apiece as investors took heart from an investment firm’s acquisition of a significant stake in the company.
Last week, Cathie Wood-led ARK Invest announced that it acquired $17.8 million worth of shares in Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), with the purchases spread across the ARK Innovation ETF, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF, and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF.
The purchase followed Bullish’s (NYSE:BLSH) earnings result for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025, with the latter swinging to a net loss of $785 million from a $79.56 million net income in the same period a year earlier.
Digital asset sales dipped by 2 percent to $244.8 billion from $250 billion.
In the fourth quarter alone, Bullish (NYSE:BLSH) said that it incurred a $563 million net loss, reversing a $158.46 million net income in the same period a year earlier.
Digital asset sales amounted to $64 billion, reversing a $66 billion net income year-on-year.
“I believe that we are at a turning point for digital assets. For all of crypto’s extreme volatility and cyclicality, the vision of faster, better, cheaper, permissionless capital is being unlocked in real-time to bring everything onchain. What I envision immediately ahead for this industry – and, particularly for Bullish, is why I came to the digital assets space,” said CEO Tom Farley.
For the full-year 2026, the company is targeting to generate between $220 million and $250 million in subscription, services, and other revenues.
1. Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL)
Valaris soared by 34.31 percent on Monday to finish at $83.82 apiece as investors gobbled up shares following news that it agreed to be acquired by Transocean Ltd. for $5.8 billion.
In a joint statement, the companies said that they inked a definitive agreement for Transocean to acquire Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) in an all-stock transaction.
The acquisition is expected to create an industry leader with a diversified offshore fleet of 73 rigs, including 33 ultra-deepwater drillships, nine semisubmersibles, and 31 modern jackups, to meet emerging growth opportunities and expand reach and customer access in other offshore basins globally.
“By combining with Transocean, we will create a new industry leader for the benefit of our shareholders, customers and employees. We look forward to complementing Transocean’s high-specification deepwater assets with our own, while returning world class jackup expertise to Transocean’s business, creating a combined company that is capable of operating any rig at any water depth in any offshore environment around the world,” said Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL) CEO Anton Dibowitz.
Two of Valaris Limited’s (NYSE:VAL) directors would join Transocean’s board upon completion of the transaction.
While we acknowledge the potential of VAL to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VAL and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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