Ten stocks soared higher on Thursday, outperforming a lackluster performance on Wall Street, as investor sentiment was primarily bolstered by strong earnings performance and outlook. Of the 10 stocks, five notched new record highs.
Meanwhile, the three major indices finished mixed, with the Dow Jones the sole gainer by 0.11 percent. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both declined by 0.13 percent and 0.72 percent, respectively.
In this article, we spotlight the 10 top-performing stocks on Wednesday and detail the reasons behind their gains.
To come up with the list, we focused exclusively on stocks with more than $2 billion in market capitalization and 5 million shares in trading volume.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
10. Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE:CUK)
Carnival saw its share prices jump by 8.60 percent on Thursday to close at $30.94 apiece, as investors took path from a competitor’s robust earnings performance, which could signal how the industry fared in the past quarter, while increasing positions ahead of the next dividend payment.
According to the company, it is set to distribute 15 cents worth of dividends to all common shareholders as of February 13, payable on Feb. 27, 2026.
“This decision highlights confidence in our future performance and continued commitment to delivering value to shareholders,” Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE:CUK) CFO David Bernstein said earlier.
Meanwhile, the strong earnings performance in its rival, Royal Caribbean Group, spilled over to the overall industry, with the company achieving a 48 percent attributable net income expansion at $4.27 billion in full-year 2025, with revenues of $17.9 billion, or 8.5 percent higher year-on-year.
In other news, Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE:CUK) told the Securities and Exchange Commission that it is set to unify its two companies into one, alongside their listed shares on the London and New York Stock Exchanges.
According to Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE:CUK), it would make Carnival Corp. the main company and have Carnival PLC become a wholly-owned subsidiary, which would then create one single stock for all shareholders.
At present, the firm’s shares are traded under the ticker symbols CCL and CUK.
The company targets to secure shareholder approval for the plan on April 17, 2026.
9. Allegro MicroSystems Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGM)
Allegro MicroSystems soared to a two-year high on Thursday after swinging to profitability in the third quarter of the fiscal year and raising its sales outlook for the current quarter.
At intra-day trading, the stock jumped to its highest price of $39.89 before trimming gains to finish the session just up by 9.93 percent at $37.98 apiece.
In an updated report, Allegro MicroSystems Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGM) said that it swung to an attributable net income of $8.3 million in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending December 2025, reversing an attributable net loss of $6.86 million in the same period a year earlier.
Full-year attributable net income stood at $1.59 million, reversing a $58.2 million net loss in fiscal year 2025.
Net sales for the quarter jumped by 29 percent to $229 million from $177.9 million in the same period a year earlier, bringing its full-year net sales higher by 21.5 percent to $646.9 million from $532.18 million.
“This performance was driven by broad strength in automotive sales, which grew 28 percent year-over-year, including a 46 percent increase in e-Mobility. Our industrial sales also saw robust growth, increasing 31 percent year-over-year, led by another record quarter in data center,” said Allegro MicroSystems Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGM) President and CEO Mike Doogue.
For the fourth quarter ending March 2026, Allegro MicroSystems Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGM) is gunning for net sales between $230 million and $240 million, with the midpoint implying a growth of 22 percent year-on-year.
Diluted earnings per share are expected at $0.14 to $0.18.
8. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH)
Norwegian Cruise saw its share prices jump by 10.25 percent on Thursday to finish at $22.92 apiece, thanks to a bright outlook for the overall industry, which spilled over to its stock.
In an earnings call, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.’s (NYSE:NCLH) rival, Royal Caribbean Group, announced that its attributable net income in full-year 2025 expanded by 48 percent to $4.27 billion, as well as its revenues by 8.5 percent to $17.9 billion, amid higher revenues from passenger tickets and onboarding.
Royal Caribbean said that the figures were the highest so far in the company’s history, sparking bright prospects for other key players.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH), for its part, is expected to release its earnings results on February 27, based on its historical earnings reporting dates.
For the fourth quarter, the company is targeting to book adjusted net income of $1.045 billion, with earnings per share of $2.10.
Adjusted EBITDA, on the other hand, is targeted at $2.72 billion.
In recent news, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) unveiled the newest and largest addition to its fleet, the Norwegian Aura, which would be 10 times larger than its predecessors, Aqua and Luna.
The ship is currently being developed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and is targeted to begin sailing in May next year.
Norwegian Aura would be capable of accommodating 3,840 guests at double occupancy.
7. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Facebook operator Meta Platforms jumped by 10.40 percent on Thursday to close at $738.31 apiece as investors took heart from an investment firm’s 9 percent price target upgrade for its stock despite reporting lower profits in full-year 2025.
In its market report, BofA Securities raised its price target for the stock to $885 from $810 previously, while reaffirming its “buy” recommendation, noting that AI is driving returns for the tech giant more than its peers.
In an updated report, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) said that it grew its net income in the fourth quarter of 2025 by 9 percent to $22.77 billion from $20.84 billion in the same period last year. Revenues increased by 24 percent to $59.89 billion from $48.38 billion year-on-year.
However, net profit for full-year 2025 dipped by 3 percent to $60.46 billion from $62.36 billion in 2024. Revenues, on the other hand, jumped by 22 percent to $200.97 billion from $164.5 billion year-on-year.
Looking ahead, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is targeting total revenues in the first quarter to be at $53.5 billion to $56.5 billion.
“We had strong business performance in 2025,” said Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
”I’m looking forward to advancing personal superintelligence for people around the world in 2026,” he noted.
6. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD)
Brookdale Senior Living extended its winning streak to a third consecutive day on Thursday to hit a new eight-year high, as investors took path from an investment firm’s 31 percent price target upgrade for its stock.
At intra-day trading, the stock jumped to its highest price of $14.63 before trimming gains to end the day just up by 10.60 percent at $14.50 apiece.
In a market report, RBC Capital issued a new price target of $17 versus $13 previously, while reaffirming an “outperform” rating following the release of preliminary earnings results for full-year 2025.
According to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD), it expects to report $3.2 billion in revenues for the full year, representing a 3 percent uptick from the $3.1 billion in 2024.
However, net loss is expected to be wider by 30 percent at $263 million versus $202 million a year earlier, amid a higher non-cash impairment charges of approximately $71 million versus only $8 million in 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA is projected to increase by 19 percent to $458 million, or settle at the midpoint of its previously announced guidance.
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD) is targeting to grow its revenue per available room to a range of 8 to 9 percent in 2026, while looking at an adjusted EBITDA of $502 million to $516 million.
5. Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT)
Liberty Energy soared to a new all-time high on Thursday, as investors took heart from the company’s highly optimistic outlook for the industry and its business, despite disappointing earnings results for last year.
At intra-day trading, the stock jumped to its highest price of $27.21 before trimming gains to end the day just up by 16.24 percent at $25.34 apiece.
In a statement, Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT) CEO Ron Gusek underscored expectations of power demand jumping more than threefold over the next four years and that the company is well-positioned to support growth.
Gusek unveiled the company’s plans to deploy 3 gigawatts of power by 2029, in a bid to capture and support power demand.
On Thursday, Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE:LBRT) reported a 53 percent decline in net income for full-year 2025, at $147.87 million versus $316 million in 2024. Revenues also dropped by 7.2 percent to $4 billion from $4.3 billion year-on-year.
In the fourth quarter alone, net income dropped by 74 percent to $13.69 million from $51.89 million, while revenues broke past the $1 billion level at $1.04 billion, or 10 percent more than the $943 million in the same period a year earlier.
4. Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAV)
Viavi Solutions soared to a new record high in more than two decades, as investor sentiment was fueled by a new corporate restructuring initiative that is expected to result in annual savings of $30 million.
At intra-day trading, the stock soared to its highest price of $24.95 before trimming gains to finish the day just up by 17.45 percent at $24.70 apiece. The last time the company hit the said level was in April 2002.
In a statement, Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAV) said that it would slash its global workforce by 5 percent, rationalize facilities, and write off assets, as it looks to improve operational efficiencies.
The company expects to incur $32 million in expenditures in connection with severance payments.
Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAV) said it targets to complete the restructuring in June 2026.
In other news, Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAV) swung to a net loss of $48.1 million in the second quarter ending December 2025, versus a $9.1 million net income in the same period a year earlier. This came despite a 36 percent jump in net revenues at $369.3 million versus $270.8 million year-on-year.
For the six-month period, net loss was at $69.5 million, reversing a net income of $7.3 million in the same comparable semester. Revenues jumped by 31 percent to $668.4 million from $509 million.
3. TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL)
TAL Education jumped by 18.03 percent on Thursday to close at $12.70 apiece as investors took heart from an impressive earnings performance in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.
In an updated report, TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) said that attributable net income surged by 465 percent to $130.6 million from $23.1 million in the same period last year.
Operating income stood at $93.1 million, reversing a loss of $17.4 million in the same comparable period.
Revenues jumped by 27 percent to $770.2 million from $606.4 million year-on-year.
“In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, our net revenues continued their steady growth trajectory. We remain focused on integrating technology into learning experiences and are dedicated to enhancing our content, products, and services to support students’ holistic development,” said TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) President and CFO Alex Peng.
“We will continue to drive forward our strategic initiatives and dynamically allocate resources to build competitive advantages and generate value for our users and society,” he added.
In July last year, TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) announced plans to buy back $600 million in shares over a 12-month period, of which only $27.7 million have just been spent, suggesting further room for more repurchase transactions in the future.
2. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL)
Royal Caribbean rallied for a second day on Thursday, jumping 18.65 percent to finish at $345.98 apiece following a strong earnings performance and a highly optimistic outlook for the year.
In an earnings call, the company said that attributable net income for full-year 2025 surged by 48 percent to $4.268 billion from only $2.877 billion in 2024, as total revenues grew by 8.6 percent to $17.9 billion from $16.48 billion year-on-year.
The higher figures were bolstered by strong growth in passenger tickets and onboard revenues, which grew by 8.7 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
“2025 was an outstanding year, and the momentum is further accelerating into 2026. WAVE is off to a great start, and we continue to see strong and growing preference for our leading brands and differentiated vacation experiences,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, referring to the company’s peak booking season where the best deals are typically offered.
“We expect another strong year of financial performance with both revenue and earnings growing double digits, and we remain on track to achieve our Perfecta goals by 2027,” he added.
For this year, the company expects to book adjusted earnings per share in the range of $17.70 to $18.80.
1. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV)
Southwest Airlines soared to a new four-year high on Thursday, jumping 18.70 percent to close at $48.50 apiece, as investors welcomed the end of an open-seating era following the company’s official adoption of assigned seating.
At intra-day trading, the stock jumped to as high as $49.12 before paring gains to finish the session just up by 18.70 percent.
This followed the company’s earnings call, where it announced the start of an “assigned seating” era, ending 54 years of open seating arrangement—an initiative expected to bolster the company’s profit margins moving forward.
“Just yesterday (January 27), assigned extra legroom seating became operational, and Southwest expects earnings upside based on how booking behavior related to these initiatives unfolds,” it said.
Last year, Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) saw its net income drop by 5.2 percent to $441 million from $465 million in 2024. Total operating revenues inched up by 2.1 percent to $28.06 billion from $27.48 billion year-on-year.
In the fourth quarter alone, net income jumped by 23.7 percent to $323 million from $261 million, while revenues grew by 7.4 percent to $7.4 billion from $6.9 billion.
“Southwest closed 2025 with strong momentum. Last year, we implemented the most ambitious transformation in company history, including bag fees, basic economy fares, assigned and extra legroom seating, Rapid Rewards program optimization, online distribution expansion, and free Wi-Fi for loyalty members. We also outperformed our cost reduction goals, strengthened operational reliability through new technology, and returned $2.9 billion to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. That foundation positions us well for long‑term success and sets the stage for significant earnings growth this year,” said President and CEO Bob Jordan.
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