Ten stocks climbed higher on Wednesday, outperforming gains on Wall Street, as investors took heart from a combination of company catalysts and positive macroeconomic news. Of the total, four soared to new record highs.
Meanwhile, Wall Street’s main indices all finished in the green, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s 25-basis point rate cut that bolstered optimism for higher consumer spending.
In this article, we focus on the 10 companies that led Wednesday’s charge and detail the reasons behind their gains.
To come up with the list, we focused on the stocks with a $2 billion market capitalization and 5 million shares in trading volume.
Stock market charts. Photo by Kaboompics.com on Pexels
10. Bellring Brands Inc. (NYSE:BRBR)
Bellring Brands grew its share prices by 9 percent on Wednesday to close at $33.30 apiece as investor sentiment was primarily boosted by a general market optimism, fueled by the Federal Reserve’s third interest rate cut this year.
The US central bank on the same day slashed its benchmark rates for the third time by 25 basis points, sparking a rally across Wall Street on optimism that the lower rates could bolster the macroeconomic environment through increased consumer spending and benefit various industries, including retail.
Bellring Brands Inc. (NYSE:BRBR) is a retail company focusing on selling protein-rich products under the Premier Protein, Dymatize, and PowerBar brands. In the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2025, it raked in $59.6 million in net income, or a 16.9 percent decline from the $71.7 million in the same period last year.
Net sales jumped by 16.6 percent to $648.2 million from $555.8 million year-on-year on the back of a 19.2 percent increase in volume and a 2.6 percent decrease in prices.
Last week, Bellring Brands Inc. (NYSE:BRBR) reaffirmed its B1 rating from Moody’s. The latter also gave a stable outlook for the firm, versus positive previously.
Companies rated with a stable outlook indicate a low likelihood of a credit rating change over the medium term.
9. Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM)
Chime Financial rallied for a second day on Wednesday, jumping 9.10 percent to finish at $26.50 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut for the last time this year.
On the same day, the US central bank’s policymakers implemented a 25-basis point rate cut in their last open market committee meeting this year, and investors cheered on optimism that this would bolster consumer spending and higher transaction volumes for Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM).
In other news, Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) announced changes in its leadership management.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mark Troughton has been promoted to the role of president. Janelle Sallenave is the new COO; and Vineet Mehra is the chief growth officer.
According to the company, Troughton, Sallenave, and Mehra have been instrumental in its successful expansion of new products such as MyPay and Chime Card, focus on AI, and continued brand momentum.
“As we continue to scale our business, broaden our product offerings, and strengthen our position as a leading banking brand, I’m proud to recognize the exceptional talent that has brought us this far and will help us seize the opportunities ahead. Mark, Janelle, and Vineet embody Chime’s core spirit—they build outstanding teams that take ownership, move quickly, and drive results every day,” said Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) CEO Chris Britt.
“These promotions speak to Chime’s continued momentum as we deepen our impact on the financial lives of millions of members and build a generational company,” he added.
8. Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:COLD)
Americold Realty rallied for a second day on Wednesday, jumping 10.39 percent to close at $12.43 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by a broader market optimism coupled with its reaffirmation of growth outlook for 2025.
The company mirrored a broader market sentiment fueled by the Federal Reserve’s implementation of a 25-basis-point rate cut for the year.
Additionally, investors took heart from Americold Realty Trust, Inc.’s (NYSE:COLD) reaffirmation of its growth outlook for the full fiscal year of 2025.
At the Nareit REITworld: 2025 Annual Conference, which concluded on Wednesday, Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:COLD) said that warehouse segment same-store revenue growth was expected to drop by 4 percent or remain flat year-on-year. Net operating income was projected to be 50 to 100 basis points lower than associated revenues.
In the third quarter of the year, the company widened its attributable net loss by 207 percent to $11.37 million from $3.7 million in the same period last year.
Total revenues dipped by 1.5 percent to $663.7 million from $674.17 million year-on-year, primarily due to lower volumes in the warehouse segment and a decrease in transportation revenue.
Core EBITDA stood at $148.3 million, lower by 5.66 percent than the $157.2 million year-on-year due to lower volumes in the warehouse segment and an increase in Selling, general, and administrative costs.
7. EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS)
EchoStar extended its winning streak to a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, to hit a new all-time high as investors took path from an investment firm’s rating and price target upgrade for its stock.
At intra-day trading, EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) climbed to its highest price of $105.31 before trimming gains to finish the day just up by 11.16 percent at $103.98 apiece.
In a market note, Morgan Stanley raised its rating for the company to “overweight” from “equal weight” alongside a price target of $110 versus $82 prior. The new figure marks a 4.45 percent upside potential from its latest closing price.
According to the investment firm, EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) stands to benefit from the increasing competition in US wireless carriers.
“Spectrum is an appreciating asset, and we expect both Verizon (VZ) and T-Mobile (TMUS) to be aggressive in pursuing the remaining paired AWS-3 holdings at EchoStar,” it said.
In other news, EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) announced that its subsidiary, Hughes, was chosen as the managed network services provider for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
After an initial four years, the renewed agreement enables Hughes to offer statewide agencies its HughesON portfolio of end-to-end solutions, including managed broadband, Software-Defined Wide Area Network, and Voice over Internet Protocol.
6. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI)
Applied Optoelectronics extended gains for a fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, jumping 15.14 percent to finish at $34.98 apiece after securing its first volume order for its 800G data center transceivers from a major hyperscaler.
“We are pleased to receive our first volume order for our 800G products from this major hyperscale customer,” said Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) Chairman and CEO Thompson Li.
“Our customers need optical solutions that can scale to support the speed and performance required for today’s AI-powered data transmissions, and we believe that AOI is uniquely positioned to meet the demands for high-volume transceiver shipments with our automated production lines that we have spent years developing,” he added.
With the new orders, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) said it remains on track to meet its 800G shipment expectations by year-end, which is expected to contribute $4 million to $8 million in total revenues in the fourth quarter of the year.
“In addition to this progress we are making on 800G, this customer is swiftly ramping its utilization of our 400G transceivers. To date this year, it has placed orders for nearly $22 million worth of 400G transceivers, which includes delivery of $13 million worth of these transceivers so far in Q4,” added Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Stefan Murry.
5. Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLMA)
Olema bounced back on Wednesday to hit a new four-year high as investors took heart from an investment firm’s higher price target for its stock.
At intra-day trading, Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLMA) soared to its highest price of $30.97 before trimming gains to finish the day just up by 15.43 percent at $30.68 apiece.
In a market report, Jefferies raised its price target for the company to $43 from $30 previously, marking a 40 percent upside potential from its latest closing price.
The upgrade reflected the investment firm’s confidence in oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader (SERD), supported by Roche’s encouraging results from the phase 3 trial of giredestrant in the treatment of breast cancer.
Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLMA) is also underway with the clinical trial for its own breast cancer therapy called palazestrant.
According to Jefferies, the strong performance of next-generation oral SERDs as compared with standard endocrine therapy continues to validate the entire drug class, adding that such results would bode well for upcoming first-line treatment trials and potentially reduce risk in a market with an estimated $10 billion revenue opportunity.
4. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
GE Vernova soared to a new all-time high on Wednesday after raising its growth outlook over the next three years and doubling its quarterly dividends.
At intra-day trading, the stock climbed to its highest price of $731 before paring gains to finish the day just up by 15.62 percent at $723 apiece.
During its recently concluded Investor Day, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) raised its revenue growth outlook for 2026 to a range of $41 billion to $42 billion next year, marking a 13.5 percent to 13.9 percent growth from the expected $36 billion to $37 billion outlook for full-year 2025. For 2028, revenues are targeted at $52 billion.
By segment, its electrification business is expected to grow by 20 percent in 2026 and by high teens in 2028, while the power sector is targeted to jump by 16 to 18 percent next year, and further by high-teens in the next three years.
Meanwhile, adjusted EBITDA is pegged to grow at a range of 11 to 13 percent in 2026, to up to 20 percent in 2028.
“At GE Vernova, we are in the early chapters of an incredible value creation opportunity with a stronger financial trajectory ahead,” said GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) CEO Scott Strazik.
“Electric power will be critical to unlocking economic growth in the decades ahead and we are well-positioned with our large installed base and platform of advanced solutions to serve this growing, long-cycle market,” he added.
In line with its upbeat outlook, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) raised its quarterly dividends to $0.50 per share, versus $0.25 at present, beginning next year.
The first round of higher dividends will be paid on February 2, 2026, to all common shareholders as of the January 5, 2026, record.
3. Braze Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE)
Braze climbed by 18.08 percent on Wednesday to close at $36.19 apiece as investors took path from a higher growth outlook, revenue beat, and a higher price target from an investment firm.
In an updated report, Braze Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) said revenues jumped by 25 percent to $190.8 million from $152.05 million in the same period last year, beating its earlier forecast of $183.5 million to $184.5 million by 3 to 4 percent.
Revenues were driven primarily by new customers, upsells, and renewals.
Attributable net loss, however, widened by 29 percent to $36 million from $27.9 million year-on-year.
Looking ahead, Braze Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) expects the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to generate non-GAAP net income of $15 million to $16 million as well as revenues between $197.5 million and $198.5 million.
For the full-year period, the company projects non-GAAP net income of $46 million to $47 million, as well as revenues of $730.5 million to $731.5 million.
Following the earnings results, Braze Inc. (NASDAQ:BRZE) maintained its “outperform” rating from Oppenheimer and earned a higher price target of $40 versus $38 previously. The new figure marked a 10 percent upside potential from its latest closing price.
2. Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY)
Warby Parker soared to nearly hit a four-month high on Wednesday after four straight days of gains, as investors continued to load up portfolios ahead of the official launch of AI glasses in partnership with Google.
In a regulatory filing earlier this week, Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) confirmed that the AI glasses—the first line of intelligent eyewear, which will incorporate multimodal AI with prescription and non-prescription lenses—are officially launching in 2026.
Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) and Google announced the AI glasses partnership in May this year, under which the former would design and develop the product to be integrated with Google’s technology system.
Google also committed to shell out $75 million for product development, alongside an optional $75 million investment in the eyewear-maker, subject to the achievement of certain milestones.
“Since our launch, we’ve set out to transform the optical industry by leveraging pioneering technology to design better products and experiences—and over the past 15 years, we’ve done just that,” said Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:WRBY) co-Founder and co-CEO Dave Gilboa.
“Looking ahead, we believe multimodal AI is perfectly suited for glasses, enabling real-time context and intelligence to augment a wearer’s surroundings as they move through the world. We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Google to bring together the best of AI and the best of eyewear,” he added.
1. Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB)
Photronics surged to an over 25-year high on Wednesday, as investors took heart from an impressive earnings performance in the fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2025.
At intra-day trading, the stock climbed to its highest price of $38.15 before trimming gains to finish the day just up by 45.39 percent at $37.35 apiece, a level it last touched in February 2000.
In an updated report, Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) said attributable net income in the fourth quarter of the year jumped by 82 percent to $61.8 million from only $33.87 million in the same period last year. This brought its attributable net income for the full fiscal year to $136.4 million, higher by 4 percent than the $130.7 million in 2024.
Revenues in the fourth quarter dropped by 3 percent to $215.77 million from $210.39 million, while revenues in the current fiscal period dipped by 2 percent to $849 million from $866.9 million.
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB) expects revenues to be in the range of $217 million to $225 million, as well as diluted earnings per share of $0.51 to $0.59.
While we acknowledge the potential of PLAB 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 PLAB and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge fund investor letters by entering your email below.
