Ten companies kicked off the trading week outperforming Wall Street’s main indices, as investors took path from a flurry of partnerships, positive government policies, and bullish analyst comments, among others.
Meanwhile, only the tech-heavy Nasdaq finished in the green among all three main indices, albeit inching up by only 0.03 percent. The Dow Jones and the S&P 500 were down by 0.08 percent and 0.01 percent, respectively.
In this article, we highlight the names of Monday’s top 10 performers and break down the reasons behind their gains.
To compile the list, we focused exclusively on stocks with $2 billion in market capitalization and at least 5 million shares in trading volume.
Stock market data. Photo by Photo by Alesia Kozik
10. Terawulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF)
Terawulf extended its winning streak to a fourth straight day on Monday to break past a new all-time high as investors cheered an expanded partnership with Google and Fluidstack that could potentially generate the company $16 billion in revenues.
At intra-day trading, Terawulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) soared to as high as $10.71, marking a 19.4-percent increase from its previous close, before paring gains to end the day just up by 4.57 percent at $9.38 apiece.
This followed updated announcements that Fluidstack was expanding its data center at the Lake Mariner campus in Western New York, which was expected to require another 160 MW of critical IT load supply from Terawulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF), on top of the 200 MW initially signed.
Assuming Fluidstack exercises two lease extensions, the contract would help generate $16 billion in total revenues for Terawulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF).
In connection with the increased capacity, technology giant Google also announced intentions to invest $3.2 billion in Terawulf Inc. (NASDAQ:WULF) to support the project, in exchange for warrants to acquire 32.5 million WULF common shares, or a 14-percent pro-forma equity.
“This expansion underscores the unmatched scale and capabilities of the Lake Mariner campus,” said Terawulf CEO Paul Prager.
“We are not only increasing our contracted capacity with Fluidstack, but also further deepening our strategic alignment with Google as a critical financial partner in delivering the next generation of AI infrastructure,” he added.
9. Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL)
Newell Brands rallied for a fifth consecutive day on Monday, jumping 7.51 percent to close at $5.87 apiece as investors continued to gobble up shares ahead of the looming record date for its quarterly dividends.
According to Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL), it is scheduled to pay 7 cents in quarterly dividends to shareholders as of August 29. The dividends will be payable on September 15, 2025.
The dividend declaration followed an improved earnings performance in the second quarter of the year, during which Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) grew its net income by 2.2 percent to $46 million from $45 million in the same period last year. This was despite a 4.8-percent decline in revenues at $1.935 billion versus $2.033 billion year-on-year, dragged by core sales decline, unfavorable foreign exchange, and business exits.
In the first half, net income fell by 75 percent to $9 million from $36 million year-on-year, while revenues decreased by 5 percent to $3.5 billion from $3.69 billion.
Looking ahead, Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) became more optimistic about its business, with net sales now expected to decline by 2-3 percent versus the 2-4 percent previously.
8. Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT)
Riot Platforms bounced back from the previous day’s losses, adding 8.74 percent to close Monday’s trading at $12.32 apiece, as investors continued to place bets on companies benefitting from the booming digital asset industry.
This followed President Donald Trump’s newly issued executive order last week that could attract more investments in cryptocurrencies and related firms, having allowed the retirement plan 401(k) to invest in digital assets.
Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT), a Bitcoin miner, could largely benefit from the new order on expectations of stronger investor interest, with fund managers now able to tap into alternative investment assets outside the typical stocks and bonds.
Additionally, analysts have already expected the new order to lift many boats in the crypto ecosystem.
In recent news, Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) was able to mine 484 Bitcoins last month, marking an 8 percent increase from 450 Bitcoins in June, and a 31 percent growth year-on-year.
Also last month, it was able to generate $54.8 million in revenues from the sale of 475 Bitcoins at an average price of $115,411 each.
7. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) soared by 9.69 percent on Monday to close at $219.33 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by new rules on solar tax credits that went less restrictive than expected.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) rallied alongside its counterparts after the Treasury Department on Friday announced updated rules on solar and wind tax credits that now require companies to have kicked off physical construction before July 5, 2026, to qualify for tax incentives.
This overturned previous guidelines where developers had to spend 5 percent of the total project cost to qualify for credits.
“This test focuses on the nature of the work performed, not the amount or the cost,” said the guidance. “Provided that physical work performed is of a significant nature, there is no fixed minimum amount of work or monetary or percentage threshold required to satisfy the Physical Work Test.”
The tax credits, which form part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will phase out clean energy tax credits for projects placed in service after 2027, but provide an exception for projects that commenced by July 5, 2026, a year after the bill was signed into law.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), one of the major players in the sector, rallied alongside its counterparts following the news.
6. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) grew its share prices by 11.35 percent on Monday to finish at $15.50 apiece as investors welcomed new tax credit rules for solar and wind energy projects that were less restrictive than investors feared.
Instead of spending at least 5 percent of the project cost, updated guidelines issued by the US government last week said that companies must show that they have kicked off physical project construction before July 5, 2026, to qualify for tax credits.
“This test focuses on the nature of the work performed, not the amount or the cost,” said the guidance. “Provided that physical work performed is of a significant nature, there is no fixed minimum amount of work or monetary or percentage threshold required to satisfy the Physical Work Test.”
Previously, developers had to prove that they were able to spend 5 percent or more of the total cost to qualify for the credits.
The tax credits, which form part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will phase out clean energy tax credits for projects placed in service after 2027, but provide an exception for projects that commenced by July 5, 2026, a year after the bill was signed into law.
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN), one of the key players in the solar industry, rallied alongside its counterparts following the news.
5. Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD)
Applied Digital snapped a three-day losing streak on Monday, jumping 15.97 percent to close at $16.34 apiece as investors welcomed its $3 billion data center expansion plans.
In a statement, Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) said it is scheduled to break ground next month for the new Polaris Forge 2 Campus, a data center capable of powering 280 MW of critical IT load capacity.
Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) said the new facility will sit on 900 acres of land, which will include two facilities with capacity for future expansion.
The company said full capacity is expected to be achieved in 2027, with the initial load to come online next year.
“We believe Polaris Forge 2 represents the next stage in Applied Digital’s rapid growth and our position as a leader in delivering high-performance AI infrastructure,” said Applied Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:APLD) CEO Wes Cummins.
”The demand for AI capacity continues to accelerate, and North Dakota continues to be one of the most strategic locations in the country to meet that need. We have strong interest from multiple parties and are in advanced negotiations with a U.S.-based investment-grade hyperscaler for this campus, making it both timely and prudent to proceed with groundbreaking and site development,” he added.
4. Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR)
Cipher Mining soared by 16.12 percent on Monday to close at $6.05 apiece as investors continued to seek path from higher price targets and bullish recommendations from analysts.
On the same day, Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) earned a “buy” recommendation from Zacks Research on the back of growing optimism over its earnings prospects.
Last week, several investment firms also gave higher price targets for the company.
For its part, Macquarie raised its price target to $8 from $6 previously, marking a 32 percent upside potential from its latest closing price. It also assigned an “overweight” rating for the stock.
Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods Inc. gave Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) a new price target of $8, albeit a reduction from the $10 previously, but it remained markedly higher than its closing price on Monday.
Other firms, Needham and Rosenblatt, also posted a bullish stance, giving a “buy” recommendation, with price targets of $8 and $7, respectively.
In the second quarter of the year, Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) saw revenues from Bitcoin mining increase by 18.2 percent to $43.56 million from $36.8 million in the same period last year. However, net loss nearly tripled to $45.78 million from $15.29 million, dragged by a 67.6-percent increase in total costs and operating expenses.
3. iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ)
iQIYI saw its share prices jump by 17.09 percent on Monday to finish at $2.33 apiece as investors gobbled up shares ahead of the release of its earnings performance for the second quarter of the year.
According to the company, it is scheduled to release its financial and operating highlights before market open on Wednesday, August 20. An earnings call will be held on the same day to elaborate on the results.
Investors will be closely watching out for cues of expansion plans, especially after Nikkei reported last week that iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ), alongside Tencent, was looking to roll out original productions in Thailand and Indonesia.
The report said the initiative was aimed at capturing a larger market and catching up with American streaming service rivals such as Netflix, which has already been producing its original series.
iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ), which has 36 million regional subscribers at present, saw its net income attributable to shareholders in the first quarter of the year fall by 72 percent to 182 million yuan from 655 million yuan in the same period last year. Revenues fell by 9 percent to 7.19 billion yuan from 7.93 billion yuan year-on-year.
2. Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN)
Opendoor Technologies extended its rally to a third consecutive day on Monday, adding 19.24 percent to close at $3.78 apiece as investors cheered leadership changes in the company following the resolution of a regulatory hurdle that pushed its stock to the brink of delisting.
Late last week, Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) announced the immediate resignation of CEO Carrie Wheeler, who took over the role in 2022 but failed to reassure investors of the ongoing turnaround efforts. She was temporarily replaced by chief technology officer Shrisha Radhakrishna while a permanent CEO has yet to be named.
“The last weeks of intense outside interest in Opendoor have come at a time when the company needs to stay focused and charging ahead,” Wheeler wrote in a post on X.
“I believe the best thing I can do for Opendoor now is to accelerate my succession plans that I shared with the Board mid-year and make room for new leadership to take the reins,” she added.
Meanwhile, Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) recently regained compliance from the Nasdaq after it notified the company earlier this year of its failure to meet the $1 minimum bid price requirement to stay listed.
The issue was resolved after Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) announced on August 1 that it had successfully traded above the minimum level for 12 consecutive days from July 15 to 30.
In the second quarter of the year, Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) remained at a net loss of $29 million, albeit lower by 68 percent than the $92 million in the same quarter last year.
Revenues inched up by 3.7 percent to $1.567 billion from $1.511 billion in the same comparable period.
1. Dayforce Inc. (NYSE:DAY)
Dayforce surged by 25.98 percent on Monday to finish at $66.62 apiece as investors gobbled up shares following reports that it was set to be acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo for $9.9 billion.
According to a report by Reuters, citing sources privy to the matter, a deal could be announced as early as this week or possibly next week. Meanwhile, Bloomberg said that the deal could still be delayed or fall through.
Thoma Bravo has been actively pursuing software acquisitions this year as part of its plans to take advantage of the booming artificial intelligence.
Earlier this month, Dayforce Inc. (NYSE:DAY) announced an impressive earnings performance in both the second quarter and the first half of the year.
In the quarter period, the company swung to a net income of $21.3 million from a $1.8 million net loss in the same period last year, as total revenues grew 10 percent to $464.7 million from $423.3 million year-on-year.
In the first half, net income soared by 583 percent to $36.2 million from $5.3 million, while revenues jumped by 10.7 percent to $946.5 million from $854.8 million year-on-year.
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