Ten stocks boasted whopping gains on Wednesday, dominated by technology companies, as investor funds flocked to AI shares on stronger optimism for the industry.
In contrast, the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 lagged performance, ending down 0.25 percent and flat, respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was the sole gainer, rising 0.31 percent.
In this list, we name Wednesday’s 10 top performers and detail the reasons behind their gains.
To come up with the list, we considered only the stocks with at least $2 billion in market capitalization and over 5 million shares in trading volume.
10. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
NVIDIA Corp. saw its share prices rally to a new all-time high on Wednesday after earning a whopping $250 price target from an investment firm.
At intraday trading, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) jumped to its highest price of $154.45 before paring gains to end the day at $154.31 after Loop Capital raised its price target by 47 percent to $250 from $170 previously, while maintaining a “buy” recommendation on its stock.
According to Loop Capital, the “math just works” for NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), adding that the market is entering the next golden wave of generative AI.
Additionally, growth prospects are further supported by an expected higher spending on generative AI by hyperscalers, namely Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, which could hit $2 trillion by 2028.
If NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) maintains its leadership in supplying AI chips and systems, Loop Capital expects the company to nearly double its market capitalization to $6 trillion from $3.6 trillion currently.
9. CleanSpark, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK)
CleanSpark grew its share prices for a second day on Wednesday, jumping 5.58 percent to close at $10.6 apiece after maintaining a “buy” recommendation on its stock, buoyed by a significant milestone in its Bitcoin production.
On Tuesday, CleanSpark, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK) announced that it achieved its mid-year target of 50 exahashes per second (EH/s) of operational hashrate, becoming one of the few mining companies to reach such a threshold.
According to CleanSpark, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK) President and CEO Zach Bradford, the achievement “reflects years of focused strategy, disciplined execution, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way.”
Following the news, HC Wainwright maintained CleanSpark, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK) as its “top pick” in the Bitcoin mining sector in 2025, citing expectations for more bullish estimate revisions, higher Bitcoin prices in the remainder of the year, and multiple expansion on its stock, especially with its price currently at a 35-percent discount compared with companies with the same market capitalization.
8. Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR)
Coherent Corp. rallied by 5.77 percent on Wednesday to finish at $85.63 apiece, echoing the rally in stocks riding the Artificial Intelligence boom following technology giant Nvidia Corp.’s surge to a new all-time high.
Being one of the enablers and benchmark setters of the AI industry, Nvidia Corp.’s rally spilled over to stocks riding the AI wave, such as data centers and quantum computers, among others.
Additionally, optimism for Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) was further supported by investment firm Raymond James’ “strong buy” recommendation for its stock last week, with a 5.5 percent higher price of $96 versus $91.
According to Raymond James, the bullish rating reflected its long-term growth targets that surpassed the broader market’s expectations.
In its annual shareholders’ meeting recently, Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) outlined its targets, including a gross margin higher than 42 percent and an operating margin above 24 percent, indicating that by 2028, the company could achieve an EPS of around $8-9, which will be a substantial increase from forecasts of under $4 in fiscal 2025.
7. Mirion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:MIR)
Mirion Technologies rallied to a new all-time high on Wednesday as investor sentiment was buoyed by its partnership with a global nuclear power company for the supply of Nuclear Instrumentation Systems (NIS).
Under the agreement, Westinghouse Electric Company and Mirion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:MIR) will collaborate to provide advanced digital Excore Nuclear Instrumentation Systems (NIS), leveraging the Mirion proTK product line to upgrade aging NIS in operating nuclear power plants.
According to Mirion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:MIR), the Mirion proTK product line represents an advanced and reliable Ex-core neutron flux measurement solution to replace the outdated equipment that can be costly and labor-intensive to maintain.
The upgrade will be offered exclusively through Westinghouse for both Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering-designed PWRs worldwide.
“We are committed to advancing the nuclear industry through proven radiation safety technologies and expertise, and this partnership with Westinghouse underscores the importance of digital innovation,” said Mirion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:MIR) President Loic Eloy.
6. Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI)
Super Micro Computer jumped by 8.8 percent on Wednesday to close at $46.61 apiece, in line with the rally in stocks riding the AI wave, following technology giant Nvidia Corp.’s surge to a new all-time high.
As one of the enablers and benchmark setters in the AI industry, Nvidia Corp.’s rally spilled over to stocks riding the AI wave, including data centers and quantum computers, among others.
In other news, Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) announced plans to raise $2 billion in fresh funds through the issuance of convertible senior notes.
Under the terms, the notes will have a tenor of 5 years and will not bear regular interest, and the principal amount will not accrete. It will only be offered to qualified institutional buyers.
The company also grants an option to the initial purchasers to purchase up to an additional $300 million aggregate principal amount within a 13-day period from and including the date the convertible notes are first issued.
The notes will mature on June 15, 2030, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased, or converted.
According to Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI), proceeds from the offer will be used to fund the cost of entering into the capped call transactions, while $200 million will be allocated for a share buyback program. The remainder will be used for general corporate purposes, including to fund working capital for growth and business expansion.
5. Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM)
Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM) rebounded by 8.93 percent on Wednesday to end at $31.59 apiece, in line with the rally in the financial services sector amid the broader industry’s growing optimism and adoption of digital currencies.
This followed the passage of the Stablecoins bill in the Senate last week. Also called the GENIUS Act, it aims to regulate the framework for digital currencies and bolster their adoption and wider use.
Stablecoins are a type of digital currency designed to maintain a 1:1 ratio with the US dollar and are widely used by cryptocurrency traders to move funds between tokens.
Last week, financial technology companies, including Chime Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHYM), earned a beating from the bill’s passage as investors feared that the wider adoption of Stablecoins would pose a threat to traditional payment providers’ profit margins and heighten competition in the industry.
Various financial services companies have recently announced making a foray into the digital currency industry to keep up with the reshaping payments landscape.
4. BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB)
BlackBerry grew its share prices for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, jumping 12.47 percent to close at $4.87 apiece following its earnings performance and positive outlook for the fiscal year of 2026.
In its financial statement, BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) said it swung to a net income of $1.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, reversing a net loss of $41.4 million in the same period last year.
Revenues, however, dipped by 1.38 percent to $121.7 million from $123.4 million year-on-year.
For the second quarter alone, the company expects to book between $115 million and $125 million in revenues, as well as $508 million to $538 million in revenues in the full fiscal year period.
“BlackBerry made a strong start to the new fiscal year, building on the solid foundation we as a company have laid over the past year,” said BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) CEO John Giamatteo.
“Both our QNX and Secure Communications divisions continue to execute effectively against their strategies, beating both top line and profitability expectations.”
3. TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC)
TMC jumped by 13.31 percent on Wednesday to end at $7.49 apiece after earning a bullish rating from an investment firm.
In its market note, Wedbush upgraded TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) to “outperform” from “neutral” and raised its price target to $11 from $6 previously. The new price target represented a 49 percent upside from its latest closing price.
According to Wedbush, the upgrade was based on a stronger US government from President Donald Trump’s executive order in April, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” which could allow TMC the metals company Inc. (NASDAQ:TMC) to bypass the UN-affiliated International Seabed Authority and ramp up production in the Clarion Clipperton Zone.
“TMC is well-positioned to emerge as a critical enabler of US supply chain independence through increased urgency from intensifying trade tensions with China, particularly around rare earths and critical minerals,” it said.
2. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)
AeroVironment surged by 21.55 percent on Wednesday to end at $234.94 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by its impressive earnings performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.
In its financial statement, AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) said its net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 more than doubled to $16.664 million from $6.046 million in the same period last year. Full-year net income, however, declined by 27 percent to $43.6 million from $59.67 million year-on-year, primarily due to the impact of non-cash UGV goodwill impairment charges of $18.4 million.
Revenues for the quarter surged by 39 percent to $275 million from $196.98 million on account of higher product sales of $77.6 million, while revenues for the full-year period increased by 14.5 percent to $820.6 million from $716.7 million year-on-year.
1. QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS)
QuantumScape jumped by 30.95 percent on Wednesday to close at $5.67 apiece after achieving an important milestone in its baseline cell production capabilities with the integration of the advanced Cobra separator process.
According to QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS), Cobra forms the foundation of its high-throughput, continuous-flow separator production platform with its ability to offer 25x improvement in heat treatment speed. It is designed to enable faster, more energy-efficient production with a smaller equipment footprint compared with earlier processes.
“By significantly improving throughput and shrinking the equipment footprint, Cobra gives us a powerful path forward for commercializing our next-generation battery technology,” said QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS) CEO Siva Sivaram.
For his part, QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS) co-founder and CTO Tim Holme said that the advancement is crucial to bringing the company’s high-performance solid-state battery platform to market at gigawatt scale.
While we acknowledge the potential of QS 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 QS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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