As we bid farewell to August and welcome the month of September, often regarded as the worst month for stocks, investors found solace in a strong finish to the week. The S&P 500, despite historical trends, experienced a positive trend, providing hope for the market.
Notable Performances in the Stock Market
One standout stock was Nvidia (NVDA), which had an impressive week, reaching new heights. The chip maker’s stock climbed by 5.4% to 485.09, culminating in a record closing high of $493.55 on Thursday. Although it encountered a minor setback in the days following its highly anticipated earnings report on August 23, normalcy resumed as the stock continued its upward trajectory. Year-to-date, Nvidia’s stock has surged by 232%, and analysts believe this momentum will persist. According to FactSet data, the average price target for the stock is $645.29, indicating a potential 31% upside from Friday’s closing price.
Accompanying the success of Nvidia were other members of the sought-after ‘Magnificent 7.’ Apple (AAPL) soared by 6.1% during the week, while Netflix (NFLX) experienced a healthy jump of 5.7%. Google’s Alphabet (GOOGL) also fared well, with a 4.5% increase. Additionally, Meta Platforms (META) gained 3.8%, and both Amazon (AMZN) and Tesla (TSLA) stocks rose by 3.6% and 2.7%, respectively.
The Resurgence of Chip Stocks
Chip stocks, in general, demonstrated substantial growth throughout the week. Micron Technology (MU) witnessed an impressive surge of 10.5%, while Intel Corp (INTC) experienced a notable rise of 10.1%. Western Digital (WDC), a disk-drive and flash-memory chip company, emerged as the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 with a remarkable increase of 16.4%. Not far behind was Seagate Technology (STX), a data storage company, which saw its stock jump by 14.4%.
Challenges Faced by Retailers
While some sectors thrived, retailers faced a difficult week, especially those operating in the discount market. Dollar General (DG) encountered the sharpest decline, plummeting by 16% after disappointing earnings and a subsequent guidance cut. Dollar Tree also saw a decline of 3.7%. Walgreens Boots Alliance stood as the second-worst performer, with its stock dropping by 7.2%, accompanied by the announcement of CEO Rosalind Brewer’s resignation.
In conclusion, August concluded on a positive note, defying historical tendencies. Although September may carry its own challenges, investors remain optimistic, particularly in light of the remarkable performances of notable stocks and the resurgence of the chip industry.