Ticker Reports for February 21^st

3 Stocks Poised to Thrive as NVIDIA Dominates the AI Boom

Everyone knows that NVIDIA Co. (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the leader in the technology sector and its race to provide the necessary components for artificial intelligence to grow into what most investors think it could be. However, this doesn’t mean that investors need to only pay attention to NVIDIA but rather zoom out into some of the other less crowded ideas out there.

Moving across the artificial intelligence value chain can be a great start, but of course, we should always keep NVIDIA’s success in mind. Through this, investors can land on areas like components makers that enable NVIDIA to make their industry-leading graphic processing units (GPUs), the companies that focus on data centers relying on these very chips, and even the cloud computing businesses in the market, which can only operate using this sort of technology.

These reasons are exactly why investors should keep an eye on names like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), and even Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) in the coming quarters. This is especially the case if these same investors believe that NVIDIA’s success is far from reaching its full potential, as there might be much more upside in these lateral plays.

Taiwan Semiconductor Stock: Not Done Yet

Even though shares of Taiwan Semiconductor stock already trade within 90% of their 52-week highs, one fundamental driver still pushes for more upside behind this name—one investors should pay attention to in the coming quarters.

Considering that earnings per share (EPS) typically drive stock price performance, investors should note that Wall Street now forecasts up to $2.66 in EPS for Taiwan Semiconductor stock to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Compared to today’s $2.24 EPS, that’s roughly an 18.7% growth rate, which should drive the stock higher.

Knowing that Taiwan Semiconductor stock’s outlook is set for a bullish EPS path ahead, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see analysts from Barclays reiterate a buy rating on the company as of January 2025, this time keeping a $255 per share valuation.

This new target would not only call for a new 52-week high in the stock but also for as much as a 26% upside from where it trades today, giving investors yet another reason to stick around and ride the benefits of this company being one of the main suppliers for NVIDIA’s GPU manufacturing chain.

Data Centers Mix Well With Broadcom

The other aspect that will benefit from the growth of artificial intelligence is data centers, as these are the places where models are trained and developed on massive amounts of data. This mostly requires computing power delivered by NVIDIA chips. This is where Broadcom comes into play for investors to consider.

Being exposed to this area of the market allows the company to carry more tailwinds behind it, and Barclays analysts have also noticed this recently in their ratings.

With an overweight rating on Broadcom, these analysts now see the company valued at a high of $260 per share, which, like their rating for Taiwan Semiconductor, calls for a new 52-week high along with a net upside of as much as 16% from where it trades today.

Understanding that Broadcom’s path in the artificial intelligence race is relatively set, some institutional buyers were willing to take this view for themselves, such as those from the UBS Asset Management group, who boosted their holdings in Broadcom stock by as much as 1.7% over the past quarter.

This new allocation brought their net position to a massive $7.9 billion today, showing investors yet another vote of confidence coming into Broadcom stock.

Cloud Computing Is Google’s Path to Higher Prices

Last but not least, cloud computing should not be forgotten in this race for artificial intelligence development, and this is exactly where Alphabet (Google) comes into play.

By having access to the world’s search trends, text, video, and other forms of data, Google is able to feed artificial intelligence models what they need to compound themselves.

That’s why analysts at Citigroup felt comfortable enough with the story to reiterate a buy rating on the stock while also laying out a valuation target of up to $229 per share. This is not only another new 52-week high for today’s list of winners but also a net upside of as much as 25.5% from today’s stock price.

It would seem that even the bearish traders, calling Google’s valuation overextended, have decided that it’s not worth the fight considering all of the bullish factors building up right now for the company in its artificial intelligence exposure.

Over the past month, Google’s short interest declined by as much as 8.2% to show signs of bearish capitulation.

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As the Magnificent 7 Stalls, These 3 Stocks Are Gaining Momentum

In 2023 and 2024, investors didn’t have to look very far to find the biggest market gains. In fact, investing in one or more of a small group of seven stocks, known as the Magnificent Seven, would have delivered gains of over 160% during that time.

In 2025, technology stocks are doing well enough. The NASDAQ index, largely viewed as the technology index, is up about 8% through February 20. The same can’t be said for the Magnificent Seven stocks, which are up just 1% in that time. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. If you remove Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) from the list, the group’s performance would be significantly worse.

The reasons are becoming familiar to investors: stretched valuations, concerns over how capital expenditures on AI will impact earnings, and the impact of higher interest rates on current borrowing.

But until now, there hasn’t been a clear rotation trade. That may be changing, and it’s time for names that growth investors can buy if you want to move some money out of the Magnificent Seven. Here are three names to consider.

Increased AI Demand Gives This Cloud Stock Room to Grow

F5 Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) provides distributed cloud services, unified security, networking, and application management solutions, as well as application security and delivery solutions. The company’s products allow customers to simplify app development, security, connectivity, and operations.

In the company’s first quarter of 2025, it delivered revenue of $747 million, which was 7% higher year-over-year. The company raised its guidance for both the second quarter and the full year. At the midpoint of its second-quarter guidance, the company expects to deliver revenue growth of 5% and between 6% and 7% for the full year.

Analysts note that artificial intelligence (AI) is not a significant part of the company’s revenue for now. However, that’s expected to change as AI creates a need to move massive amounts of data in an optimal and secure manner.

FFIV stock is up 20.2% in 2025 and 65.1% in the last 12 months. As of February 20, 2025, the stock was trading above its consensus price target and near the top of its 52-week range. Several analysts have given the stock a much higher price target since the earnings report, including Needham & Co., which raised its price target from $285 to $360.

Tapestry Is a Luxury Your Portfolio Can Afford

Retail stocks have performed unevenly as consumers have had to navigate both sticky inflation and higher interest rates. Luxury goods makers such as Tapestry Inc. (NYSE: TPR) are bucking this trend. Tapestry, which is the home of iconic global brands Coach, Kate Spade New York, and Stuart Weitzman, reported first-quarter earnings with revenue up 5% year-over-year. And the company also delivered a record $2.00 in earnings per share, which was also a 23% year-over-year increase.

Millennial and Gen-Z consumers are leaning into themes like ethical craftsmanship, sustainable manufacturing, and transparency. These are areas that complement Tapestry’s mission.

TPR stock is up 32% in 2025 and 84% for the year. And while the stock is trading above its consensus price, analysts have been moving the stock higher since its earnings report with multiple price targets of over $100.

Some of that growth was due to excitement over the company’s potential deal to buy Capri Holdings Ltd (NYSE: CPRI). The $8.5 billion deal was nixed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While the potential of the merger may leave some fashion fans disappointed, it appears that it will work out well for shareholders.

Constellation Energy Is a Long-Term Nuclear Energy Story

Constellation Energy Corp. (NYSE: CEG) is up a whopping 144% in the last 12 months, with a 68% increase in the six months ending February 20. Since when did this boring utility company become so exciting?

The answer is the news that Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) is partnering with Constellation to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. This is part of the nuclear renaissance that’s sweeping through the world as companies look for cost-effective clean energy sources to power the demand that will be needed for AI applications.

There’s good news and bad news for investors. The bad news is that with the price over $300 per share, CEG stock may be overextended. That leaves it susceptible to events like the launch of DeepSeek, which caused shares to plummet approximately 20%. That news also reminded investors that it will take years to reopen Three Mile Island.

However, investors can also see that the dip in CEG stock is getting bought up, which signals underlying conviction in the company. That’s supported by analysts that are raising their price targets above the consensus target.

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Gold’s Ascent: Can Miners and ETFs Take Investors to $3,000?

The gold market is experiencing a period of “Gold Mania,” with record-breaking prices and significant volatility.  This excitement is reflected in the precious metal reaching an all-time high of $2,954.69 per ounce on February 20, 2025. This was the twelfth time in 2025 that gold has broken all-time highs, illustrating the bullish environment within the gold market. This trend impacts not only physical gold but also sector-related investment vehicles. A combination of geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, along with unusual market dynamics, suggests that the gold bull run may continue, presenting opportunities for investors.

Golden Catalysts: Geopolitics, Economics, and Central Banks

Several interconnected forces are combining to create a “perfect storm” for gold prices. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a significant driver of safe-haven demand for gold. Russia’s invasion in 2022 triggered an initial flight to safety, and the continuing instability, coupled with President Trump’s recent statements, is fueling further uncertainty.  These developments underscore the situation’s fragility and reinforce gold’s traditional role as a refuge in times of international crisis.

Economic anxieties are also significantly contributing to gold’s rise. Global inflation concerns are prompting investors to seek assets that can preserve purchasing power. Trump’s proposed policies, including tariffs and potential increases in fiscal spending, are seen as inflationary, further bolstering the case for gold. The US national debt, which has ballooned by $13 trillion since the pandemic, and the accompanying depreciation of the US dollar (down approximately 25% since the pandemic) are also significant factors.

Central banks worldwide have been on a gold-buying spree, providing a strong foundation of support for prices. Since 2009, central banks have been net buyers of gold, and this trend has accelerated dramatically since 2022. China and India, in particular, have been aggressively accumulating gold, with China’s reserves reaching a record $73.5 billion in January 2025 and India’s hitting an all-time high of $70.9 billion in February 2025. This buying is driven by a strategic shift to diversify reserves away from the US dollar and hedge against economic and geopolitical risks.

Signs of Stress in the Gold Market

The current “Gold Mania” is reflected in rising prices and unusual market activity, which suggests increasing demand and potential challenges. A significant premium has developed between COMEX gold futures prices (traded in New York) and London spot gold prices, reaching as high as $40 per ounce before Trump’s inauguration. As of February 20, 2025, COMEX futures were trading $15 per ounce higher than London bullion. This disparity shows a strong demand for gold in the US, potentially driven by concerns about trade policies and a desire to hold gold within US jurisdiction. This price difference is further highlighted by a massive flow of physical gold from Switzerland to the US. In fact, Swiss gold exports to the US in January 2025 reached 192,933 kilograms, the highest in at least 13 years, leading to a 116% increase in gold stockpiles in COMEX-approved warehouses.

The surge in demand and the shift of gold to New York have strained the London market, the traditional hub for physical gold trading. This is shown by a dramatic increase in gold lease rates in London, which indicates a higher cost to borrow gold and is often a sign of limited availability. Reports have also surfaced suggesting potential liquidity issues and a “shortage” of bullion in London, further highlighting the strain on the market.

Mining Stocks and ETFs in the Gold Rally

Gold mining stocks and gold-backed ETFs offer distinct avenues for investors seeking to participate in the gold market, each with its own risk/reward profile.

Barrick Gold: A Leveraged Play

Barrick Gold (NYSE: GOLD) provides leveraged exposure to rising gold prices. As a mining company, its profits are directly tied to the price of gold, and its stock price tends to amplify gold price movements. Barrick’s earnings report for Q4 2024 met consensus estimates, and the company authorized a $1 billion stock buyback program on February 12, 2025.

Analysts have a consensus Moderate Buy rating on GOLD, with an average price target of $23.75, representing a potential upside of over 26%. Barrick’s relatively low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14 suggests financial stability. However, investors should be aware of the inherent risks associated with mining, including operational challenges, geopolitical risks in mining jurisdictions, and sensitivity to operating costs.

Newmont Corporation: Global Diversification

Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) offers another avenue for leveraged exposure to gold. Like Barrick, Newmont’s profitability is closely linked to gold prices, and its stock tends to exhibit amplified price movements. Unlike Barrick Gold, however, Newmont’s earnings for Q4 2024 missed analyst consensus estimates.

Despite the earnings miss, analysts maintain a consensus Moderate Buy rating on Newmont, with an average price target of $53.37, implying a potential upside of over 11%. Newmont’s global diversification, with operations in North and South America, Africa, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, may offer some mitigation of geopolitical risks compared to companies concentrated in fewer regions.

SPDR Gold Trust: Direct and Liquid Exposure

The SPDR Gold Trust ETF (NYSEARCA: GLD) provides the most direct and liquid way for investors to gain exposure to the gold price rally without the complexities of physical gold ownership or the risks associated with mining stocks. The gold trust is designed to track the spot price of gold and holds physical gold bullion in secure vaults.

As of February 20, 2025, the trust was trading at $271.35, with a year-to-date gain of 11.9%. The SPDR Gold Trust is highly liquid, with shares easily bought and sold on major stock exchanges, making it a convenient option for investors of all sizes. It also has a relatively low net expense ratio of 0.40%. The SPDR Gold Trust offers a lower-risk alternative to mining stocks, as it’s directly tied to the gold price, avoiding company-specific risks.

The Gold Rush: Balancing Opportunity and Risk

“Gold Mania” is being driven by a powerful combination of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and central bank buying. While ambitious, the $3,000 per ounce gold price target is certainly within the realm of possibility, given the current market dynamics and analyst projections. However, investors must be mindful of the gold market’s inherent volatility and the potential for short-term corrections, even within a broader bullish trend.