Alphabet ’s shares are up nearly 70% this year, hitting a record high this week — even Berkshire Hathaway has taken a stake.The past 12 months’ surge will be hard to replicate, but solid business fundamentals could still drive the stock higher. The question now is: what should investors do with this stock?Alphabet’s AI Chips and Gemini Model Position It as a Serious Nvidia RivalA powerful rally in Alphabet shares is reshaping the league table of the world’s most valuable companies, as signs emerge that the search giant is gaining real traction in its bid to challenge Nvidia Corp.’s dominance in AI accelerators.Reports that Meta is in talks to purchase billions of dollars’ worth of Alphabet’s specialized AI chips have fueled speculation that Google’s parent may soon erode Nvidia’s commandin

Circle has emerged as one of the standout players in the current cryptocurrency boom—specifically within the fast-growing stablecoin sector. The company made its public debut in June, pricing its IPO at $31 per share. Shares opened at $69 on the New York Stock Exchange and surged in the days that followed, hitting a high of $299 on June 23.But the momentum didn’t last. Circle is now navigating a series of challenges. Competition in the stablecoin market is intensifying, and its core revenue model is threatened by falling interest rates, which directly weaken returns on reserve investments. Meanwhile, its biggest rival — Tether, whose profitability and valuation dwarf Circle’s — is moving back into the U.S. market, posing a major threat on Circle’s home turf.Circle’s stock had slipped back

Despite better-than-expected third-quarter results, shares of AI giant $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ fell 11% on October 30, triggered by a $15.93 billion one-time tax expense disclosed during its earnings call. This came even as both revenue and earnings per share surpassed market expectations. Following the announcement, Meta’s stock plunged over 20%, though it is now showing initial signs of bottoming out.When a high-quality, fundamentally strong company experiences a sharp sell-off driven by market overreaction, it often creates an attractive trading opportunity. In such situations, options strategies can serve as valuable tools for positioning effectively in the market.Recent Negative Developments Weighing on Meta“Big Short” Investor Michael B

US-listed AI storage stocks have been booming recently, with $SanDisk Corp(SNDK)$, the world's largest supplier of flash memory data storage products, rising over 11% on Monday to a new high. Its year-to-date gain has reached 664%.Multiple media outlets reported that SanDisk significantly raised its NAND flash memory contract prices this month, with increases as high as 50%. This highlights the tight supply in the memory market due to continued demand from AI data centers and wafer supply constraints.Goldman Sachs has doubled SanDisk's target price from $140 to $280 and maintains a "Buy" rating, believing that the NAND flash memory market will continue to experience a supply-demand imbalance until 2026, and the pricing power and profit margin expl

JPMorgan analysts who cover $Amazon(AMZN)$ and $Meta(META)$ are optimistic on the results these two hyperscalers will report this week, and Bram Kaplan, head of America equity derivatives strategy, has mapped out a similar approach to position for upside in both stocks.Amazon is JPMorgan’s top pick among internet stocks for this earnings season, and both the Jassy-led and Zuckerberg-led companies are rated as “overweight” by the bank, in part because of tax benefits thanks to the OBBBA. The former reports on Thursday after the close, while the latter is slated to deliver results on Wednesday postmarket.Kaplan’s tactic is to position for strength — but not too much strength — from both stocks as investors

$Applied Digital(APLD)$ is poised to report 1Q fiscal 2026 earnings after the market closes on Oct 9. Analysts expect APLD to report an earnings per share (EPS) loss of $0.13, slightly narrower than the $0.15 loss reported in the same quarter last year. Revenue is projected to come in at $46.09 million, reflecting a significant 24.1% year-over-year decrease.Option traders are pricing in a potential move of 14% in either direction following the earnings release. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddles and strangles.APLD Soars 266% YTD as AI Data Center ExpansionApplied Digital's stock is currently trading around $28.11 ahead of earnings, shares have gained 266% since the start of the year. The bullish sentiment surroundi

Alibaba rose over 8% to $176.44 on Wednesday, its highest level since August 2021. The rally was fueled by solid business growth, strategic advances, and improving market confidence. For traders already holding Alibaba shares and are relatively neutral to short-term price movements, a covered call can help protect the position while generating income.Alibaba to Open New Data Centres; Unveils Most Powerful AI ModelAlibaba said on Wednesday it plans to open its first data centres in Brazil, France and Netherlands as it accelerates its global strategy for artificial intelligence. The expansion comes as Alibaba positions AI, which includes cloud, as a core business priority alongside its traditional e-commerce operations.Alibaba also unveiled its largest ever artificial intelligence language m

$Novo Nordisk(NVO)$ continues to make headlines as the World Health Organization backs weight-loss drugs for obesity and the EU clears its oral semaglutide for cardiovascular risk reduction.These milestones highlight the company’s growing dominance in the GLP-1 market, positioning it for sustained growth in both obesity and diabetes care.Long-term call options offer an attractive way to capture NVO’s upside. Whether deep-in-the-money or out-of-the-money, these strategies let investors participate in Novo Nordisk’s growth with defined risk and significantly lower capital outlay than buying shares outright.WHO Backs Weight-Loss Drugs for ObesityThe World Health Organization will recommend using weight-loss drugs to treat obesity in adults, according

PDD Holdings’ strong earnings and Temu’s aggressive U.S. push highlight its growth potential, but options activity tells the bigger story. With bullish call interest and favorable implied volatility, traders see limited downside risk. A put-selling strategy offers investors attractive income while positioning for long-term revaluation upside.PDD's Profitability Make Shares AttractivePDD Holdings reported better-than-expected earnings for its second quarter, despite headwinds in the company’s core business such as tariff headwinds and increasing competition in the Chinese e-commerce market. China and the U.S. agreed on a trade framework in June that lowered tariffs temporarily, and, in the long term, I also believe that the U.S. and China are going to resolve their trade differences in a mu

Design software company $Figma(FIG)$ will release its first earnings report after the U.S. market closes on Wednesday, September 3 (ET). Consessus expects 2Q revenue of $248.71 million, up more than 40% from last year. Adjusted earnings per share could be 8 cents.Option traders are pricing in a potential move of 10% in either direction following the earnings release. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddle.The stock made a spectacular debut on the NYSE on July 31, surging 250% to close at $115 and valuing the company at $56.3 billion. The next day, shares spiked to an intraday high of $142.92, marking the most valuable U.S. software IPO since 2021. Since then, however, the stock has lost half its value, closing at $65.57

UnitedHealth stock surged past $300 after filings revealed major investments including Warren Buffett, David Tepper and Michael Burry are piling in. Open interests for UNH signal traders are betting on sustained upside despite recent volatility in the health insurer.UnitedHealth Tops $300 as Warren Buffett, Michael Burry Pile Into Battered StockUnitedHealth Group soared 12% last Friday to $304, following regulatory filings that showed Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Michael Burry’s Scion Asset Management each made large new investments in the health insurer during the second quarter.Berkshire purchased more than 5 million shares at an eatimated average price of $411 as of June 30, as shown in the filing. Source: WhalewisdomMeanwhile, Burry’s Scion Asset Management disclosed a

Sea Ltd is poised to report earnings before the market opens on Aug 12. Consessus expects 2Q revenue to surge 32%, GAAP net income is expected to be 435.36 million, or 0.75 per share, which represents a 436% increase year-over-year.Option traders are pricing in a potential move of 11% in either direction following the earnings release. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddles and strangles.Sea May Hit Sixfold Earnings as All Segments DeliverSea's earnings could grow more than 400% in 2Q25 year over year, underpinned by a surge in profits at Shopee. Sea's GMV was likely close to 1Q's $28.6 billion, implying 23% yearly growth. Its take rate could expand from stronger ad monetization, higher adoption of owned logistics, and increased commissions.Monee gains from ris

Pinterest is poised to report Q2 earnings Aug 7, expecting $975.6M revenue and $0.36 EPS, up 14.3% YoY but slower than last year’s 20.6% growth. Intense competition from Meta, Google, and Snap threatens Pinterest's ad-tech edge, while 90% ad-revenue dependence exposes it to macroeconomic shifts. Option traders are pricing in a potential move of 10.5% in either direction following the earnings release. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddles and strangles.Things to Watch in Pinterest’s Q2 EarningsPinterest faces a crowded battlefield. $Meta(META)$, $Google(GOOGL)$, and $Snap(SNAP)$ are all investing heavily in AI-driven recommendation

Mobile app advertising platform $AppLovin(APP)$ will be reporting results after market hours on Wednesday. Option traders are pricing in a potential move of 15.5% in either direction following the earnings release. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddles and strangles.Things to Watch in AppLovin’s Q2 EarningsThis quarter, analysts are expecting AppLovin’s revenue to grow 18% year on year to $1.27 billion, slowing from the 44% increase it recorded in the same quarter last year. Adjusted earnings are expected to come in at $2.32 per share.However, don't panic about the apparent decline in revenue growth, as the Apps business (which represented around 32% of total revenue in FY 2024 and 22% in Q1 2025) is no longer consider

SMCI is set to report for its fiscal Q4 FY2025 after the market closes on August 5th. Based on consensus estimates, revenues are likely to grow by about 13% year-over-year to $6.01 billion, while earnings are likely to come in at about $0.44 per share, down marginally compared to last year.SMCI's recent margin pressures and Q3 reset have set a low bar for Q4, creating a high probability for a double-beat on revenue and EPS.Super Micro's Q4 Guidance Target Within Reach, Revisits 2026 ViewNvidia's Blackwell GPU ramp-up and a strengthening neo-cloud Al infrastructure build-out may lead to better sales execution for Super Micro, which could put 4Q sales at least in line with guidance of $6 billion. Nvidia's GB200 rollout should improve near-term deal visibility, while the expected 2H launch of

Palantir will release its second-quarter earnings after the market closes on Monday, Aug. 4. A consensus estimate calls for adjusted earnings per share of $0.14 on revenue of $939.29M. If this EPS is met by Palantir, it would mean 53.83% EPS growth year-over-year. Investors may consider defined-risk spread strategies like bull call/put spreads.Palantir Remains "Al Secular Winner"Palantir is heading into its second-quarter earnings with strong momentum. The company’s management has guided Q2 revenue between $934 million and $938 million, representing roughly 38% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. However, based on its recent performance trends and growing demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), there’s reason to believe Palantir might once again exceed its projections.Pip

UnitedHealth, one of the prominent players in the health insurance space, is scheduled to announce its second-quarter earnings on July 29. The stock has dropped 43.8% year-to-date, hit by several issues, including the suspension of its guidance, escalating medical costs, and a leadership shakeup that included the sudden departure of its CEO, Andrew Witty. Wall Street analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $4.48, representing a 34% decrease year-over-year. Meanwhile, revenues are expected to increase by 13% from the year-ago quarter to $111.5 billion.Recent News Ahead of Q2On July 24, UnitedHealth Group revealed in an SEC filing that it is under formal investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over its Medicare billing practices. The company said it is coope

Intel is expected to post its sixth straight net loss and falling revenue, with cautious guidance for Q3. Investors will focus on roadmap updates, cost cuts, and signs of margin stability. Investors may consider high-volatility options plays like straddles and strangles.Intel’s Tariff Overhang, Foundry Progress in FocusIntel is set to report its sixth consecutive net loss after the market closes on Thursday, while revenue is expected to drop for a fifth straight quarter. Intel is expected to report a net loss of about $1.22 billion for the April-June quarter, while its sales are expected to drop more than 6% to $11.88 billion, according to Bloomberg's unanimous expectations. Last year was Intel's first unprofitable year since 1986.Intel may keep a conservative view for its 3Q outlook, as t

Options market is telling us that "complacency" and "optimism" are setting in with Nvidia shareholders. That is hardly a surprise. Those states of positive attitude can last for awhile, but when they begin to wane, it would be time to consider protective put strategies or sell covered calls.Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Sells $49 Mln in Shares in JulyJensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, filed a report last Friday stating that he sold 75,000 shares of the firm, which is worth around $12.94 million. He can progressively sell up to 6 million shares as part of a planned strategy that includes this transaction.Just earlier this month, he offloaded 225,000 shares for roughly $37 million. That brings his total stock sales in July to over $49 million.The timing lines up with Nvidia’s incredible momentum in