So the Fed finally did what everyone’s been begging them to do for months – they cut rates. And surprise, surprise, stocks went up. Who could have seen that coming? (Literally everyone, but let’s pretend we’re shocked.)
While most of us were doom-scrolling through our portfolios wondering if we should have just put our money in a mattress, these four companies decided to have themselves a little party. Here’s who made bank this week:
89Bio: The Biotech That Hit the Lottery
Up 85% – because nothing says “I’m having a good week” like getting bought out by a Swiss pharmaceutical giant. Roche decided 89Bio was worth $3.5 billion, or $14.50 per share. 89Bio develops treatments for liver diseases, which honestly sounds way less exciting than an 85% stock jump, but here we are.
Pro tip: If you’re ever feeling down about your investment choices, just remember that somewhere out there, someone sold 89Bio the day before this announcement.
New Fortress Energy: The Penny Stock That Could
This little energy company jumped 81% after signing a deal to supply natural gas to Puerto Rico. At $2.34 per share, it’s technically a penny stock, but hey – sometimes the underdogs surprise you. They’re in the business of making natural gas and LNG infrastructure less terrible, which apparently is a thing people will pay for.
Just remember: penny stocks are called penny stocks for a reason. This could be the start of something big, or it could be back to penny status next week. Such is life in the wild west of small-cap investing.
Oklo: Nuclear Power Gets Its Moment
Up 58% because nuclear energy is having a moment again. Oklo makes small modular reactors (fancy nuclear plants that don’t take up your entire backyard), and when the US and UK announced they’re buddying up on nuclear development, investors got excited.
Nuclear stocks have been the weird kid in the corner of the energy sector for years, but climate change and energy security concerns are making them cool again. It’s like watching the nerdy kid from high school become a tech billionaire.
Intel: The Comeback Kid
Intel managed to climb 24% this week, making it the S&P 500’s golden child. The secret sauce? Nvidia decided to throw them a $5 billion lifeline and announced they’re teaming up on some projects. It’s like when the popular kid decides to be friends with you – suddenly everyone thinks you’re cool again.
This comes after the US government also decided Intel was worth investing in (to the tune of $8.9 billion). When both your government and your biggest competitor think you’re worth saving, that’s either really good news or really bad news. Time will tell which one it is.
The broader market had a solid week too – the Russell 2000 (small caps) led the charge with a 2.5% gain, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 both posted respectable gains around 1-2%.
Remember: past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, but it sure makes for good dinner party conversation.