5 Stocks of the Week: Palantir Shatters Expectations, What Investors Need to Know

Each week we’ll bring you five stocks that are on our radar 

In the fast-paced world of investing, staying ahead requires good ideas and timely decisions. This article highlights five stocks worth watching each week for their robust performance, market trends, and growth potential. Discover the stocks that could enhance your portfolio and navigate market fluctuations with confidence.

Technology Stock of the Week: Palantir

I’ve highlighted Palantir as the Technology Stock of the week a few times over the last year for a reason.  The technology industry is making a shift from the development of AI to the use cases for the technology and Palantir is a true leader in that industry.

Last night’s earnings report reflected Palantir’s leadership.  The company beat its earnings per share target by $0.03 and beats revenue guidance.  The company’s management guided its first quarter revenue above consensus and guided fiscal year 2025 revenue above consensus.

Put simply, this was another solid report that displayed the company’s strong business pipeline.

Shares are now trading above $100 for the first time ever after a 23% spike higher after Monday’s report.  The stock is likely to take a short rest at this price level to form a consolidation before it’s next step higher.

With strong technical and fundamentals backed up by negative sentiment, the stock is climbing one of the strongest “Wall of Worries” that this analyst has even seen.

Target Price: $150.

Growth Stock of the Week: Costco

Costco shares posted their first close above $1000 ever this week, opening the stock to a new bullish rally higher.

Shares of Costco made a perfect “buy the dip” move over the last month as the stock dropped from $1,000 to $900.  The 10% drop occurred after the company’s latest earnings report as investors looked to “sell the news” of the positive report and outlook.

Investors were also reacting to the round-numbered resistance that was displayed by the $1,000 price.  Historically, it is normal for a stock or index to exhibit support or resistance at round numbers.  Investors took that opportunity to take profits.

The rally from $900 has been strong and backed by healthy trading volume signaling that the stock is ready for another 15-20% rally over the next 4-6 weeks.

Costco shares now have the additional benefit of having moved above that psychological $1,000 price level which should draw even more buyers to the stock.

The company’s next earnings are coming on March 6.  Expect that the company will post another strong quarter of results along with the high likelihood that investors may see a stock split announcement.

Costco shares maintain a price target of $1,200.

Stock Under $10 of the Week: Kinross Gold

Gold prices are on the rise again as investors look for less volatile hedges for their portfolio.

The latest 2 months of increase rhetoric and volatility has a larger group of investors looking for safe harbor assets including Bitcoin and Gold.  The rush for gold is creating a short-to-intermediate-term trading opportunity in the gold mining companies like Kinross Gold (GOLD).

Shares of Kinross have spent the last two months drawing a technical bottom at $15.50.

Last quarter, the company announced earnings that were slightly better than Wall Street expectations, however investors chose to continue selling KGC shares.

Kinross and other gold miners are dealing with higher margins over the last two years, putting pressure on operating results.  Additionally, the move from Gold to Bitcoin has reduced some demand for gold, through prices remain high.

The recent jump in prices is now benefitting the miners as investors are seeking to buy gold for what is expected to be a mildly rough and volatile 2025.

KGC shares just posted a strong technical move by trading back above their 50-day moving average.

That trendline is in the process of shifting into a bullish trend, which would add bullish momentum to the stock’s daily trading.

The last time that Kinross shares had a 50-day moving average turn bullish was August 2024, ahead of a 27% rally in the stock.

As I always say, don’t invest in the long-term trend of gold miners, instead trade the short-term trend.  Long-term trends in miners just don’t exist.

For now, the bulls are in control of Kinross shares with a target price of $20.

Income Stock of the Week: CME Group

Financial stocks have been catching extra attention over the last two months as expectations rise that the Trump Administration will relax regulation in the industry.  Just last week, the Trump Administration made rule changes at the SEC that will make moving forward with investigations more difficult and slower.

This environment will benefit banks, brokers and exchanges like the CME.

CME Group stock has been slightly outpacing the broader financial industry as trading volume and other activity executed at the exchanges is on the rise.  Sharea are trading 25% higher over the last six months and 22% higher over the last year.

Shares moved to new all-time highs this week as the stock crested above $240 on its way to $250.

The stock is supported by strong technicals from its bullish 50- and 200-day moving averages indicating positive bullish momentum.

CME Group’s earnings are set for next week on February 12.  The company has missed its EPS target just once over the last five years.  That miss was in 2020 as the markets were adjusting to the Pandemic, something that would benefit the CME in the years following.

The stock boasts a 2.1% dividend yield on top of its 25% share growth making the CME a strong “Growth & Income” alternative.

Shares of the CME Group maintain a bullish outlook with a price target of $270.

Bearish Stock of the Week: Apple

Shares of Apple recently dopped below critical technical support on their way to $220 and lower.

Apple shares saw a wild day of trading last week following the company’s latest earnings report.

The company’s report, released on Thursday, beat analyst expectations for earnings per share and showed inline revenue growth of 4% for the year, but investors are worried about where the company is heading.

Recent reports of the iPhone losing its top spot with consumers in China are starting to reflect the company’s lack of innovation, something the company has suffered with for decades.

Apple’s rollout of its AI-enabled phones fell on light demand for the product as consumers are holding off on the purchase of the new, much more expensive phones.  The company had hoped that the holiday gifting cycle would have given sales a boost, but to no avail.  

Shares of Apple have now lost what little post-earnings momentum they had as the stock is heading to a test of its critical 200-day moving average.

That widely watched trendline currently sits at $220 as the last stand between Apple’s current price of $228 and $200.

While shares of Apple do remain in a long-term bull market trend, they should be considered a short-term bearish risk stock with a target price of $200.

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