Tech Cools Off, Energy Grids Heat Up, and 5 Stocks That Matter Right Now

Stocks opened the second half of 2025 with mixed signals.

The Dow climbed more than 400 points on Tuesday, boosted by health care and materials, while the Nasdaq pulled back as traders rotated out of tech leaders like Nvidia and Palantir.

The S&P 500 finished slightly lower after hitting another all-time high last week. Wednesday was more of the same.

The shift comes as traders eye the expiration of Trump’s 90-day tariff pause and brace for a busy week of economic data.

Wednesday’s ADP private payrolls report and Thursday’s June jobs report could shape expectations around Fed action, especially as volatility returns to the bond market.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 triggered a technical “golden cross,” with the 50-day moving average crossing above the 200-day.

That pattern has historically indicated longer-term upside, although macroeconomic risk remains.

As attention turns to economic momentum and policy clarity, here are five stocks that stood out in Wednesday’s session.

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GE Vernova | GEV

Price: $505.08

GE Vernova has become one of the year’s best-performing industrials, with shares up around 50 percent year to date. 

While its wind and gas businesses get headlines, the company’s electrification arm is quietly powering a multi-quarter run of double-digit growth.

That segment supports grid upgrades, solar integration, and large-scale transmission projects across North America and Asia.

The demand surge for switchgear, transformers, and software-driven grid control tools continues as governments and utilities modernize legacy infrastructure.

In the first quarter alone, the electrification unit posted 14 percent year-over-year revenue growth.

While valuation remains rich by sector standards, the long-term trend in power infrastructure investment continues to favor GEV.

With momentum shifting from speculation to utility-scale deployment, the stock may stay in focus as clean energy themes evolve.

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Micron Technology | MU

Price: $121.72

Micron has more than doubled since the April lows, driven by AI-related demand and strong fiscal third-quarter results. 

Revenue climbed 37 percent, and gross profit nearly doubled year-over-year as the company focused on its high-bandwidth memory products used in data centers.

DRAM revenue reached a record high, and 55 percent of overall sales now come from the data and networking segments.

Still, the stock dipped slightly after the earnings announcement, as management flagged modest sequential pricing pressure.

However, forward guidance for the fourth quarter calls for 38 percent revenue growth and more than $2 per share in earnings.

At a forward P/E ratio of nearly 16, MU remains attractively priced relative to its chip peers.

The company’s position as the only advanced memory maker based in the U.S., plus a deepening relationship with Nvidia, makes it one of the more strategic AI infrastructure bets for long-term investors.

Costco Wholesale | COST

Price: $982.08

Costco has been consolidating below the one-thousand-dollar mark for several weeks, but analysts remain bullish. 

The company’s fundamentals are consistent, with same-store sales growth, expanding margins, and a 15 percent year-over-year gain in membership revenue.

Gross margin last quarter ticked up to 11.13 percent, and EPS grew 18.8 percent.

Speculation is building around a potential stock split, with management confirming the idea is under review but not yet planned. 

Meanwhile, new initiatives like extended executive hours and standalone fuel stations are aimed at boosting engagement from its most loyal customers.

While shares are off their all-time highs, BMO reiterated its bullish view this week, calling Costco a top pick in retail.

For investors focused on defensiveness and long-term cash flow, COST may continue to be a core portfolio anchor.

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CrowdStrike | CRWD

Price: $496.10

CrowdStrike has surged nearly 50 percent this year, backed by strong earnings, a growing client base, and a rapidly expanding total addressable market in cybersecurity. 

Revenue is rising at a 20 percent clip, and recurring revenue now exceeds $4.4 billion.

Despite last year’s service outage, the company has maintained strong customer relationships and continues to gain market share.

Its Falcon platform, powered by artificial intelligence, remains one of the most effective endpoint protection suites globally.

Investors are also speculating about a potential stock split, which would be the company’s first.

At nearly $500 per share, CRWD is not an inexpensive stock.

However, with growing demand, margin expansion, and a recently announced one billion-dollar share repurchase program, management appears confident in its trajectory. 

Traders may see further upside if momentum in AI-powered cybersecurity remains intact.

MercadoLibre | MELI

Price: $2,472.35

MercadoLibre pulled back more than four percent on Tuesday, but the long-term story is intact. 

The Latin American e-commerce leader has seen its shares rise by more than 45 percent in 2025 and by 52 percent over the past year.

A recent operating profit beat underscored the company’s ability to scale while managing credit and lending risk.

Advertising revenue continues to expand as a percentage of GMV, while fintech offerings remain a key growth area across Brazil and Mexico.

Analysts also highlight MELI’s focus on disciplined credit issuance, with tighter controls on lending profiles and card issuance.

With earnings set to accelerate into 2026 and analysts lifting price targets near $3,000 per share, MELI could remain a key international growth name. 

Volatility may persist, but the combination of scale, profitability, and fintech tailwinds keeps the stock on many watchlists.

The second half of the year began with a sector rotation and a breather for high-flying tech stocks. 

Yet the emergence of a golden cross on the S&P 500 and a wave of bullish technical signals suggest that investors are still leaning toward risk assets, especially as hopes grow for easing trade tensions and supportive economic data.

In this kind of environment, stock picking matters.

Energy infrastructure, cybersecurity, retail, and AI semiconductors are all sectors showing strength beneath the surface.

With volatility expected around upcoming jobs reports and tariff headlines, staying nimble and focused on quality names may continue to be the best approach.