Benzinga examined the prospects for many investors' favorite stocks over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.

U.S. stocks extended their rally this week, with the Nasdaq 100 posting its strongest four-week gain since 2020 as investor sentiment improved on easing geopolitical tensions and resilient earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all moved higher, supported by a continued rebound in technology shares and declining volatility. The sustained advance marks a sharp turnaround from the earlier oil-driven selloff, as markets increasingly price in a more stable macro backdrop.

Semiconductor stocks were at the center of the rally, with Intel leading gains after strong earnings and renewed confidence in AI-driven demand. The chip sector's momentum helped push major indexes toward record levels, with the broader tech complex regaining leadership after months of uncertainty. The rally in semiconductors also reinforced optimism that corporate investment in AI infrastructure remains intact despite geopolitical and macro headwinds.

Despite the strong momentum, investors remain cautious as markets approach key earnings and economic data in the coming weeks. Analysts note that the durability of the rally will depend on continued earnings strength and stability in global conditions, particularly around energy markets and interest rate expectations. For now, the market's ability to sustain a multi-week advance highlights improving confidence, even as underlying risks have not fully dissipated.

Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.

The Bulls

"UnitedHealth Stock Jumps After Q1 Beat — Here's What Execs Say Drove It," by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) shares rose after the company delivered a strong first-quarter earnings beat, driven primarily by improved medical cost management, better-than-expected reimbursement trends and disciplined operational execution, with executives highlighting a lower medical cost ratio and stronger performance across its UnitedHealthcare insurance segment as key contributors, while also pointing to ongoing investments in AI and efficiency initiatives to sustain margin expansion and support its raised full-year outlook.

"Texas Instruments Tops Q1 Estimates, Strong Guidance Sparks Stock Surge," by Adam Eckert, reports that Texas Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ:TXN) shares surged after the company delivered a strong first-quarter beat with EPS of $1.68 and revenue of $4.83 billion, both exceeding expectations, while issuing upbeat second-quarter guidance of $5.0 billion to $5.4 billion in revenue and $1.77 to $2.05 in EPS, driven by accelerating demand in industrial and data center markets, including AI-related infrastructure, which helped lift investor confidence in a broader semiconductor recovery.

"AEVEX Stock Rockets On IPO Debut: Wall Street's New War Unicorn," by Erica Kollmann, reports that AEVEX Aerospace (NYSE:AVEX) shares surged in their public market debut as strong investor demand for defense and drone technology companies drove the stock sharply higher, with the company raising about $320 million in its IPO and benefiting from heightened global military spending and demand for autonomous systems, positioning it as a major new entrant in the fast-growing unmanned and surveillance technology sector.

For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:

Amazon Stock Jumps On Expanded Deal With Anthropic

MaxLinear Stock Rockets After Q1 Earnings: Here's Why

QuantumScape Stock Pops After Q1 Report: Here's Why

The Bears

"Capital One Misses Q1 Estimates, Stock Drops," by Adam Eckert, reports that Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF) shares fell after the company posted a first-quarter earnings and revenue miss, with adjusted EPS of about $4.42 and revenue of roughly $15.23 billion both coming in below Wall Street expectations, as higher-than-expected provisions for credit losses and ongoing integration costs tied to its Discover acquisition weighed on results and investor sentiment.

"Lululemon Stock Slides After Company Names New CEO," by Adam Eckert, reports that Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) shares fell in after-hours trading following the announcement that longtime Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) executive Heidi O'Neill will take over as CEO effective Sept. 8, 2026, with investors reacting cautiously to the leadership transition period as interim co-CEOs Meghan Frank and André Maestrini remain in place, even as the company expressed confidence in O'Neill's ability to drive product innovation, strengthen brand relevance and accelerate global growth initiatives.

"ServiceNow Stock Tumbles On Q1 Earnings, Company Flags Delayed Deals Due To Middle East Conflict," by Adam Eckert, reports that ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW) shares dropped after the company posted first-quarter results that largely met expectations but highlighted a key headwind from delayed deal closures in the Middle East, with management noting a roughly 75 basis-point drag on subscription revenue growth due to postponed large on-premise contracts tied to ongoing regional conflict, which weighed on investor sentiment despite solid overall performance and continued strength in AI-driven demand.

For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:

The Musk Premium Is Getting Tested — And Tesla's Earnings Call Showed Why

United Airlines Stock Slips As Softer 2026 Outlook Overshadows Q1 Earnings Beat

Why Super Micro Computer Shares Are Falling On Thursday

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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.