On CNBC’s “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Malcolm Ethridge, managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group, picked Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)

Netflix shares gained on Thursday after billionaire investor Bill Ackman returned to the streaming giant with a multimillion-share stake, delivering a high-profile vote of confidence as broader markets trade in risk-on mode. Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management disclosed a 3.15 million-share Netflix position, representing 4.9% of its portfolio.

Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, chief executive officer of Gilman Hill Asset Management, LLC, named Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) as her final trade.

Shares of Cisco tumbled on Thursday after the company reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Cisco reported fourth-quarter revenue of $17.25 billion, beating analyst estimates of $16.82 billion, according to Benzinga Pro. The networking equipment company reported adjusted earnings of $1.22 per share for the quarter, beating analyst estimates of $1.17 per share.

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Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist, head of investment solutions and equity portfolio manager at Hightower Advisors, recommended Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP).

Lending support to her choice, Union Pacific, on July 23, reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results. Adjusted diluted EPS of $3.41 topped the $3.24 estimate, while operating revenue rose 12% to $6.864 billion, beating the $6.713 billion estimate.

Joshua Brown, co-founder and CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, picked CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD).

Supporting his view, Citizens analyst Rustam Kanga, on Aug. 12, maintained CrowdStrike with a Market Outperform and raised the price target from $195 to $230.

Price Action:

  • Netflix shares gained 5.4% to close at $78.24 on Thursday.
  • Cisco shares dipped 8.4% to settle at $113.47 during the session.
  • Union Pacific shares rose 1.4% to close at $297.79 on Thursday.
  • CrowdStrike shares gained 1.7% to settle at $225.53 during the session.

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