Stock Markets February 9, 2026

Big Cap Winners and Losers: Oracle, Palantir Rally as Merck and Others Slip

A broad cross-section of tech, healthcare and industrial names moved sharply in Monday trading as analyst actions and company news drove big swings

By Hana Yamamoto ORCL PLTR GEV AMD NVDA
Big Cap Winners and Losers: Oracle, Palantir Rally as Merck and Others Slip
ORCL PLTR GEV AMD NVDA

Stocks across market-cap tiers showed wide dispersion on Monday, with several large-cap technology names climbing after analyst upgrades and AI-related optimism, while pharmaceutical and industrial names registered declines. Mid- and small-cap issues produced some of the most extreme moves, both up and down, driven by earnings surprises, guidance reactions and fresh analyst coverage or corporate announcements.

Key Points

  • Analyst upgrades and AI-related news supported gains in several large-cap technology stocks, including Oracle and Palantir.
  • Earnings misses and disappointing guidance drove heavy losses for some mid-cap and small-cap companies, notably Kyndryl and Waters Corp.
  • Corporate announcements and fresh analyst coverage influenced mid- and small-cap movements, with multiple initiation of coverage and R&D expansion news cited.

Market snapshot

Monday's session produced a mixed picture for equities, featuring notable rallies among software and AI-exposed names alongside steep drops for several companies following earnings misses or weak guidance. Below is a categorized roundup of the session's largest stock movers by market-cap grouping, with the specific drivers cited where available.


Mega-cap movers (Market Cap: $200 billion USD or higher)

  • Oracle Corp (ORCL): +10.5% - DA Davidson upgraded the stock to Buy, citing an OpenAI outlook.
  • Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR): +6.2%.
  • GE Vernova LLC (GEV): +4.17%.
  • Adv Micro Device (AMD): +3.9%.
  • Nvidia Corp (NVDA): +2.87% - CNBC reported ChatGPT is exceeding 10% monthly growth.
  • Microsoft Corp (MSFT): +2.98% - CNBC reported ChatGPT is exceeding 10% monthly growth.
  • Facebook Inc (META): +2.85%.
  • Avago Technologies (AVGO): +4.35%.
  • Merck & Co (MRK): -3.99%.
  • Amgen Inc (AMGN): -2.41%.

Large-cap movers (Market Cap: $10-$200 billion USD)

  • Amark Preci (GOLD): +17.51%.
  • Applovin (APP): +14.65%.
  • Ubiquiti Networks (UI): +11.74%.
  • Unity Software Inc (U): +11.77%.
  • Roblox Corp (RBLX): +11.14% - Roth/MKM upgraded Roblox to Buy on a strong bookings outlook.
  • Credo Technology Holding (CRDO): +10.0%.
  • Astera Labs (ALAB): +9.91% - Astera Labs established a new R&D center in Israel for AI connectivity.
  • Iris Energy (IREN): +9.91%.
  • Dynatrace Holdings LLC (DT): +7.86%.
  • Waters Corp (WAT): -12.58% - shares fell more than 3% as Q1 guidance disappointed investors.

Mid-cap movers (Market Cap: $2-$10 billion USD)

  • Kyndryl Holdings (KD): -54.49% - Kyndryl plunged after its third quarter earnings missed expectations.
  • Valspar Corp (VAL): +33.89%.
  • Monday (MNDY): -22.64%.
  • Oaktree Acquisition Corp (HIMS): -17.59%.
  • Cleveland Cliffs (CLF): -16.63%.
  • Ikonics Corp (WULF): +14.59% - Morgan Stanley initiated TeraWulf stock with an Overweight rating and a $37 target.
  • Bullish Inc (BLSH): +15.44%.
  • Good Works Acquisition (CIFR): +13.68% - Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Cipher Mining stock with an Overweight rating.
  • Inflection Point Acquisition (LUNR): +12.67%.
  • ViaSat (VSAT): +11.74%.

Small-cap movers (Market Cap: $300 million - $2 billion USD)

  • Junee (SUPX): +23.25%.
  • Once Upon a Farm Inc (OFRM): +18.77%.
  • AXT Inc (AXTI): +16.17%.
  • IPSCO Tubulars Inc (IPSC): +15.29%.
  • InterPrivate Acquisition (AEVA): +13.95%.
  • Neumora Therapeutics (NMRA): +13.44%.
  • Thunder Bridge Capital Partners IV (CNCK): +14.41%.
  • EJF Acquisition (PGY): -21.73% - Pagaya shares tumbled despite a Q4 earnings beat.
  • VenHub Global (VHUB): -26.5% - the company appointed a new EVP to accelerate autonomous retail tech.
  • Polaryx Therapeutics Inc (PLYX): -32.88%.

Takeaway

The session highlighted how analyst actions, corporate developments and earnings or guidance outcomes can produce sharp stock-price reactions across market-cap segments. Technology and AI-related optimism supported several large-cap rallies, while company-specific setbacks prompted steep declines among mid- and small-cap names.

Risks

  • Earnings misses can trigger sharp sell-offs - exemplified by Kyndryl's plunge after missing third quarter expectations (impacts technology services and IT outsourcing sectors).
  • Disappointing guidance can weigh on investor sentiment - as seen with Waters Corp dropping following weaker Q1 guidance (impacts scientific instruments and industrials sectors).
  • Significant volatility in smaller-cap names may follow company-specific developments or structural changes - illustrated by steep declines at Polaryx Therapeutics and VenHub Global (impacts biotech and retail tech sectors).

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