Stock Markets March 2, 2026

Market Movers: Palantir, RTX Advance While AeroVironment and AES Slip

A cross-capitalization snapshot shows technology and semiconductor names rising as select defense and energy stocks decline amid program and corporate-deal developments

By Jordan Park PLTR RTX NVDA ORCL LLY
Market Movers: Palantir, RTX Advance While AeroVironment and AES Slip
PLTR RTX NVDA ORCL LLY

Stocks across market-cap segments displayed notable intraday volatility on Monday. Mega-cap technology names such as Palantir Technologies and Nvidia posted gains, while several large- and small-cap names experienced double-digit moves tied to analyst actions, corporate transactions and quarterly results. The session featured a mix of program-related downgrades, an announced buyout, and targeted strategic investments that coincided with sharp share-price reactions.

Key Points

  • Technology and semiconductor investments and earnings supported gains for several large and mid-cap names, including Palantir, Nvidia, Coherent and Lumentum.
  • Defense-program and buyout-related developments led to sharp declines for certain large-cap names, notably AeroVironment and AES.
  • Biotech and small-cap healthcare stocks showed pronounced volatility, with uniQure falling after a downgrade tied to an FDA setback.

Stocks moved decisively across market-cap categories on Monday, with winners and losers clustered around company-specific news and transactional updates. Technology and semiconductor equities were among the gainers, while firms tied to defense programs and an announced energy-sector buyout registered significant declines.


Mega-cap highlights (market cap: $200B+)

  • Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR) rose 5.95%.
  • United Tech (RTX) advanced 4.18%.
  • Nvidia Corp (NVDA) climbed 2.77%.
  • Oracle Corp (ORCL) increased 2.13%.
  • Eli Lilly And Co (LLY) fell 2.45%.
  • Home Depot (HD) declined 2.88%.

Large-cap movers (market cap: $10B-$200B)

Several large-cap stocks experienced substantial intraday swings tied to analyst commentary, corporate transactions and earnings updates:

  • AeroVironment (AVAV) dropped 19.43% after Raymond James lowered its rating citing risk associated with the SCAR program.
  • AES Corp (AES) fell 17.33% following an agreement for a $10.7 billion buyout by a GIP-EQT consortium.
  • Venture Global Inc (VG) jumped 13.88% after reporting a fourth-quarter earnings beat.
  • Coherent (COHR) surged 13.59% as Nvidia committed a $2 billion investment and a multibillion-dollar purchase agreement.
  • Circle Internet Group Inc (CRCL) added 13.23%.
  • Kaspi.kz AO ADR (KSPI) rose 9.77%.
  • Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) climbed 10.57%.
  • NantKwest (IBRX) was up 8.74%.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) dropped 10.55%.
  • Lumentum Holdings Inc (LITE) gained 8.41% after Nvidia invested $2 billion in Lumentum for AI optics technology.

Mid-cap movers (market cap: $2B-$10B)

  • Evolution Metals Tech (EMAT) jumped 32.37%.
  • Applied Opt (AAOI) rose 21.48%.
  • AXT Inc (AXTI) increased 19.0%.
  • Arcus Biosciences Inc (RCUS) climbed 19.07%.
  • nLIGHT Inc (LASR) added 17.85%.
  • Turning Point Brands Inc (TPB) slid 18.43%.
  • Figure Technology Solutions Ltd (FIGR) rose 16.89%.
  • SOLT (SOLT) climbed 14.37%.
  • Jds Uniphase Corp (VIAV) advanced 17.2%.
  • SolarEdge Technologies Inc (SEDG) increased 11.05%.

Small-cap movers (market cap: $300M-$2B)

Small-cap stocks recorded some of the most pronounced percentage moves during the session:

  • Uniqure Nv (QURE) plunged 34.1% after Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded the stock, citing an FDA setback.
  • Sabre Corpo (SABR) surged 32.2%.
  • Apollo Medical (ASTH) rose 25.28% as Astrana Health stock moved higher following an earnings beat and stronger guidance.
  • Mri Interventions (CLPT) fell 21.56%.
  • Ocular Therapeutix Inc (OCUL) added 18.79%.
  • TimefireVR (RCAT) gained 17.51%.
  • Hyperliquid Strategies (PURR) increased 17.89%.
  • Junee (SUPX) declined 18.6%.
  • United States Antimony Corp (UAMY) climbed 18.01%.
  • Goodrx Holdings Inc (GDRX) was up 15.64%.

Takeaways

The session underscored active rotation within the market: technology and semiconductor-related names benefited from targeted investments and earnings beats, while stocks exposed to program risk and pending corporate transactions experienced steep declines. Movements ranged from modest gains among mega-cap tech firms to sharp, double-digit swings in small- and mid-cap names.


Key points

  • Technology and semiconductor sectors showed strength, supported by strategic investments and earnings beats that corresponded with share-price gains for companies like Coherent, Lumentum, Nvidia and Palantir.
  • Defense and energy-related names faced pressure; AeroVironment dropped after a downgrade tied to the SCAR program risk, while AES fell following an announced $10.7 billion buyout by a GIP-EQT consortium.
  • Biotech and small-cap healthcare names exhibited high volatility, exemplified by uniQure's steep decline after an FDA-related downgrade and mixed results elsewhere in the group.

Risks and uncertainties

  • Analyst downgrades can trigger abrupt share-price declines for companies tied to program or regulatory risk - as shown by Raymond James' action on AeroVironment and Cantor Fitzgerald's downgrade of uniQure; these events affect defense and biotechnology sectors.
  • Corporate transactions, including buyout agreements, may depress the target's public shares during the announcement period - illustrated by AES after the $10.7 billion buyout agreement; the energy sector is particularly implicated.
  • Market reactions to large, company-specific investments and purchase commitments - such as Nvidia's multibillion engagements with Coherent and Lumentum - can drive concentrated gains in technology and semiconductor-related equities, but also increase volatility within those sectors.

This piece presents a snapshot of intraday price movements across a range of market-cap segments and does not provide investment advice.

Risks

  • Analyst downgrades tied to program risk or regulatory setbacks can cause steep share-price declines, impacting defense and biotechnology sectors.
  • Announced buyouts or large corporate transactions may depress target-company shares during the announcement and negotiation phase, affecting energy-sector valuations.
  • Concentrated strategic investments and purchase commitments can amplify volatility in technology and semiconductor-related equities.

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