Retail investors engaged in lively discussions this week (February 23 to February 27) regarding five key stocks: Nvidia, Netflix, Advanced Micro Devices, Palantir Technologies, and Salesforce. These conversations, spanning social media platforms like X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets, were driven by a confluence of factors including retail speculation, company earnings reports, the growing influence of artificial intelligence, and significant corporate announcements. This period saw a blend of excitement and caution as these companies navigated a dynamic market landscape, even as the broader S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq indices experienced negative movements.
Featured Stocks and Their Market Performance
From February 23 to February 27, 2026, several major technology companies garnered significant attention from retail investors, whose discussions on platforms like Reddit's r/WallStreetBets and X influenced market perception. Nvidia, despite announcing record revenues of $68.1 billion, a 73% year-over-year increase driven by strong AI chip demand, saw its stock decline by 8.5% and 5.46% on February 26 and 27, respectively, as market reaction remained lukewarm. Noted investor Michael Burry drew parallels between Nvidia's purchase commitments and Cisco Systems Inc.'s situation during the dot-com bubble, raising concerns.
Netflix made headlines by declining to increase its offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., which subsequently accepted a "superior proposal" from Paramount Skydance Corp. Following this decision, analysts such as Gary Black became bullish on Netflix, raising its price target, suggesting an 18% upside. Despite this, Netflix's stock had decreased by 12.15% over the year and 30.85% over the last six months, trading between $90 and $92 per share.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) secured a landmark multi-year strategic partnership with Meta Platforms Inc. on February 24. This deal, valued at up to $60 billion over five years, involves AMD supplying its Instinct GPUs for Meta's next-generation AI infrastructure and includes an option for Meta to acquire a 10% stake in AMD. Experts like Daniel Newman highlighted this agreement as validation of AMD's AI roadmap, while Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy maintained a "Buy" rating with a $300 price target, projecting a nearly 40% upside.
Palantir Technologies also expanded its collaborations, signing new and ongoing deals with GE Aerospace for defense supply chain AI and forming a strategic partnership with Rackspace Technology Inc. to integrate its AI platform into Rackspace's Private Cloud and UK Sovereign data centers. Retail investors even compared Palantir to Google amid a generally bullish sentiment around the company. Palantir's stock had increased by 60.36% over the year but declined by 13.26% over the last six months, trading around $134 to $137 per share.
Salesforce delivered record results, with revenues reaching $11.2 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $3.81, propelled by the momentum of its Agentforce AI. The company reported full-year FY26 revenue of $41.5 billion. However, its shares initially dipped post-earnings due to cautious FY27 revenue guidance ($45.8 to $46.2 billion) amid broader concerns about AI disruption and enterprise software spending. Despite these concerns, Salesforce authorized a massive $50 billion share buyback and set an ambitious FY30 revenue target of approximately $63 billion. Its stock, however, saw a decline of 32.36% over the year and 20.26% over the last six months, trading between $194 and $201 per share.
This week's market activity highlights the significant influence of retail investors and the critical role of corporate developments, particularly in the rapidly evolving AI sector, in shaping stock performance and market narratives. Companies like Nvidia and AMD demonstrated the volatile yet potentially rewarding nature of AI-driven growth, while Netflix and Salesforce navigated strategic shifts and market skepticism despite strong operational results. Palantir's strategic partnerships underscored the increasing integration of AI across various industries. Overall, the market's response to these companies reflects a complex interplay of earnings, innovation, and investor sentiment, making it a pivotal period for these tech giants.