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 ended the week higher, with the Nasdaq Composite leading gains as renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence lifted technology shares. The S&P 500 rose about 0.7% through Thursday, while the Nasdaq gained 1.6%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% as investors remained cautious about higher oil prices and Treasury yields. The rally was strongest early in the week, when falling crude prices and optimism around AI pushed the Nasdaq to a record high.

AI and semiconductor stocks were the week’s biggest drivers. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) surged after the company launched its Muse AI assistant and introduced a companion device, fueling broader enthusiasm for AI agents and chip demand. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) climbed into the $1 trillion market-capitalization club, while other semiconductor stocks also benefited from the renewed AI trade.

The rally faced renewed pressure later in the week as oil prices climbed back above $100 a barrel and Treasury yields moved higher. With inflation and interest-rate concerns still limiting broader market gains, AI momentum remained a key source of support for equities heading into the final trading day of the week.

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

Costco Wholesale Reports Strong Q4: Revenue, Earnings Beat Estimates, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST) delivered a strong fiscal fourth quarter, beating Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings. Costco reported $6.75 in EPS, above the $6.52 consensus estimate, while total revenue rose 11.1% year over year to $95.72 billion, topping the $94.86 billion estimate. Net sales increased 11.2% to $93.87 billion, while comparable sales climbed 9.4% and digitally enabled comparable sales jumped 19.5%.

Greenland Stocks Explode After Trump’s Denmark Deal — GRML Up 245%, by Erica Kollmann, reports that several U.S.-listed Greenland-linked stocks surged after President Donald Trump announced a security agreement with Denmark that would expand the U.S. military presence on Greenland while preserving the island’s Danish sovereignty. Greenland Mines Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRML) led the move, jumping roughly 249% to $9.96 from Friday’s $2.85 close. Greenland Energy Co. (NASDAQ:GLND) climbed 138% to about $2.86 on roughly 157 million shares, compared with a 1.2 million-share average, while Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ:CRML) rose 34.7% to about $9.07, giving it a market value of roughly $1.33 billion. REalloys Inc. (NASDAQ:ALOY) gained 11.4%. The agreement did not explicitly mention mining or mineral development, but its provisions reportedly give the U.S. a veto over sensitive foreign investment in Greenland, prompting speculation that Washington could support strategic mineral projects.

KB Home Posts Q3 Double Beat Despite ‘Weakening’ Housing Market, by Adam Eckert, reports that KB Home (NYSE:KBH) beat Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings despite continued pressure from higher mortgage rates and a weakening housing market. Third-quarter revenue came in at $1.297 billion, slightly above the $1.294 billion estimate, while earnings reached $1.05 per share, topping expectations of 89 cents. However, KB Home delivered 2,732 homes, down 19% year over year, while net orders fell 12% to 2,604 and the average selling price slipped to $473,000 from $475,700. Its ending backlog improved, with homes under contract rising 2% to 4,398 and backlog value increasing 3% to $2.05 billion, marking the first year-over-year backlog growth in four years.

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

IonQ Stock Jumps After Real-Time Quantum Error Decoder Demonstration

Redwire, Rocket Lab, Firefly Split a $981 Million Space Force Pie

Vicor Stock Rises After Stronger Q3 Guidance

The Bears

McDonald’s Stock Hits Four-Year Low, Analyst Says ‘Timing and Level of Required Investment’ Weighs on Growth, by Chris Katje, reports that McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE:MCD) shares remained under pressure after the fast-food giant’s investor day failed to reassure investors about the timing and scale of planned investments. Bank of America Securities analyst Sara Senatore maintained a Neutral rating and $343 price target, highlighting faster sales growth, a higher franchise mix and lower free-cash-flow conversion as key takeaways. McDonald’s plans to raise its franchise rate from 95% to 98%, while investments in kitchen layouts, delivery lockers, drive-thru operations and dining rooms are expected to improve restaurant productivity and same-store sales over time.

This S&P 500 Stock Is One of the Worst, CEO’s Net Worth Drops 53% in 2026, by Chris Katje, reports that AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:APP) shares have fallen 53.8% year to date in 2026, making the stock the third-worst performer in the S&P 500 as of Sept. 24, according to StatMuse. The decline has sharply reduced CEO and co-founder Adam Foroughi’s wealth, with his estimated 11% stake in the mobile and digital marketing company losing about $13.5 billion in value. Foroughi’s net worth has fallen 53.9% to an estimated $11.6 billion, placing him 317th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, compared with $25.1 billion at the end of 2025 and a peak of $27.3 billion in December.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Drops In After Hours on Proposed Public Offerings, by Adam Eckert, reports that Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) shares fell after the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company announced plans for two separate $200 million public offerings. The company intends to sell $200 million of common stock and $200 million of convertible senior notes due 2032, with underwriters receiving a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $30 million of each security. Viking said it plans to use the proceeds to support the continued clinical development, advancement and potential commercialization of its VK2735 program, as well as development of VK3019.

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

EXCLUSIVE: Why AI Semiconductor Stocks Are a ‘Dangerous Playground’ For Investors

Why Is GameStop Stock Falling on Friday?

Why Is The Trade Desk Stock Falling on Wednesday?

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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.