How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 2/18/2026
The U.S. stock market ticked higher, led by its most influential stock, Nvidia.
The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Wednesday after paring a gain that briefly reached 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.8%.
Nvidia was the strongest force lifting the market after Meta Platforms announced a deal to use millions of its chips in AI data centers.
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Read MoreNASDAQ Index, SP500, Dow Jones Forecasts – NASDAQ Rallies As Traders Buy Software Stocks
Dow Jones gained some ground amid broad rally in the equity markets. Dow Jones failed to gain significant upside momentum as demand for defensive sectors declined.
Walmart and Procter & Gamble were among the biggest losers in the Dow Jones index today.
Read MoreVOO Versus SPY: Which S&P 500 ETF Is the Better Buy Right Now?
One of the cheapest ways for an investor to diversify a portfolio is with an exchange-traded fund. The two largest ETFs in terms of assets are SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO, which both passively track the S&P 500.
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Read MoreIn a Vote of Confidence for Apple Stock, It Is Berkshire Hathaway's Biggest Investment as Warren Buffett Steps Down as CEO
Yes, Berkshire trimmed some Apple stock in Q4. But the selling slowed significantly.
While Berkshire Hathaway‘s (BRKA 0.92%)(BRKB 0.80%) investment activity in Warren Buffett’s final quarter as CEO is interesting, perhaps the most telling information from the conglomerate’s latest 13-F filing is the significant size of the Oracle of Omaha’s biggest positions upon his departure.
Warren Buffett’s Final Berkshire Bet Brings Him Back to Newspapers
It’s only fitting that one of Warren Buffett’s final investments before retirement circles back to the business that first taught him how to make money.
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Read MoreThe Burst
NVIDIA Just Dropped 30%, Why Smart Money Isn’t Worried
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) has been among the best-performing investments of the past several years. Despite the returns it has delivered to shareholders, the share price is now under significant pressure.
NVDA’s 52-week high was $153.13, but the stock has been hovering over 30% lower in recent weeks, so will NVIDIA be able to return to its 52-week high,
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Read MoreThe Ivy
4% Dividend + 12x Earnings = Blockbuster in the Making
Merck has long been a pillar of stability in the pharmaceutical world, thanks in large part to the staggering success of its cancer drug Keytruda. But behind that success lies a quietly growing concern of what happens when the patents expire?
In a move that could reshape its future, Merck just announced a $10 billion acquisition of Verona Pharma.
» Read more about: 4% Dividend + 12x Earnings = Blockbuster in the Making »
Read MoreThe Spotlight
Why Buffett Is All In On This Energy Stock
In recent months, Chevron has garnered attention for winning the confidence of Warren Buffett whose Berkshire Hathaway has taken a large stake. But Chevron’s roots trace all the way back to the 19th century when it was originally part of the Pacific Coast Oil Company.
Since then, Chevron has evolved to become one of the largest and most diversified energy companies in the world,
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