S&P 500 Ends Year Up About 17% as New Year's Eve Session Declines
Stocks had a down New Year's Eve session to close out a strong year for the market. The typical year-end rally didn't materialize, but the S&P 500 still finished the year up about 17% as AI optimism, lower borrowing costs, and strong earnings fueled a rally despite the hurdles of trade policy, geopolitical tensions, and valuation concerns.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with this Midday Fly By.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiascrambling to meet strong demand for H200 AI chip in China, Reuters reportsShares of Vanda Pharmaceuticalsjumped after thefor prevention of vomiting induced by motion sicknessShares of Corcept Therapeuticswere halved after the company received afrom the FDA regarding relacorilant as a treatment of hypertension secondary to hypercortisolism, citing the need for additional evidence of effectivenessHyatt (H) said it expects FY25 EBITDA at the low end of its previously guided rangein October2. WALL STREET CALLS:Keefe BruyetteTeraWulfon its high performance compute transitionWedbushGlobalFoundriesamid an elongated down cycleClear StreetPlug Powerto Buy on the path seen to profitabilityWedbushTower Semiconductorto Neutral on valuation3. AROUND THE WEB:Brookfieldplans to launch a cloud business that leases chips inside data centers directly to AI companies, Information reportsWhile an exact viewership total for December 25 was not provided, Netflixreports that the second volume of "Stranger Things" Season 5, two NFL games and other holiday viewing helped it achieve its highest Christmas Day viewership of all time this year, Variety reportsDrugmakers including Pfizer, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartisand GSKplan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medications, Reuters reportsA CSXtrain that derailed in a rural area of southern Kentucky leaked a flammable chemical and sparked a fire, after which authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents who were close by, AP saysAhead of Meta Platforms'acquisition, Manus positioned itself for U.S. investment by creating distance from its Chinese roots and moving to Singapore, WSJ says4. MOVERS:Ondasincreases after securing $10M inTrump Mediagains after announcing plans toto shareholdersServe Roboticshigher after Freedom Capitalof the stock with a Buy ratingRobinhoodfalls after Barclays said preliminary December metrics indicate its transaction revenue5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCEOne Stop Systemsfor FY25Constellation Brandstoon January 7, 2026RPM Internationaltoon January 8, 2026Jefferies Financialtoon January 7, 2026INDEXES:The Dow fell 303.77, or 0.63%, to 48,063.29, the Nasdaq lost 177.09, or 0.76%, to 23,241.99, and the S&P 500 declined 50.74, or 0.74%, to 6,845.50.
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SK Hynix Surpasses Samsung in Operating Profit for the First Time
- Profit Milestone: In 2025, SK Hynix achieved a record operating profit of 47.2 trillion won, surpassing Samsung's 43.6 trillion won for the first time, highlighting its strong performance in the AI memory chip market and solidifying its position in South Korea's tech landscape.
- Market Leadership: SK Hynix maintains its lead in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, particularly in HBM chips used in AI processors and servers, establishing itself as a global market leader and driving profit growth.
- Intensifying Competition: While SK Hynix dominates the HBM market, competitors like Samsung and Micron are accelerating their efforts, with Samsung set to launch its latest HBM4 products in 2025, which is expected to enhance its competitive edge.
- Future Outlook: Analysts anticipate that SK Hynix will retain a high market share in HBM4, despite Samsung's technological advancements, as SK Hynix's quality and supply advantages are likely to continue providing a competitive edge.
SK Hynix Surpasses Samsung in Operating Profit for the First Time
- Record Profit: SK Hynix achieved a record operating profit of 47.2 trillion won in 2025, surpassing Samsung's 43.6 trillion won for the first time, highlighting its strong performance in the high-bandwidth memory market and solidifying its leadership in South Korea's tech sector.
- Market Leadership: SK Hynix's dominance in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) positions it as a key supplier for AI processors and servers, particularly in collaboration with Nvidia, ensuring its crucial role in the rapid growth of AI infrastructure.
- Intensifying Competition: While SK Hynix maintains a leading position in the HBM market, competitors like Samsung and Micron are accelerating their efforts, with Samsung set to launch its sixth-generation HBM4 products in 2025, which could impact the market landscape.
- Future Outlook: Analysts expect SK Hynix to retain a high market share in HBM4, despite Samsung's technological advancements, as SK Hynix's quality and supply advantages are likely to continue supporting its market leadership.
