U.S. Stock Market Hits Record Highs as Tech Stocks Rally
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 27 2025
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Source: Benzinga
- Strong Market Performance: Major U.S. stock indexes posted solid gains during the holiday-shortened week, with the S&P 500 up approximately 18%, nearing a milestone for double-digit returns in 2025, reflecting investor optimism in the market.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Nvidia's significant licensing agreement with AI chip startup Groq deepens its competitive moat, driving its stock price higher and indicating a robust recovery in the tech sector.
- Rising Precious Metals Demand: Gold and silver prices reached new highs due to strong demand and supply constraints, reflecting investors' preference for safe assets, which may influence future investment strategies.
- Cautiously Optimistic Market Sentiment: Despite light trading volumes, investors remain focused on economic drivers for 2025, including Federal Reserve policy and earnings momentum across key sectors, demonstrating market resilience.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AAPL is 299.69 USD with a low forecast of 230.00 USD and a high forecast of 350.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
32 Analyst Rating
19 Buy
11 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 258.280
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
Current: 258.280
Low
230.00
Averages
299.69
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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