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Major U.S. indexes closed modestly lower on Monday, with the Dow slipping 0.45% to 47,739.32, the S&P 500 easing 0.35% to 6,846.51, and the Nasdaq edging down 0.1% to 23,545.90. But underneath the surface, several stocks made big moves that had retail traders and institutional investors paying close attention.
Here's what drove the action in five stocks that dominated investor watchlists.
Nvidia shares rose 1.73% during regular trading, closing at $185.57. The stock hit an intraday high of $188 and a low of $182.40, with a 52-week range between $212.19 and $86.63. The rally extended in after-hours trading, with shares gaining another 2.3% to $189.92.
The catalyst? Reports emerged that the White House would allow exports of H200 chips to China, effectively reopening access to a massive market. This isn't a free-for-all though—the move involves permitting exports of GPUs that are roughly 18 months behind Nvidia's most advanced models. Think of it as giving China last year's iPhone while keeping the latest model exclusive. The decision reportedly has Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's support, though the agency declined to comment officially.
For Nvidia, this represents a meaningful revenue opportunity after being largely shut out of the Chinese market due to export restrictions.
AMD climbed 1.44%, ending the day at $221.11. The stock reached an intraday high of $223.71 and a low of $218.36, with a 52-week range spanning $267.08 to $76.48. In after-hours trading, AMD added another 1.8% to reach $225.12.
U.S. chip stocks rallied late Monday after President Donald Trump confirmed the policy shift, stating the U.S. will allow Nvidia to ship H200 chips to approved customers in China and other countries. But there's a clear line in the sand: more advanced Blackwell and future Rubin chips remain limited to U.S. buyers. The move is expected to reopen a major market for chipmakers across the board, and shares of Nvidia, Intel, and AMD all climbed in extended trading on the news.
Wave Life Sciences absolutely exploded, surging 147.26% to close at $18.52. The stock reached a high of $19.60 and a low of $12.72, with a 52-week range from $19.60 to $5.28. The rally continued after hours, with shares rising another 5% to $19.45.
This was all about the data. Wave Life Sciences reported interim Phase 1 results showing that a single 240 mg dose of its investigational obesity therapy WVE-007 reduced visceral fat by 9.4% and total fat by 4.5% at three months, while actually increasing lean mass by 3.2%. The placebo group showed no meaningful changes, which is exactly what you want to see in a trial.
Beyond the fat reduction, the drug produced sustained reductions of over 75% in serum Activin E and was generally safe and well-tolerated up to 600 mg. The company plans to release additional three-month and six-month follow-up data across dosing cohorts through mid-2026 as it prepares for Phase 2 studies. Given the massive market for obesity treatments, investors clearly see potential here.
Toll Brothers moved in the opposite direction, falling 1.97% to close at $136.20. The stock's intraday high was $139.60, with a low of $135.65, and its 52-week range spans $156.89 to $86.67. After-hours trading was even worse, with shares declining another 3.7% to $131.10.
Here's the problem: Toll Brothers beat revenue expectations but missed on earnings for the fourth quarter. EPS came in at $4.58 versus the $4.89 estimate, which is never what you want to see. Making matters worse, backlog fell to $5.5 billion from $6.5 billion last year, signaling softer demand ahead.
The company also noted ongoing market softness and cautious buyer behavior in its commentary, which contributed to investor concerns despite steady deliveries and guidance for fiscal 2026. In the housing market, backlog is essentially a forward indicator of future revenue, so a declining backlog raises questions about what's coming down the pipeline.
Carvana jumped 12.11%, closing at $447.98. The stock reached an intraday high of $456.97 and a low of $424.33, with a 52-week range from $456.97 to $148.25.
The move was driven by Carvana's upcoming entry into the S&P 500, which sent the stock higher and delivered enormous paper gains to some well-positioned hedge funds. Viking Global's Andreas Halvorsen and Coatue's Philippe Laffont both boosted their stakes in the third quarter at prices in the mid-$260s to high-$270s. With shares recently trading near $400, their combined unrealized gains reached roughly $540 million.
The S&P 500 inclusion will force passive funds to buy the stock, adding to momentum after a strong December rally. It's a striking turnaround from the bankruptcy worries that surrounded Carvana just 18 months ago. Sometimes in markets, you really can go from zero to hero.
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