U.S. markets pushed higher on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading the charge up nearly 1.4% to 23,006.36. The S&P 500 gained almost 0.8% to 6,774.76, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up a modest 0.1% to 47,951.85.

But the broader indexes only tell part of the story. Here are five stocks that captured retail and institutional attention throughout the trading session, and what drove the action.

Rivian Automotive Inc. Rivian (RIVN)

Rivian shares rocketed 15.03% higher to close at $20.28, hitting an intraday peak of $20.33 and a low of $18.26. The 52-week range sits between $20.33 and $10.36, meaning the stock just touched its highest point in a year.

The catalyst? Rivian rolled out software update 2025.46, massively expanding its hands-free assisted driving capabilities. The company's Universal Hands-Free feature now works across more than 3.5 million miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada, a dramatic leap from the roughly 135,000 miles it covered previously. That's not a typo—we're talking about 26 times more road coverage.

The update wasn't just about mileage, though. Rivian also introduced new autonomy drive styles, improved driver display views, simplified speed controls, and launched a Digital Key for Gen 2 vehicles that works across major smartphone and smartwatch platforms. Analysts noted that Rivian's advancing autonomy technology, combined with the upcoming R2 platform, strengthens the company's long-term competitive position in an increasingly crowded EV market.

Nike Inc. Nike (NKE)

Nike had a confusing day. The stock dipped just 0.091% during regular trading to close at $65.63, trading between an intraday high of $67 and a low of $65.40. The 52-week range spans $82.44 down to $52.28. But after hours? That's where things got ugly, with shares plunging 10.7% to $58.60.

Here's the puzzling part: Nike actually beat expectations on second-quarter earnings. The company reported revenue of $12.43 billion and earnings of 53 cents per share, both above analyst estimates. Revenue grew 1% year-over-year, with Nike Brand revenues hitting $12.1 billion.

So why did investors head for the exits after hours? Sometimes beating estimates isn't enough, especially when growth is barely keeping pace with inflation and broader concerns about the brand's positioning persist. The market was clearly looking for more than a modest beat on stagnant growth.

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. Trump Media (DJT)

Trump Media delivered the day's most dramatic move, skyrocketing 41.93% to close at $14.86. The stock hit an intraday high of $15.20 and a low of $12.71, within a 52-week range of $43.45 to $10.18. After-hours trading saw a modest 1.95% pullback to $14.57.

The reason for the surge? Trump Media announced plans to merge with fusion energy firm TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal valued at more than $6 billion. Yes, you read that correctly—the social media company is getting into fusion energy.

The transaction, already approved by both boards, would combine Trump Media's capital market access with TAE's fusion technology platform. Shareholders from each company would own roughly half of the combined entity. The companies are targeting a mid-2026 close and plan to begin construction of a utility-scale fusion power plant next year. Management positioned the deal as a strategic play on long-term energy demand driven by AI infrastructure and data centers, which are increasingly power-hungry.

FedEx Corp. FedEx (FDX)

FedEx shares climbed 1.74% to close at $287.12, reaching an intraday high of $288.05 and a low of $281.60. The stock's 52-week range runs from $295.24 down to $194.30.

The logistics giant reported second-quarter revenue of $23.5 billion, topping estimates, with adjusted earnings of $4.82 per share that also beat expectations. The better-than-expected results came from stronger package yields, higher U.S. volume, and ongoing cost savings initiatives.

Performance improved at the Federal Express segment, though the Freight division struggled with lower shipments and higher costs, including $152 million in one-time spin-off expenses. Looking ahead, FedEx raised its fiscal 2026 revenue growth outlook to 5-6% and lifted the low end of its adjusted EPS guidance to $17.80. The company also confirmed plans for $1 billion in permanent structural cost reductions as part of its Network 2.0 transformation strategy.

BlackBerry Ltd. BlackBerry (BB)

BlackBerry shares gained 1.64% to close at $4.33, with an intraday high of $4.43 and a low of $4.28. The 52-week range sits between $6.24 and $2.80.

The company reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $141.8 million, beating estimates, with adjusted earnings of 5 cents per share that also topped expectations. Revenue slipped about 1% year-over-year, but that masks some positive underlying trends. QNX sales grew 10% to $68.7 million, offsetting softer results in Secure Communications and Licensing.

BlackBerry ended the quarter with $378 million in cash and investments and posted its strongest GAAP profitability in nearly four years. The company raised its full-year fiscal 2026 revenue outlook to $531-541 million and lifted adjusted EPS guidance to 14-16 cents. For a company that's been through multiple reinventions, that kind of consistent profitability improvement is noteworthy.

According to market data rankings, Rivian stock shows momentum in the 81st percentile compared to other electric vehicle manufacturers including Tesla.