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Wednesday delivered one of those mixed market sessions where the major indexes couldn't agree on a direction. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.9% to settle at 48,996.08, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.3%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq decided to be different, inching up 0.16% to 23,584.27.
But forget the indexes for a moment. Here's what actually had retail traders buzzing throughout the day.
Applied Digital Corp. (APLD) shares declined 2.33% during regular trading to close at $29.56, bouncing between an intraday high of $31.45 and a low of $29.52. The stock trades in a 52-week range of $3.31 to $40.20. After hours told a different story though, with shares climbing 3.69% to $30.65.
The real story here is the second-quarter results that absolutely crushed expectations. Applied Digital posted break-even earnings per share when analysts were bracing for a 10-cent loss. Revenue came in at $126.6 million, which looks even more impressive when you realize that's up from just $36.2 million a year earlier.
What's driving this growth? The company pulled in $85 million from HPC hosting revenue and another $41.6 million from data center hosting. Management pointed to rising demand from hyperscalers in the Dakotas and mentioned ongoing discussions with another investment-grade customer. Translation: the AI infrastructure boom is still very much alive.
Innovative Eyewear, Inc. (LUCY) had the kind of day traders dream about, rocketing 47.46% higher to close at $1.74. The stock hit a high of $2 and a low of $1.59, operating within a 52-week range of $0.95 to $6.19. The excitement cooled slightly in extended trading, with shares falling 6.25% to $1.63.
The catalyst was preliminary unaudited fourth-quarter 2025 sales of roughly $1 million, marking a 45% year-over-year increase. Full-year 2025 revenue came in at an estimated $2.7 million, representing a solid 65% jump from 2024.
Here's what makes this interesting: the company claims it controls about 44% of Amazon's smart safety glasses market. And in a classic show of confidence, the CEO and senior executives announced plans for open-market share purchases, signaling they believe in the growth trajectory.
RTX Corporation (RTX) finished the day down 2.45% at $185.73, after reaching a high of $193.79 and a low of $185.61. The 52-week range spans $112.27 to $193.79. The after-hours session brought some relief, with shares gaining 3.2% to $191.69.
The company landed a substantial $438 million contract from the FAA for next-generation air traffic radars designed to enhance the U.S. National Airspace System. This isn't just another government contract—it's part of a broader modernization effort.
RTX said the program will replace multiple legacy radar systems with a unified architecture built to improve air traffic safety, boost efficiency, and reduce long-term operating costs. Think of it as finally upgrading from your aging computer system to something that actually works.
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) experienced a wild ride, tumbling 5.5% to close at $577.01. During the session, shares hit an intraday high of $617.99 and a low of $574.51, within a 52-week range of $426.24 to $640.90. The stock recovered in after-hours trading, jumping 5.5% to $608.90.
The initial drop came after President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize defense contractors over executive compensation and production timelines, calling for a halt on dividends and buybacks. That's the kind of post that sends defense stocks into a tailspin.
But then came the plot twist. According to the Associated Press, the president proposed $1.5 trillion in defense spending for 2027 on Wednesday. To put that in perspective, the 2026 military budget was $901 billion. That's the kind of spending increase that gives defense stocks a serious boost, explaining the after-hours recovery.
Intel Corp. (INTC) rose 6.52% to close at $42.63, with an intraday high of $44.57 and a low of $40.12. The stock's 52-week range is $17.66 to $44.57.
The surge came as Intel announced its entry into the handheld gaming market with a new processor and platform, unveiled at CES. After years of watching competitors dominate gaming hardware, Intel is finally making its move to capture a slice of the growing gaming industry.
According to market data, Intel stock has a Value ranking in the 56th percentile, positioning it somewhere in the middle of the pack when compared to chip rivals like Nvidia and AMD.
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