Let's talk about what just had a really good week. Not you, probably—unless you happened to own a very specific basket of large-cap stocks. From March 2nd through the 6th, a group of ten sizable companies put up some impressive numbers, climbing on everything from upbeat earnings and analyst love to pure, old-fashioned sector momentum.
It's a useful snapshot of what's working right now across different corners of the market. So, who were the winners, and more importantly, why did they win?
We'll start with the biggest percentage gainer of the bunch. The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD) shot up 26.7% for the week. The ad-tech company got a double boost. First, reports surfaced about potential advertising discussions with OpenAI, which got the market thinking about new growth avenues. Second, and perhaps more concretely, a regulatory filing showed a large insider stock purchase. When the people running the company are buying in size, investors tend to pay attention.
Over in the energy space, Venture Global, Inc. (VG) gained 11.43%. Its week was fueled by two things: a sharp climb in Brent crude prices tied to geopolitical tensions, and some company-specific good news. Venture Global reported its fourth-quarter earnings and announced a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase agreement with the commodities giant Trafigura.
The Internet of Things had a good week, at least for one company. Samsara Inc. (IOT) gained 21.97% after reporting better-than-expected Q4 financial results and issuing fiscal year 2027 guidance that came in above analyst estimates. The optimism was echoed on Wall Street, where Keybanc maintained its Overweight rating on the stock and nudged its price target up from $40 to $41.
In the world of crypto-adjacent finance, Circle Internet Group, Inc. (CRCL) jumped 10.51%. The move came as Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev maintained a Neutral rating but raised his price target from $90 to $100.
Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT) rose 15.11% for the week, while tax and accounting software giant Intuit Inc. (INTU) posted a hefty 19.25% gain.
Social media platform Pinterest, Inc. (PINS) gained 16.54% after making two major announcements. The company unveiled a new $3.5 billion share repurchase program, a direct return of capital to shareholders. At the same time, it was revealed that the activist investment firm Elliott Investment Management had invested $1 billion in the company, a serious vote of confidence.
Chemical company LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) soared 17.65%, with the rally supported by multiple analysts raising their price forecasts on the stock.
Fertilizer producer CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) increased 7.4%.
Finally, insurance software provider Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) jumped 17.99% after a strong quarterly report. The company reported better-than-expected Q2 financial results, raised its fiscal year 2026 sales guidance, and issued Q3 sales guidance above estimates. Analyst firm BTIG maintained its buy rating and significantly raised its price target from $175 to $200.
So, there you have it. A week where strong earnings, raised guidance, bullish analyst calls, insider confidence, share buybacks, and sector momentum in energy and ad tech all combined to create a list of notable winners. It's a reminder that even for large, established companies, a confluence of positive news can still lead to some very sharp moves.
