Stock Market Today: Dow Gains After Nike Gets Upgraded
Jefferies thinks Nike's new CEO will spark a turnaround in the beaten-down blue chip.



Stocks closed mixed Monday. Negative sessions for mega-cap stocks Meta Platforms (META. -2.3%) and Microsoft (MSFT, -1.0%) kept pressure on the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500, while a big gain for Nike (NKE, +4.9%) allowed the Dow Jones Industrial Average to close in the green.
By the numbers, the Nasdaq slumped 1.2% to 19,286, the S&P 500 fell 0.5% to 5,983, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.08% to 43,461.
Meta's share price on Monday was hit by reports the social media company could face anti-competitive fines from South Africa's Competition Commission. Microsoft fell after TD Cowen said the tech giant had canceled leases for some U.S.-based data centers.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Nike, meanwhile, got a lift after Jefferies analyst Randal Konik upgraded the athletic apparel and footwear maker to Buy from Hold and called it a top stock pick.
The company's new CEO, Elliott Hill, who took over the role in October, "is tackling product and distribution issues head-on, positioning the brand to again outgrow the market and take back lost share," Konik says.
He adds that surveys indicate the Nike brand "remains very strong, proving that issues were self-inflicted and competitive threats less severe."
Apple unveils $500 billion investment plan
Apple (AAPL) was another Dow Jones stock that finished in the green, adding 0.6% after the iPhone maker committed to spending $500 billion over the next four years on investments in the United States and adding 20,000 new hires.
"From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund, to building advanced technology in Texas, we're thrilled to expand our support for American manufacturing," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a press release.
The money will also be used toward Apple Intelligence infrastructure and data centers and Apple TV+ productions in 20 states, according to the company.
CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino calls the headline number "deceptive" as it includes all spending, including operating expenses and capital expenditures. Additionally, it won't circumvent Trump tariffs on China.
However, Zino notes that "AAPL made a similar announcement during Trump's first tenure," so at the very least, it will "put the company in the good graces of the new administration should exemptions be on the table."
Nvidia falls ahead of earnings
Elsewhere, Nvidia (NVDA) shed 3.1% ahead of the chipmaker's highly anticipated fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report, set to be released after Wednesday's close. Make sure to follow along with our Nvidia earnings live blog.
John Belton, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, says this print will provide "more clarity on the early launch of Blackwell – how it's going and what demand looks like." He adds that results from mega-cap companies "painted a positive picture for Nvidia's customer base and demand outlook" over the next year.
Belton believes that Nvidia's total revenue is the most important performance metric, "as it will indicate how strong demand has been for older-generation Hopper products."
Analysts expect Nvidia to report fiscal Q4 revenue of $38.1 billion, up 72.5% year over year.
Related content
- Best Investments to Sidestep a Trade War
- Sherwin-Williams Is a Sleeper of the 100,000% Return Club
- How to Invest in the Nuclear Revolution
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

With over a decade of experience writing about the stock market, Karee Venema is the senior investing editor at Kiplinger.com. She joined the publication in April 2021 after 10 years of working as an investing writer and columnist at a local investment research firm. In her previous role, Karee focused primarily on options trading, as well as technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis.
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on Disaster Losses and more
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on paper checks, hurricane losses, IRAs and timeshares.
-
Paramount+ Premium Debuts: Why "With Showtime" Got the Cut
Paramount+ drops its "with Showtime" label — same price, same content, simpler branding as Showtime titles spread across plans.
-
Why Smart Retirees Are Ditching Traditional Financial Plans
Financial plans based purely on growth, like the 60/40 portfolio, are built for a different era. Today’s retirees need plans based on real-life risks and goals and that feature these four elements.
-
To My Small Business: Well, I've Been Afraid of Changin', 'Cause I've Built My Life Around You
While thinking about succession planning might feel like anticipating a landslide (here's to you, Fleetwood Mac), there are strategies you can implement to manage the uncertainty and the transition.
-
Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Near New Highs
The S&P 500 hasn't hit a new high since February. It's been since December for the Nasdaq.
-
The Bull Case for the Second Half of 2025
This strategist sees a volatile market segueing to a strong close this year.
-
7 Essential Investing Rules We All Should Know
The best time to start investing is right now. That's just one vital rule investors should be familiar with. Here are six more.
-
These Are the Key Tariff Issues to Watch in Coming Months
While they're not dominating headlines right now, tariffs are not over. Some key dates are coming up fast that could upend markets all over again.
-
Technology Unleashes the Power of Year-Round Tax-Loss Harvesting
Tech advancements have made it possible to continuously monitor and rebalance portfolios, allowing for harvesting losses throughout the year rather than just once a year.
-
The Fiduciary Firewall: An Expert's Five-Step Guide to Honest Financial Planning
Armed with education and awareness, you can avoid unethical people in the financial industry by seeking fee-only fiduciaries and sharing your knowledge with others.