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
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
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.
-
Stock Market Today: Have We Seen the Bottom for Stocks?
Solid first-quarter earnings suggest fundamentals remain solid, and recent price action is encouraging too.
By David Dittman
-
Is the GOP Secretly Planning to Raise Taxes on the Rich?
Tax Reform As high-stakes tax reform talks resume on Capitol Hill, questions are swirling about what Republicans and President Trump will do.
By Kelley R. Taylor
-
Stock Market Today: Have We Seen the Bottom for Stocks?
Solid first-quarter earnings suggest fundamentals remain solid, and recent price action is encouraging too.
By David Dittman
-
Social Security Is Taxable, But There Are Workarounds
If you're strategic about your retirement account withdrawals, you can potentially minimize the taxes you'll pay on your Social Security benefits.
By Todd Talbot, CFP®, NSSA, CTS™
-
Serious Medical Diagnosis? Four Financial Steps to Take
A serious medical diagnosis calls for updates of your financial, health care and estate plans as well as open conversations with those who'll fulfill your wishes.
By Thomas C. West, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®
-
What Wall Street's CEOs Are Saying About Trump's Tariffs
We're in the thick of earnings season and corporate America has plenty to say about the Trump administration's trade policy.
By Karee Venema
-
To Stay on Track for Retirement, Consider Doing This
Writing down your retirement and income plan in an investment policy statement can help you resist letting a bear market upend your retirement.
By Matt Green, Investment Adviser Representative
-
How to Make Changing Interest Rates Work for Your Retirement
Higher (or lower) rates can be painful in some ways and helpful in others. The key is being prepared to take advantage of the situation.
By Phil Cooper
-
When to Sell Your Stock
Knowing when to sell a stock is a major decision investors must make. While there's no one correct answer, we look at some best practices here.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA
-
Within Five Years of Retirement? Five Things to Do Now
If you're retiring in the next five years, your to-do list should contain some financial planning and, according to current retirees, a few life goals, too.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA®