Stock Market Today: Dow Leads as UnitedHealth Stock Pops
UnitedHealth was the best Dow Jones stock Monday on reports that Medicare Advantage payments could rise in 2026.



Stocks were mixed to start the first full trading week of 2025. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average outperformed on strength in UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares, the Nasdaq Composite fell as tech stocks continued to decline.
At the close, the Dow was up 0.9% to 42,297 as UnitedHealth surged 3.9% after a release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suggested Medicare Advantage payments could potentially increase by more than 4% next year.
At roughly $545 a share, UnitedHealth has the greatest influence on the price-weighted Dow.

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.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) was also one of the top-performing Dow Jones stocks today, adding 1.7%, on news the pharmaceutical giant is buying neuroscience specialist Intra-Cellular Therapies (ITCI, +34.1%) for $14.6 billion in cash.
Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, is cautious on the deal, mostly due to antitrust concerns. "JNJ has a late-stage Depression drug and has always been a leader in Schizophrenia," he wrote in emailed commentary. "Yes, it's a different mechanism of action but still a lot of overlap. Their timing to close the deal of 'later this year' seems to incorporate a tough review, even under the new administration."
Nvidia drops on updated AI chip rules
The S&P 500 managed to add 0.2% to end at 5,836, while the Nasdaq slumped 0.4% to 19,088 on continued weakness in the tech sector.
Nvidia (NVDA) was one of the more notable decliners, sliding 2.0% after the Biden administration released new rules on how artificial intelligence (AI) chips and models can be shared with other countries, including issuing caps on the number of AI chips that can be exported to specific nations.
U.S. allies such as Britain and Canada are not subject to the restrictions while countries such as China and Russia will continue to face full bans on AI chip purchases.
In a statement, Nvidia said the new rules are a "sweeping overreach" that threaten "to derail innovation and economic growth worldwide."
Palantir keeps sliding
Palantir Technologies (PLTR), an AI software company, also sold off today, ending the session down 3.4%. PLTR was one of the hottest stocks of 2024 – more than quadrupling in value – but has shed 14% so far in 2025.
Morgan Stanley analyst Sanjit Singh recently initiated coverage on the tech stock with an Underweight (Sell) rating and a $60 price target, nearly 7% below where shares are currently trading.
"In the past 18 months or so, Palantir has driven better-than-expected U.S. commercial traction, U.S. government deal momentum, and operating expense discipline," Singh wrote in a January 6 note. This is now well-reflected in the share price, he adds.
Singh admits that the incoming Trump administration could create tailwinds for PLTR, but for now, the stock is "trading too far ahead of the company's intrinsic value to justify a rating upgrade."
Inflation data could spark more volatility
"The recent weakness in equity and bond markets, despite an encouraging payroll report, underscores a heightened sensitivity to inflation expectations and a prevailing pessimistic sentiment," says Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide.
This "heightened sensitivity" could create more volatility for stocks following the release of key inflation data this week. Specifically, the December Producer Price Index (PPI) is set for release ahead of Tuesday's open and the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) is due out Wednesday morning.
Bank earnings will also start to roll in on Wednesday, with JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS) among those reporting. You can follow all our earnings coverage on Kiplinger's earnings season live blog.
Related content
- Kiplinger's Economic Calendar for This Week
- Earnings Calendar and Analysis for This Week
- When Is the Next Jobs Report?
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.
-
12 Investments No Retiree Should Make
In retirement, when it's wise to take fewer risks with your nest egg, some investments are just nuts.
By David Rodeck
-
What the Capital One Discover Merger Means for Your Wallet
The Capital One Discover merger reshapes the credit card landscape and could impact your credit card rewards, interest rates and card perks.
By Paige Cerulli
-
Before You Invest Like a Politician, Consider This Dilemma
As apps that track congressional stock trading become more popular, investors need to take into consideration some caveats.
By Ryan K. Snover, Investment Adviser Representative
-
How to Put Together Your Personal Net Worth Statement
Now that tax season is over for most of us, it's the perfect time to organize your assets and liabilities to assess your financial wellness.
By Denise McClain, JD, CPA
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Retreats, Markets Rejoice
Stocks rally, yields soften, the dollar rises, and even beaten-down names enjoy the wages of potential trade peace.
By David Dittman
-
Tesla Stock Pops as Elon Musk Promises DOGE Draw Back
Tesla reported a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings and sales, as the EV maker suffered a backlash to its CEO's political ambitions.
By Karee Venema
-
Bouncing Back: New Tunes for Millennials Trying to Make It
Adele's mournful melodies kick off this generation's financial playlist, but with the right plan, Millennials can finish strong.
By Alvina Lo
-
Early-Stage Startup Deals: How Do Convertible Notes Work?
Some angel investors support early startups by providing a loan in exchange for a convertible note, which includes annual interest and a maturity date.
By Murat Abdrakhmanov
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Soar on China Trade Talk Hopes
Treasury Secretary Bessent said current U.S.-China trade relations are unsustainable and signaled hopes for negotiations.
By Karee Venema
-
How Can Investors Profit From AI's Energy Use?
Global energy demand is expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the next several years as AI usage accelerates. Here's how to get a piece of the pie.
By Jacob Schroeder