The S&P 500 squeaked out a 0.1% gain on Friday, March 21, 2025, finally breaking a string of weekly losses. It wasn’t a blockbuster day, but the major U.S. indexes all finished in the green, with the Dow also up 0.1% and the Nasdaq climbing 0.5%. For the week, the Dow led with a 1.2% rise, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq added 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Here’s what drove the action.
Supermicro Steals the Spotlight
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) was the star of the S&P 500, rocketing 7.8% after JPMorgan flipped its rating from “underweight” to “neutral.” Analysts are betting big on Supermicro’s AI game, pointing to sizzling demand for its servers powered by Nvidia’s cutting-edge Blackwell chips. It’s a vote of confidence that had investors buzzing.
Tesla Bounces Back
Tesla (TSLA) shares revved up 5.3%, a welcome lift after months of rough road. CEO Elon Musk rallied the troops in a Thursday night all-hands meeting, urging employees to hold tight to their stock. With shares down 50% in recent months, his pep talk aimed to steady nerves—and it seemed to work, at least for a day.
Boeing Flies High, Lockheed Dips
Boeing (BA) climbed 3.1% after snagging a massive deal from President Trump to build the F-47, the Air Force’s next-gen fighter jet. Details are hush-hush, but The Wall Street Journal pegs the project’s R&D and acquisition costs north of $50 billion. Meanwhile, rival Lockheed Martin (LMT), left out of the contract, saw its shares slide 5.8%.
Micron’s Margin Woes
Not everyone had a good day. Micron Technology (MU) tanked 8%, the S&P 500’s biggest loser. Sure, the chipmaker beat sales and profit forecasts for its fiscal Q2, but Wall Street fixated on shaky gross margins. Citi analysts slashed their price target, spooking investors despite the AI-driven boom Micron’s riding.
Texas Pacific Takes a Hit
Texas Pacific Land (TPL), a big player in the Permian Basin oil patch, dropped 7.2% after insiders—including the CFO and senior VP—dumped hefty chunks of stock. When execs cash out like that, it’s hard for investors not to wonder what’s up.
FedEx and Nucor Feel the Pinch
FedEx (FDX) fell 6.5% after missing profit targets and slashing its full-year outlook, blaming a shaky economy. UBS and Bank of America downgraded their price targets, adding salt to the wound. Steelmaker Nucor (NUE) also shed 5.8%, hit by a gloomy Q1 2025 profit forecast tied to weak steel prices dragging down earnings.
What’s It All Mean?
Friday’s modest gains capped a week where the market shook off its losing streak. AI optimism lifted some tech names, but uneven earnings and insider moves kept things choppy.
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