Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Stocktwits Top 25 Newsletter for Week 15 in 2021.

The Stocktwits Top 25 reports the 25 best-performing stocks in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Russell 2000 year to date (YTD), and tracks their performances over time. 

Here are your Stocktwits Top 25 Lists for Week 15:

ST Top 25 S&P 500

The ST Top 25 S&P 500 list was a mixed bag for the third week in April.

Freeport-McMoRan flew 12% in Week 15 to grab the #10 spot as a Freshman. See more below. 

American Airlines descended 6.4%, dropping 12 spots from #20 to #8. It is the List’s biggest loser.

7 Freshmen made the list. The names include; 

Freeport-McMoRan, Mosaic, Wells Fargo & Company, DR Horton, CDW Corp, Lennar Corp, and Fortinet Inc. 

The Stocktwits Top 25 S&P 500 Momentum Meter gained 1.04% while the S&P 500 climbed 1.37%. The 0.33% differential indicates top stocks underperformed the full index. 

The Big Cap Nasdaq 100

Big Cap tech is back.

15 of 25 names on the ST Top 25 Nasdaq 100 list closed higher, managing a small Momentum Meter gain.

The semiconductor stocks had a rough week, giving back some gains. $AMAT, $INTC, $KLAC, $NXPI, and $TXN all closed red.

NVIDIA posted its third consecutive weekly gain and closed at all-time highs. $NVDA was the list’s biggest winner, see it in the Winner’s section below. 

The ST Top 25 Nasdaq 100 Momentum Meter managed a 0.27% gain in Week 13 while the full Nasdaq 100 gained 1.42%. The 1.15% differential suggests the full index outperformed the top stocks.

Small-Cap Russell 2000

The small-caps got hit hard again in Week 15.

15 of the 25 names closed lower, 6 of them falling > 10%.

General Finance Corp flew 62% this week after announcing United Rentals will buy out the company. $GFN is the Top Dawg below.

6 new stocks appeared on the ST Top 25 Russell 2000 list. The names include $HMHC, $VRTV, $GFN, $REVG, $FARM, and $ZEUS.

The ST Top 25 R2K Momentum Meter fell 1.80% while the Russell 2000 index eased up 0.86%. The 2.66% differential shows the top stocks were a tad bit weaker than the full index.

ST Top 25 TOP DAWG OF THE WEEK 🐶

The ST Top 25 Top Dawg for Week 15, 2021 is #20 R2K – General Finance Corporation.

$GFN got the job done thanks to a 62% weekly gain. The stock grabbed the #20 ranking while debuting on the ST Top 25 Russell 2000 list. 

The stock traded quietly to begin the week until it opened 55% higher Friday morning. General Finance announced that United Rentals $URI will buy out the finance and equipment leasing business on Thursday night.

Here’s the daily chart— $GFN is up 123% in 2021: 

$URI will acquire $GFN for $19/share in cash, for a grand total of $996 million, including $400 million in debt. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 of 2021.

Jody Miller, CEO of General Finance said:

Our combination with United Rentals — the industry leader in equipment rentals — is a strong outcome for everyone involved. Our customers will benefit from United’s extensive solutions and geographic footprint, and our employees will have new opportunities as part of the largest rental team in the world.

The Winners 📈

△ #10 S&P 500 – Freeport-McMoRan flew 12% and re-entered the ST Top 25 S&P 500 List at #10. 🏆

$FCX traded in a 4% range Monday and Tuesday until spiking 7.7% Wednesday on tremendous volume. The stock drifted 5% higher to close the week.

Copper stocks got a boost higher Wednesday after Goldman Sachs placed a 2025 price target of $15,000/ton on copper. A 66% price increase from the current level of ~ $9,000/ton.

Here’s the weekly chart:

$FCX will report earnings before the bell on Thursday, April 22nd.

△ #15 N100 – Nvidia exploded 10.5% and closed at an all-time high. $NVDA appeared on the ST Top 25 N100 List as a Freshman ranked #15.  

$NVDA ripped 5.6% on Monday after the company announced Q1 2021 revenues would exceed previous guidance. Here’s the daily chart: 

Colette Kress, CFO of NVIDIA said: 

While our fiscal 2022 first quarter is not yet complete, Q1 total revenue is tracking above the $5.30 billion outlook provided during our fiscal year-end earnings call. We are experiencing broad-based strength, with all our market platforms driving upside to our initial outlook.

△ #10 – Dynavax Technologies managed a 9.15% return in Week 15. The biotech company improved 9 spots on the ST Top 25 R2K List, moving from #19 to #10.  

$DVAX sprang to life on Thursday, jumping 7.10% after Valneva reported positive initial results from the first part of a phase 1/2 clinical study evaluating its COVID-19 vaccine candidate VLA2001. Dynavax’s CpG 1018 adjuvant is used in this experimental vaccine.

Weekly chart cup w/ handle:

Dynavax CEO, Ryan Spencer said:

We are excited to see the positive results Valneva has generated with their inactivated vaccine using Dynavax’s CpG 1018 adjuvant. We believe the effect delivered by our CpG 1018 adjuvant combined with Valneva’s existing manufacturing process for whole virus inactivated vaccines will result in an important option in the global fight against COVID-19.

$DVAX is up 147% YTD.

△ #13 S&P 500 – Wells Fargo & Company swelled 8.25% and closed green for the third straight week. $WFC secured the #13 spot on the ST Top 25 S&P 500 List as a Freshman. 

The Freshman spiked 5.5% on Wednesday after beating on top and bottom lines for Q1 earnings.

Here are the stats:

EPS: $1.05 vs $0.70 est.
Revenue: $18.06B, +2% YoY

CEO Charlie Scharf said:

Our results for the quarter, which included a $1.6 billion pre-tax reduction in the allowance for credit losses, reflected an improving U.S. economy, continued focus on our strategic priorities, and ongoing support for our customers and our communities. Charge-offs are at historic lows and we are making changes to improve our operations and efficiency, but low interest rates and tepid loan demand continued to be a headwind for us in the quarter.

$WFC is up 46.25% YTD.

The Sinners 📉

▼ #15 S&P 500 – KLA Corporation clambered lower with the other semi stocks. $KLAC lost 5.6% and fell 7 spots on the ST Top 25 N100 list. 

Here’s the daily chart:

$KLAC descended steadily throughout the week. The semiconductor stock closed red ⅘ days on decreasing volume.

Can KLA Corp turn it around in Week 16? Place your bets…

▼ #1 R2K – PAVmed popped 18% in Week 15 and surrendered all of Week 14’s gains. $PAVM was demoted 7 spots on ST Top 25 R2K list. 

Here’s the weekly chart:

On Monday, PAVmed CEO, Lishan Aklog, was selected as one of the Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2021 by Healthcare Technology Report.

Dr. Aklog said:

I am humbled to be named among such a prominent and accomplished group of industry leaders. This honor is first and foremost a recognition of PAVmed’s incredible team, who are working tirelessly, along with our world-class partners and advisors, to advance and commercialize groundbreaking innovations to improve patient care and save lives.

$PAVM is still up 132% YTD.

See Y’all Next Week 🤙