Top Stock Movers – December 18, 2025
U.S. stocks moved higher after November’s core CPI inflation came in below expectations, boosting investor confidence that price pressures are easing. The Nasdaq led gains as technology stocks rebounded, while the S&P 500 advanced and reclaimed its 50-day moving average. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher but lagged broader market strength.The session’s biggest winner was Micron Technology (MU), which surged more than 11% after delivering a strong earnings and revenue beat along with an upbeat outlook. The results lifted semiconductor stocks broadly, pushing ASML Holding (ASML) higher and supporting gains in chip-related names. Western Digital (WDC) also stood out, climbing over 5% on improving profitability and continued strength in data storage demand.
Defense stocks remained in focus as Elbit Systems (ESLT) extended gains following a breakout tied to a new rocket artillery contract with Greece. In energy, nuclear power names outperformed, led by Constellation Energy (CEG), which jumped more than 6% after highlighting its long-term power supply deal with Microsoft (MSFT) to support AI-driven data center demand.
Gold stocks led the metals group, with Newmont (NEM) continuing its recent rally as investors positioned for strong earnings growth ahead. Consumer-related stocks also showed strength, as Carvana (CVNA) advanced more than 2%, while Tesla (TSLA) and Nvidia (NVDA) rebounded after sharp losses in the prior session.
On the downside, earnings-related weakness hit several stocks. Birkenstock (BIRK) plunged more than 10% following its quarterly results, while CarMax (KMX) dropped over 6%. In technology, Celestica (CLS) fell nearly 2% after reversing earlier gains, signaling continued short-term weakness.
Overall, the market reaction reflected optimism driven by cooling inflation, with investors rewarding stocks tied to strong earnings momentum while punishing companies that disappointed.
