Ticker Reports for April 2nd
The 3 Most Talked About Investments on WallStreetBets Right Now
WallStreetBets (WSB) burst onto the investing scene in early 2021 as retail investors banded together to take on institutional players. The popular trading subreddit led a short squeeze against hedge funds with large short positions in GameStop (NYSE: GME). GameStop shares soared due to the collective buying by WSB participants and the short covering that followed. Shares rose north of 1600% in Jan. 2021.
Short covering is when investors close out their short positions by buying shares as the stock price starts to rise instead of fall. This can help limit their losses, but it also causes shares to rise even higher as more buying takes place. In a short squeeze scenario, buying from one group and short covering from another can create a vicious cycle, causing the value of a stock to increase exponentially.
WSB remains an active forum on Reddit, where retail investors discuss stocks and other investments. The forum can serve as an interesting barometer for retail investor sentiment and focus. Below are the details on the three most mentioned stocks on WSB over the 30 days ended Feb. 21. This data comes from Quiver Quantitative.
NVIDIA: King of Intrigue Among Retail Investors for Good Reason
Just as it is among talking heads in financial media, chip giant NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the most talked-about investment on WSB. The stock garnered over 15,000 mentions on the forum over this 30-day window, far surpassing any other investment tracked by Quiver.
Mentions of NVIDIA understandably began separating from the rest of the pack after the firm’s Jan. 26 earnings release and the Jan. 27 DeepSeek sell-off. NVIDIA has been the main barometer for gauging the enthusiasm and progress surrounding the GenAI revolution. This has cemented its unrivaled importance in the current market for any one stock.
Sentiment for NVIDIA on WSB appears highly positive over the 30 days ended Feb. 21. Quiver tracked 1,872 mentions of calls during that period. This contrasts with the 700 mentions of puts.
WSB users didn’t appear to have their bullish sentiment dashed by the DeepSeek sell-off on Jan. 27. On that day and the four days afterward, total call mentions outweighed put mentions by over two to one.
WSB Interest Demonstrates the S&P 500’s Dominance
The second most mentioned investment on WSB over this 30-day window is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY). SPY had over 10,000 mentions on WSB during this period.
SPY is one of the largest and most used ETFs that track the S&P 500 Index. With the S&P 500 being the most commonly used benchmark for large-cap U.S. stocks, it makes sense to see SPY being highly talked about on WSB.
Ultimately, where the S&P 500 goes likely has the largest cumulative impact on the entire stock market investing world. Interestingly, when adding in references to the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO), mentions of these S&P 500 trackers top NVIDIA. Together, SPY and VOO mentions were over 16,000. This shows the dominating force of the S&P 500 Index.
It is difficult for even a stock like NVIDIA to top the collective interest by following the index. Sentiment was significantly less one-sided among these investments. Together, call mentions for SPY and VOO came in at just under 2,400 compared to 2,200 put mentions.
There’s Always Something to Talk About With Elon Musk’s Tesla
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) took the third spot for most mentions over this 30-day window, with 6,400 mentions over the period. Tesla has become particularly known for its popularity among retail investors.
However, sentiment looks to have become somewhat bearish over this period. Put mentions came in at nearly 1,200, while call mentions were just over 950. This makes some sense, considering that Tesla shares fell over 20% between Jan. 21 and Feb. 21.
Tesla has been a hot topic in both financial and general media, especially since Trump took office. Elon Musk’s active involvement in the administration has created polarized views around the stock. Many argue that Musk is seeking and receiving favorable treatment for Tesla through his relationship with Trump.
However, there is also significant worry that his role in the administration will distract him from running Tesla to the best of his ability. Musk has been the firm's chief executive officer since 2008.
Elon Tax Shock?
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Recently, it emerged that our tax authorities have bought a powerful new AI supercomputer, worth millions of dollars.
It's the most advanced technology offered by AI giant Nvidia.
And it's almost certainly going to be used to advance Elon Musk's real agenda with DOGE... the massive, rapid roll out of AI across the entire federal government.
Will 2025 Be the Year the Energy Sector Finally Breaks Out?
The energy sector has significantly outperformed the broader market year-to-date in 2025. While the S&P 500 has struggled, with the SPY ETF down nearly 9% from its 52-week high and 5% YTD, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA: XLE) has surged over 9% as of the first quarter’s close. This strength has been fueled by stable oil and gas prices, potential peaks in U.S. oil production, and new LNG projects, all contributing to a resilient sector.
Additionally, energy stocks remain attractive as a defensive play, offering solid dividends from industry giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron.
Beyond fundamental factors, U.S. energy policy continues to support local production, while geopolitical tensions have tightened global supply, benefiting domestic producers. Investors navigating a late-cycle market and shifting consumer spending trends have found energy’s large-cap producers and midstream companies more appealing than the high-growth sectors of the S&P 500.
Energy Sector Approaches Multi-Year Resistance
Technically, the energy sector is nearing a pivotal moment. Since mid-2022, the XLE ETF has been consolidating between $80 and $100, with the latter acting as a key resistance level. After briefly testing support in early March, XLE has rebounded strongly, closing at $93.45 on Monday.
While an imminent breakout is uncertain, the sector’s YTD outperformance suggests that 2025 could be the year XLE finally pushes past its multi-year resistance. Investors should closely monitor price action near the high-$90s range. If XLE successfully breaks above $100, potentially during Q2, it could mark the start of a significant multi-year breakout, shifting energy from a lagging sector in previous years to a market leader.
Go-To Names If the Energy Sector Breaks Out
XLE: The Top Energy Sector ETF for Broad Exposure
For broad exposure, XLE remains the most straightforward play. The ETF tracks the Energy Select Sector Index, which includes major oil, gas, and energy equipment companies. With a diversified portfolio, a 3.06% dividend yield, and a low expense ratio of 0.09%, XLE offers a balanced way to capitalize on the sector’s strength. Based on analyst coverage of its key holdings, the ETF holds a Moderate Buy rating.
Exxon Mobil: A Sector Giant
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) mirrors the sector’s broader setup for investors seeking an individual stock play. XOM, the top-weighted stock in XLE, has been consolidating near its highs for multiple years, with $122 acting as significant resistance and $100 as strong support. YTD, XOM has outperformed, climbing 10.56% while trading just 6% below its 52-week high. From a technical standpoint, Exxon’s bullish chart signals that if the sector breaks out, XOM could deliver even more substantial gains given its leadership position, historical correlation, and outperformance of the ETF’s movement.
XOM shares in the positive sentiment surrounding the overall sector. Based on 22 analyst ratings, XOM has a Moderate Buy rating and price target forecasting over 8% in potential upside. The stock also has an impressive 3.3% dividend yield and an attractive forward P/E of 13.57.
The Bottom Line
With the energy sector demonstrating significant YTD strength and approaching key technical resistance, 2025 could be the year it breaks out of its multi-year consolidation. Investors should closely watch XLE’s price action near the $100 level. A confirmed breakout could set the stage for continued outperformance, making energy one of the most attractive sectors of the year.
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Top 3 Stocks Mega Investors Are Buying Now
It’s no secret that the naysayers have picked the technology sector as their latest target for criticism, this time going as far as to say there is a bubble in the entire artificial intelligence and cloud space. If everyone can see a bubble, it’s not a bubble; that’s what Wall Streeters can add to the table for these accusations. But, for those who don’t trust Wall Street’s opinion, here are other angles to consider.
Three of America’s largest investors have bought into a certain group of stocks inside the industry, and considering these investors have nothing to sell the public, knowing what they have been buying or selling can act only as an additional point of reference for investors to build or dismantle their views on specific companies. Allocators like Stanley Druckenmiller, Michael Burry, and Howard Marks have all recently taken a more optimistic view of technology stocks.
However, not all technology stocks are equal, and the typically safe exchange-traded fund (ETF) strategy might not be the best to implement in today’s doubt-ridden market. This is why these players decided to go with stocks like Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) as the ones to carry their portfolio performance into a territory that’s even deeper in the green.
A Dip Buying View for Meta Stock?
Now that shares of Meta have fallen slightly below 80% of their 52-week high level, investors can assume that they are now in an official bearish territory, as Wall Street defines it as a 20% or more decline from recent highs. Investors need to consider, however, the vital role that Meta plays in the United States (if not the global) economy today.
With the digitization of the domestic and global economy, Meta’s services and platforms in communications and social media make it one of the most important developments to consider. This is why such a low price cannot be justified for long in the company, driving institutional buyers from today’s list to run into the stock.
Overall, up to $51 billion of institutional buying took place in Meta stock during the past quarter, reiterating the optimistic view present today. Meta must recover past the recent dips, which might have been nothing more than an association selloff next to the volatility spikes in the broader S&P 500 index.
Unusual Backing in Alphabet
Just like its peer Meta, shares of Alphabet have now crossed into that bearish territory threshold, sitting at 75% of their 52-week highs. This recent bearish price action, however, failed to convince value-driven investors on today’s list to start buying into this discounted opportunity.
Reiterating this fact is the $55 billion recorded of institutional buying in the past quarter for Alphabet, a bullish sign for the coming months as a rally might be expected. This actually makes sense in any such deal, but the real sentiment check may be found in Wall Street analyst sentiment since it contradicts the typical role of their ratings.
Analysts are typically comfortable backing stocks whose charts have been performing up and to the right, as momentum is on their side. However, there were some willing to back Alphabet stock recently despite its bearish trajectory, a contrarian view that should be taken seriously by retail investors.
As of March 2025, analysts from Roth Mkm have given Alphabet stock a Buy rating, and this time, their valuation targets also reflected a much more optimistic view of the company's future. With a price target of up to $220 per share, these analysts have become the most bullish and most recent rating for the company.
This valuation also calls for Alphabet stock to make a new 52-week high, which should be enough to get even more momentum buyers into the company, as well as other analysts to boost the company’s rating and valuations further. Aside from a new high, this valuation also calls for a net rally of up to 42.6% from today’s low prices.
Price Action Does Not Drive Optimism From Amazon Stock
Another name below 80% of its 52-week high, but just as much a subject to buying from today’s list of mega investors, Amazon stock presents an interesting offer. Despite being dragged lower by the same sell-offs in the broader S&P 500, as well as some of the negativity in the consumer sector due to weakening data, Amazon stands strong. Strong by outperforming the S&P 500 over the past six months by nearly 6%.
Then, just like Alphabet, analysts are still willing to keep an optimistic outlook on this company despite its recent price action fallout. The consensus valuation is set at $260.6 today, calling for as much as 35.3% upside from today’s low prices.
On top of this optimism, there is a reason why the market is still willing to overpay for Amazon stock on a price-to-earnings (P/E) basis, trading at 34.8x compared to the retail sector’s average valuation of 23.6x today. Whenever stocks trade at a valuation premium outside of any bearish price action, reasons start to become clearer in the near future.
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