Top 20 US Stocks by Trading Volume on April 18: BNP Paribas Significantly Raises Apple's Price Target to $300

Deep News04:52

Tesla Motors, ranked first in trading volume on Friday, closed up 3.01% with a turnover of $36.16 billion. The company is set to launch a six-seater long-wheelbase Model Y L in the Indian market, exported from its Shanghai factory. Due to India's high import tariffs of 70%-110%, the vehicle's price is significantly higher than in China, resulting in Tesla selling only 227 units there last year and forcing price cuts to clear inventory. This model, positioned above the standard version, has been confirmed for entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets.

NVIDIA, the second most traded stock, closed up 1.68% with a turnover of $31.97 billion. Bernstein stated in a research report that NVIDIA's upcoming Vera Rubin platform could further extend its lead in the AI hardware sector. Bernstein maintained its Buy rating and $300 price target on NVIDIA. The firm indicated that the new platform, scheduled to begin shipments in the second half of 2026, may offer approximately 5 times the inference performance and 3.5 times the training performance of current systems.

NVIDIA's demand outlook remains strong according to Bernstein. The report noted that orders extend into 2027, and the company's updated guidance suggests a revenue path of around $500 billion, surpassing current market consensus estimates.

Western Digital, ranked third, closed up 0.17% with a turnover of $23.296 billion. Western Digital is scheduled to officially join the Nasdaq-100 index before the market opens on April 20, 2026. This inclusion could attract passive fund inflows and increase market visibility.

The company plans to announce its Q3 2026 fiscal year financial results on April 30, 2026, Eastern Time. Market consensus expects revenue of approximately $4.65 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $14.23.

Apple, ranked fifth, closed up 2.59% with a turnover of $15.229 billion. BNP Paribas upgraded the stock from Neutral to Outperform in a research report and set a $300 price target, stating that Apple may be better positioned than competitors to handle rising memory chip costs.

The investment bank suggested that memory chip price pressures could dampen demand for mid-to-low-end smartphones across the industry. The report said Apple's scale, premium product portfolio, and supply chain control might help it absorb more of the additional cost pressures compared to rivals.

This upgrade by BNP Paribas adds to a broader Wall Street view that Apple can defend its market share even in a more challenging component cost environment. The firm's perspective is that Apple's pricing power and procurement strength provide it with more room to protect demand than its peers.

Netflix, ranked eighth, closed down 9.72% with a turnover of $12.179 billion. The company's co-founder and Chairman, Reed Hastings, announced he will step down from the board. This move raises questions about the streaming giant's strategy as it seeks new growth avenues.

Hastings will not seek re-election at the company's annual meeting in June and plans to focus on philanthropy and other interests. He co-founded Netflix 29 years ago and helped transform it from a DVD-by-mail rental service into a global streaming platform.

This announcement follows Netflix's Q1 results, reported after market close on Thursday, which beat revenue and profit expectations, but provided guidance for the current quarter that fell short of analyst forecasts.

Despite the disappointing guidance impacting the stock price, several analysts began viewing the pullback as a potential buying opportunity.

Analysts from firms like J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley remained positive, citing strong user engagement, pricing power, and room for growth. Some weak guidance might simply be a timing issue, particularly as price increases in the US take months to fully reflect in earnings. Furthermore, Netflix continues to expand into areas like gaming, AI, and selective deals, which are expected to support long-term growth.

A stock referred to as "Strategy," ranked eleventh, closed up 11.80% with a turnover of $8.602 billion. The cryptocurrency sector rose collectively on Friday as Bitcoin gained over 3%.

Broadcom, ranked thirteenth, closed up 2.03% with a turnover of $8.243 billion. As of Friday's close, Broadcom had risen for nine consecutive trading days, marking its longest winning streak since December 2023.

Palantir Technologies Inc., ranked sixteenth, closed up 2.54% with a turnover of $7.369 billion. Mizuho reduced its price target on Palantir from $195 to $185, citing a cautious stance due to the macroeconomic environment and a reset in overall valuation frameworks.

Exxon Mobil, ranked twentieth, closed down 3.65% with a turnover of $4.135 billion. Oil-related stocks declined collectively on Friday after US President Trump confirmed Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a sharp drop in crude oil prices.

On Friday, Brent crude futures settled at $90.38 per barrel, down $9.01 or 9.07%. US WTI crude futures settled at $83.85 per barrel, down $10.84 or 11.45%.

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