Key takeout
- On Monday, September 15, 2025, an uptick in AI demand and planned price increases bolstered data storage inventories, but analyst downgrades put pressure on the packaged food sector.
- Seagate Technology and Western Digital saw their stocks rise due to optimism surrounding AI-driven demand.
- On the other hand, JM Smucker’s shares declined following a downgrade from Argus Analyst.
Stocks for Seagate and Western Digital are among the top performers in the benchmark index, kicking off the trading week on a positive note with signs of growing interest in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, major packaged food companies are facing challenges due to analyst warnings that price hikes are affecting their sales volumes.
The S&P 500 rose by 0.5%, with investors keeping an eye on US-China trade discussions, while hitting a record high ahead of upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decisions. The Nasdaq increased by 0.9%, marking its sixth consecutive record, while the Dow saw a modest rise of 0.1%.
Seagate Technology’s shares surged by 7.7%, achieving the best daily performance within the S&P 500. While the company offers various data storage solutions, it’s gaining attention for its large drives used in AI data centers. Western Digital also saw a 4.8% jump, hitting an all-time high.
Albemarle, the leading lithium producer, experienced a 6.7% increase in shares. This rebound comes after previous losses when Chinese lithium mine operators, who had paused production, announced they would restart activities sooner than expected. This news has dampened enthusiasm for an improving oversupply situation affecting lithium prices. Still, analysts commend Albemarle for cutting costs and enhancing its balance sheet in this tough market.
Alphabet’s shares climbed over 4%, making Google’s parent company the fourth to reach a $3 trillion market cap. The stock received a significant boost earlier in September after an antitrust ruling stated that Alphabet does not need to divest its Chrome browser.
Arista Networks rose by 4.3% on Monday, recovering from a sharp decline the previous Friday. This uptick followed presentations at their Analyst Day, where the company detailed its robust long-term growth outlook. Despite forecasts for a decrease in operating profit margins leading to initial market concerns, Arista has been driving strong AI networking revenue growth, prompting various investment firms to raise their stock price targets.
Corteva shares fell by 5.7%, the largest decline among S&P 500 stocks, amid reports suggesting the company is considering splitting its seed and pesticide operations into separate entities. Such a separation might help safeguard Corteva’s seed business from potential debts linked to its pesticide and chemical operations. Corteva was established in 2019 through a spinoff from Dowdupont Chemical.
JM Smucker’s shares dipped by 5.2% following a downgrade from Argus, which revised its rating from “buy” to “hold.” Analysts indicated sales pressures arising from rising prices in fruit reserves and other packaged foods, primarily due to supply chain challenges and inflation. The company’s coffee segment, featuring brands like Folger and Dunkin’, is particularly concerning due to escalating product costs and tariff impacts.
Factset Research Systems saw their stock decrease by 4.8%. Analysts at Rothschild Redburn upgraded their stock rating from “sell” to “neutral” recently but also lowered their price targets and earnings per share estimates. This downgrade has put significant stress on Factset’s customer base, suggesting that AI could disrupt the financial services sector.
