Stocks in Focus: Biggest Market Movers on February 24, 2025

The stock market on Monday, February 24, 2025, experienced significant movements as earnings reports, analyst upgrades and downgrades, and broader market trends shaped the trading session. While some companies posted strong gains, others struggled due to disappointing results or external pressures.

One of the standout performers was Berkshire Hathaway, which saw its stock rise nearly 4 percent. The company reported impressive fourth-quarter earnings, with operating profits surging by 71 percent to reach $14.5 billion. A major factor behind this success was the strong performance of its insurance segment, particularly Geico, which posted a remarkable 302 percent jump in underwriting profits. Warren Buffett’s ability to capitalize on the insurance sector continues to reinforce Berkshire Hathaway’s dominance in the market.

In contrast, Meta Platforms faced another difficult trading session, with its stock declining by over 1 percent. This marked its fifth consecutive day of losses, its longest losing streak since August 2024. Concerns over slowing user growth and increased competition in digital advertising have weighed heavily on investor sentiment.

Another major decliner was Palantir, which suffered an 8.7 percent drop. Investors continued to reconsider the company’s long-term growth prospects, particularly around government contracts and enterprise adoption. This marked Palantir’s fourth straight losing session, bringing its total losses to 24 percent over the past five trading days.

Earnings reports were a key driver of stock movements. Domino’s Pizza saw its stock decline by 2 percent after reporting weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The company’s earnings per share came in at $4.89, just below the $4.90 analysts had projected. Additionally, revenue of $1.44 billion fell short of the anticipated $1.48 billion, with disappointing same-store sales growth leading to concerns about consumer demand and pricing strategies.

Alibaba also struggled, dropping 9 percent despite receiving an upgrade from Morgan Stanley to an overweight rating. Last week, the stock had rallied 15.3 percent, but broader concerns over China’s e-commerce environment and continued regulatory uncertainty appeared to drive the recent sell-off. One positive note for the company was growth in its cloud computing division, but overall investor skepticism remained high.

Analyst ratings played a crucial role in shaping Monday’s stock movements. Nike enjoyed a 4 percent gain after Jefferies upgraded the stock from hold to buy. Analysts cited improvements in product innovation and development as key factors boosting investor confidence.

Freshpet was another big winner, surging more than 8 percent after Jefferies analysts gave it a buy rating and projected a 23 percent rise in sales by 2027. With growing demand for high-quality pet food, the company appears well-positioned for long-term growth.

Meanwhile, Rivian faced a challenging day after Bank of America downgraded its stock from neutral to underperform. The electric vehicle manufacturer’s stock fell nearly 8 percent as concerns about increasing competition from conventional automakers, potential sales struggles in 2025, and decreasing U.S. EV incentives prompted a more bearish outlook from analysts.

The energy sector also took a hit following reports from TD Cowen analyst Michael Elias that Microsoft had canceled several data center leases, eliminating what was expected to be a significant increase in energy demand. This news led to declines in multiple energy stocks, with Vistra falling by 4 percent, Constellation Energy dropping 7 percent, and GE Vernova slipping by 2 percent.

Overall, Monday’s market session highlighted the impact of earnings results, analyst recommendations, and external economic factors on stock performance. Berkshire Hathaway, Nike, and Freshpet stood out among the winners, benefiting from strong earnings and favorable analyst sentiment. In contrast, Meta, Palantir, and Rivian experienced notable declines as investors remained cautious about their future growth potential.

As the market continues to navigate earnings season and evolving economic conditions, investors must stay informed and adapt to market developments. With companies like Berkshire Hathaway demonstrating resilience and others, such as Meta, facing mounting pressures, the coming weeks could bring further volatility and investment opportunities.