The first full month of 2025 is in the books, and the stock market is off to a decent start. The major indexes -- the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average -- were up 2.7%, 1.6%, and 4.7%, respectively.

In a change of pace from previous months, the Nasdaq took a back seat to the Dow, as sectors like financial services, energy, and industrials outperformed tech. Nevertheless, there were plenty of big winners in the Nasdaq-100. Here are the top five performers during the month of January. 18%

The top five

Below are the top five stocks in the Nasdaq-100 based on price performance between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1, 2025:

1. Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG), up 34%
2. Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM), up 29%
3. Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM), up 26%
4. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), up 18%
5. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), up 18%

Two themes emerge from this list: artificial intelligence (AI) and better-than-expected earnings reports.

First off, artificial intelligence remained a winning theme. Constellation Energy, Arm Holdings, and Meta Platforms are tied to the AI sector through rising data centre energy demand, semiconductor design licensing, and AI implementation, respectively.

Meanwhile, shares of Atlassian surged after the company's fourth-quarter earnings release topped expectations, both in terms of results and forward guidance.

Finally, Starbucks also reported an upbeat earnings report. The company's new CEO, Brian Niccol, is working to turn around this iconic American brand, whose stock has underperformed the market for several years.

Are any of these stocks buys right now?

In short, yes, all of them are worth considering. That's because the catalysts that pushed these stocks higher in January remain in place. So, while they may not be suitable for every portfolio, growth-seeking investors would be wise to keep these stocks near the top of their watch list.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Extending its 23%-plus climb during 2024, the S&P 500 started 2025 off with a bang, rising 2.7% in January.

And while some S&P 500 companies failed to keep pace with the index's gain, others soared. Representing a range of industries, the five top-performing S&P 500 stocks all rose more than 20% last month with Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) leading the pack.

1. Robinhood Markets (up 39.4%)

Investors hate uncertainty. So when they gained clarity into how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation against Robinhood regarding securities violations would resolve (Robinhood will pay $45 million in penalties), investors rejoiced, sending the stock soaring.

2. Twilio (up 35.6%)

Twilio (NYSE: TWLO) held its Investor Day on Jan. 23, and investors liked what they heard. The software company, which supports artificial intelligence developers, expects to generate positive operating income in 2025 and more than $3 billion in free cash flow from 2025 through 2027.

3. Constellation Energy (up 34.1%)

Days after the ball had dropped, Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) powered higher, when it announced its plan to acquire Calpine, an electric utility with robust clean energy assets. The utility stock soared 25% higher on the day of the news.

4. CVS Health (up 25.8%)

Inspired by a proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that Medicare Advantage payments rise 4.3% on average, investors bid CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) stock higher. An analyst's positive take also contributed to the stock's movement. Evercore ISI hiked its price target to $65 from $60.

5. GE Aerospace (up 22%)

GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) lifted investors' spirits when it reported strong financial results. Compared to Q4 2023, revenue and free cash flow climbed 14% and 21%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024. The market also celebrated management's auspicious 2025 forecast that includes continued free cash flow growth.

Is now the time to buy these S&P 500 stars?

The top-performing S&P 500 stocks in January are industry leaders that are certainly worth further investigation. Potential investors should ensure that they match their individual investing goals.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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The ETF seeks to track the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) before fees. This index represents the 100 largest stocks on the NASDAQ by market capitalisation.

When people think of the NASDAQ 100, they think US tech shares.

That's fair enough, particularly given the dominant presence of the Magnificent Seven, which are either tech developers themselves or use high tech in their businesses.

But in reality, only about half (49.7%) of the NASDAQ 100 is tech stocks. The rest are communications shares (16.4%), consumer discretionary (13.4%), consumer staples (5.9%), health care (5.9%), and others.

Over the past 12 months, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has risen by an impressive 30.19%. The NDQ ETF was trading at $47.68 per unit on Thursday, down 0.68% for the day.

So, which stocks have contributed most to another year of exceptional capital gains for the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)?

12 stocks pumping up the NDQ ETF

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA)

Shares in chip maker Nvidia have ripped 180.6% higher to US$135.34 over the past year.

It's no surprise that Nvidia is the fastest-growing stock within the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

Arm Holdings PLC-ADR (NASDAQ: ARM)

The Arm Holdings share price has shot 118.6% higher to US$133.37 over the past year.

Arm is a British semiconductor and software design company based in England.

Constellation Energy Corp (NASDAQ: CEG)

Stock in Constellation Energy has risen 102.6% to US$253.39 over the past 12 months.

Constellation is one of the largest energy suppliers in the United States.

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Shares in streaming company Netflix have also contributed strongly to the growth of the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF over the past year.

Netflix shares are up 83.1% to US$877.34.

Fortinet Inc (NASDAQ: FTNT)

Stock in cybersecurity services provider, Fortinet has risen 75% to US$94.06 per share.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG)

The Intuitive Surgical share price is up 71% to US$535.55 per share.

Intuitive Surgical is a US biotech that develops and manufacturers clinical and surgical robotics.

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META)

Stock in social media empire Meta has risen 70.1% to US$569.20 per share over the past 12 months.

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO)

Shares in Broadcom have ascended 68% to US$159.67 over the past year.

Broadcom is a US developer and manufacturer of semiconductor and infrastructure software products.

Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)

Stock in Booking Holdings has lifted 66.8% to US$5,223.15 per share.

Booking is a US travel technology company and one of the priciest stocks, in dollar terms, within the NDQ ETF.

Crowdstrike Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: CRWD)

Stock in US cybersecurity company, Crowdstrike has risen by 65.5% to US$347.59 over the year.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST)

The CostCo share price has ascended 61.6% to US$961.55 over the past year.

CostCo is a membership warehouse retailer that sells goods at wholesale prices.

Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MRVL)

Stock in Marvell Technology has risen 61.2% to US$90.10 per share over the past 12 months.

Marvell is a US semiconductor developer.

Price history snapshot: Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has risen by 125.4% over the past five years.

This compares to a 23.7% increase in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The post Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) is up 30% in a year. Which stocks have turbocharged its rise? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

2024 has been a great year for investors. For example, the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 market index has seen a year-to-date total return of 26%, as of Nov. 13.

Six stocks in that index have gained more than 70% this year. Here are the top performers on the Nasdaq 100 in 2024:

Data source: Finviz and YCharts on 11/13/2024. Table by author.

These market-beating stocks took very different paths to the top in 2024:

• Nvidia and Arm Holdings benefit from the ongoing frenzy for high-powered artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
• The Trade Desk soars as the online advertising market swings back from a multiyear downturn.
• Netflix and DoorDash are reaping the benefits of revamped service portfolios and refreshed consumer spending habits -- in very different industries.
• Constellation Energy enjoys broad demand for clean energy and a refreshed interest in nuclear power.

Where will these Nasdaq-100 winners go next?

Only time will tell where these soaring stocks might go from here. That being said, Wall Street analysts expect all of them to continue climbing for a while. Every stock on this list has earned an average analyst recommendation of "buy" or better, despite soaring charts and lofty valuation ratios.

Therefore, if the Street projections are correct, this bull market should continue in 2025.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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The broader benchmark S&P 500 has ripped all year and is now up nearly 22%. The index is a bellwether for the entire market and includes 500 larger companies in many industries. Technically, the S&P 500 has more than 500 stocks because some companies have multiple classes of shares. With such a wide sample size, many stocks in the S&P 500 have performed worse than the broader index and many have performed better.

Here are the four hottest stocks in the S&P 500 so far this year, and believe it or not, only one is in the "Magnificent Seven." Can you still buy these stocks after such a good run?

1. Vistra Corp -- 224%

Utility stocks have had a bang-up year, as lower interest rates have led investors to gravitate toward dividend-paying stocks. However, something else has been fueling Vistra (NYSE: VST), the largest competitive power generator in the U.S. That, of course, is artificial intelligence. Interestingly, Vistra looks to be a potential "picks and shovels" trade for the AI sector, but in a very different way than semiconductors. AI is powered by data and data centers, which are very energy-intensive. Tech companies believe a good alternative could be to connect data centers to nuclear plants. Vistra owns four nuclear reactors after acquiring Energy Harbor in 2023.

2. Nvidia -- 172%

Investors shouldn't be surprised to see this name on the list, considering it's been arguably the most talked about ticker in the investing world. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the classic "picks and shovels" play on AI, designing chips that make AI possible. Nvidia's chips are used by some of the world's largest and most innovative tech companies, including OpenAI, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. Some analysts estimate that Nvidia's market share for the AI semiconductors that helped make ChatGPT technology possible is between 70% and 95%. Since the start of 2023, Nvidia's revenue and profits have grown like a weed.

NVDA Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts.

Palantir -- 153%

Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) went public during the pandemic in 2020, and it's been quite the ride ever since, with the stock up almost 370%. What does Palantir do? You guessed it: AI. Palantir uses AI to help people and organizations analyse vast quantities of data in a user-friendly way that doesn't require them to learn some of the more complex languages and techniques at the core of AI.

Palantir has constructed platforms that use AI to manipulate and manage data. The company then builds applications atop these platforms so humans with no AI expertise can analyze this data. The company's largest client is the U.S. government, and it has gotten large contracts with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Army.

Constellation Energy -- 127%

Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) is the largest carbon-free energy producer in the U.S. It's based in Baltimore and owns sustainable energy assets, including wind and solar farms and hydropower plants. Roughly 90% of the energy from Constellation is carbon-free, and the company is responsible for 10% of all carbon-free energy in the U.S. Constellation also owns 21 nuclear reactors at 12 sites across the country, making it the largest operator of nuclear reactors in the U.S. Investors believe it could be a critical asset in the future powering of data centres and AI.

Earlier this year, Constellation's CEO Joe Dominguez cited AI as one of the industries it is seeing demand from in terms of nuclear energy. Constellation is projecting that major tech companies will invest $1 trillion in data centres over the next five years. 

Are these AI stocks buys?

AI has driven stocks to meteoric valuations, and this sentiment can be seen in the current price-to-earnings ratios of these four stocks.

NVDA PE Ratio data by YCharts.

All these companies are compelling given what they do and the potential for AI to fundamentally shift almost every aspect of our lives. I've never been a huge growth investor who buys companies at massive valuations. That's because the margin for error gets slim, and a simple miss on earnings or disappointing guidance can send the stock tumbling.

But for long-term investors who can handle some volatility, I think all of these stocks offer promise. Of these four, I like the utility names like Constellation and Vistra better right now. They've gotten expensive as a group, but pay dividends and are not entirely dependent on AI. So they can benefit from the AI boom, but also have other sources of business to fall back on if AI stumbles.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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The uranium industry was the standout performer on Monday, with strong gains being recorded across the board.

Let's take a quick look at how a number of uranium miners and developers performed during the session:

• Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN) shares rose 12% to $2.67.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares rose 8% to $2.90.
• Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) shares rose 5% to $1.23.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) shares rose 4% to 24 cents.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares rose 5% to $9.86.
• Peninsula Energy Ltd (ASX: PEN) shares rose 6% to 9 cents.

Why were ASX uranium shares surging?

Investors were scrambling to buy uranium shares in response to news that tech giant Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is turning to nuclear power to fuel its artificial intelligence (AI) aspirations.

On Friday, Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG) announced that it has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft. This will pave the way for the launch of the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) and the restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1. The latter operated at industry-leading levels of safety and reliability for decades before being shut down for economic reasons five years ago. The CCEC is expected to be online in 2028.

According to the release, under the agreement, Microsoft will purchase energy from the renewed plant as part of its goal to help match the power its data centres in PJM use with carbon-free energy.

This could be big news for ASX uranium shares. A number of tech giants have been criticised for how much power their data centres are consuming to support AI. So, if others follow Microsoft's lead, it could spark a surge in demand for uranium and boost prices.

Constellation Energy's president and CEO, Joe Dominguez, commented:

Powering industries critical to our nation's global economic and technological competitiveness, including data centers, requires an abundance of energy that is carbon-free and reliable every hour of every day, and nuclear plants are the only energy sources that can consistently deliver on that promise.

Before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics, this plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear plants on the grid, and we look forward to bringing it back with a new name and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine for Pennsylvania.

Microsoft's VP of Energy, Bobby Hollis, adds:

This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft's efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative. Microsoft continues to collaborate with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources to help meet the grids' capacity and reliability needs.

Constellation Energy's shares rocketed 22% on the Nasdaq on Friday evening because of the news.

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