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Five Stocks That Dominated Retail Investor Chatter This Week

MarketDash Editorial Team
1 day ago
From Target's activist investor drama to Alphabet's AI-fueled dominance, retail investors on X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets couldn't stop talking about these five stocks during the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 2.

Retail investors spent the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 2 buzzing about five very different stocks on X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets. The conversation spanned retail turnarounds, semiconductor strength, AI dominance, crypto mining geopolitics, and Bitcoin accumulation strategies. It was a week that showed just how diverse retail investor interests have become.

The stocks getting all the attention were Target Corp. (TGT), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) (GOOGL), IREN Ltd. (IREN), and Strategy Inc. (MSTR). Together, they represented a snapshot of what's capturing retail imagination right now: corporate activism, AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency plays.

Target Attracts Activist Attention

Target (TGT) found itself in the spotlight after activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management picked up a significant stake in the struggling retailer. The market reaction was cautiously optimistic. Activist involvement often signals potential for operational overhauls and strategic changes that could unlock shareholder value over time.

Target responded to the news by reaffirming its commitment to "getting back to growth" and improving both its merchandise selection and shopping experience. That's corporate speak for "we know we have problems and we're working on them."

Retail investors had mixed feelings. While the activist stake was viewed as potentially catalytic, some commenters on Reddit weren't holding back about the quality of service at Target stores. The sentiment seemed to be: yes, this company needs a turnaround, and here's why.

Target's stock was trading in the $97 to $99 range as of publication, with a 52-week range of $83.44 to $145.08. The stock declined 28.75% in 2025 and dropped 7.30% over the past six months. According to market data, the stock showed a stronger price trend in the short and medium terms, though the long-term trend remained weak.

Taiwan Semiconductor Builds Momentum Before Earnings

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) had a busy week. The chipmaking giant received a U.S. annual export license for equipment shipments to its Nanjing facility. Meanwhile, Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) reportedly approached TSM to increase production of H200 AI chips to meet surging Chinese demand expected in 2026.

The news seemed to energize retail investors, many of whom expressed bullish sentiment ahead of Taiwan Semi's earnings release later this month. The combination of regulatory approval and increased demand from a major customer like Nvidia created a compelling narrative.

The stock was trading around $303 to $305 per share, within its 52-week range of $134.25 to $313.98. Taiwan Semi delivered impressive returns of 50.75% in 2025 and climbed 30.09% over the past six months. Market data showed the stock maintaining a stronger price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, with a strong quality score to boot.

Alphabet Dominates Its Megacap Peers

Alphabet (GOOG) had a year to remember. The tech giant posted the best performance among megacap stocks since 2025 began and topped the returns of its Magnificent 7 peers. The rally was driven by AI advancements in its Gemini platform, strong growth in cloud services, and progress at Waymo, its autonomous vehicle subsidiary.

Retail investors were highly bullish on Alphabet after what could only be described as a stellar year. The enthusiasm on Reddit and X was palpable, with investors celebrating the company's execution across multiple business lines.

The stock was trading in the $313 to $315 range, with a 52-week range of $142.66 to $328.67. Alphabet surged 64.61% in 2025 and gained 74.57% over the past six months. The stock maintained a stronger price trend over short, medium, and long-term periods, along with a solid quality score according to market rankings.

IREN Faces Geopolitical Crypto Mining Questions

IREN (IREN) came into focus this week after reports that the U.S. floated the idea of using Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for cryptocurrency mining as part of broader negotiations with Russia. The concept raised eyebrows because shifting mining operations overseas could reduce U.S. bitcoin production, which would contradict President Donald Trump's earlier pledge to ensure bitcoin is "mined, minted and made in the U.S."

Retail investors who bought IREN at higher price points were seen on Reddit contemplating their decisions, despite the stock's remarkable 200%-plus rally in 2025. It's the classic dilemma of being up big but still feeling the pain of not timing the entry perfectly.

IREN was trading around $36 to $38 per share, with a 52-week range of $5.12 to $76.87. The stock skyrocketed 261.09% in 2025 and posted the same gain over the past six months. Market data indicated a stronger price trend in the long term, though short and medium-term trends were weaker, with a moderate value ranking.

Strategy Continues Bitcoin Buying Despite Market Turbulence

Strategy (MSTR) announced on Dec. 29 that it purchased 1,229 Bitcoin for approximately $108.8 million, funded through stock sales. The purchase boosted the company's holdings to 672,497 BTC, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy even as year-end recaps highlighted a tough 2025 for the stock.

Then on Jan. 1, Strategy posted a New Year's message emphasizing its AI and data analytics focus for 2026 rather than Bitcoin. The messaging shift was notable given how closely the company has become associated with cryptocurrency.

Retail investors appeared cautious about taking new positions in Strategy after its volatile 2025 performance. The Reddit sentiment suggested investors were wary of chasing the stock after such dramatic moves.

Strategy was trading around $150 to $152 per share, with a 52-week range of $151.42 to $457.22. The stock plummeted 49.35% in 2025 and fell 62.23% over the past six months. According to market data, the stock was maintaining a weaker price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, with a poor value ranking.

The Bigger Picture

What's interesting about this week's retail focus is how it blended meme-driven narratives with actual earnings outlooks and corporate news flow. These weren't just random picks based on social media hype. There were real catalysts behind each stock's moment in the spotlight.

The diverse lineup also reflected the breadth of retail investor interests right now. From traditional retail activism to cutting-edge AI infrastructure, from crypto mining geopolitics to Bitcoin accumulation strategies, retail investors are tracking a wide range of investment themes.

This all played out during a week when the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq largely witnessed negative market action, missing the traditional Santa Claus rally that typically lifts stocks during the final trading days of the year. Even without broad market support, these five stocks managed to capture retail attention and drive significant conversation online.

Back to Stock Market News

Five Stocks That Dominated Retail Investor Chatter This Week

MarketDash Editorial Team
1 day ago
From Target's activist investor drama to Alphabet's AI-fueled dominance, retail investors on X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets couldn't stop talking about these five stocks during the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 2.

Retail investors spent the week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 2 buzzing about five very different stocks on X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets. The conversation spanned retail turnarounds, semiconductor strength, AI dominance, crypto mining geopolitics, and Bitcoin accumulation strategies. It was a week that showed just how diverse retail investor interests have become.

The stocks getting all the attention were Target Corp. (TGT), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) (GOOGL), IREN Ltd. (IREN), and Strategy Inc. (MSTR). Together, they represented a snapshot of what's capturing retail imagination right now: corporate activism, AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency plays.

Target Attracts Activist Attention

Target (TGT) found itself in the spotlight after activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management picked up a significant stake in the struggling retailer. The market reaction was cautiously optimistic. Activist involvement often signals potential for operational overhauls and strategic changes that could unlock shareholder value over time.

Target responded to the news by reaffirming its commitment to "getting back to growth" and improving both its merchandise selection and shopping experience. That's corporate speak for "we know we have problems and we're working on them."

Retail investors had mixed feelings. While the activist stake was viewed as potentially catalytic, some commenters on Reddit weren't holding back about the quality of service at Target stores. The sentiment seemed to be: yes, this company needs a turnaround, and here's why.

Target's stock was trading in the $97 to $99 range as of publication, with a 52-week range of $83.44 to $145.08. The stock declined 28.75% in 2025 and dropped 7.30% over the past six months. According to market data, the stock showed a stronger price trend in the short and medium terms, though the long-term trend remained weak.

Taiwan Semiconductor Builds Momentum Before Earnings

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) had a busy week. The chipmaking giant received a U.S. annual export license for equipment shipments to its Nanjing facility. Meanwhile, Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) reportedly approached TSM to increase production of H200 AI chips to meet surging Chinese demand expected in 2026.

The news seemed to energize retail investors, many of whom expressed bullish sentiment ahead of Taiwan Semi's earnings release later this month. The combination of regulatory approval and increased demand from a major customer like Nvidia created a compelling narrative.

The stock was trading around $303 to $305 per share, within its 52-week range of $134.25 to $313.98. Taiwan Semi delivered impressive returns of 50.75% in 2025 and climbed 30.09% over the past six months. Market data showed the stock maintaining a stronger price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, with a strong quality score to boot.

Alphabet Dominates Its Megacap Peers

Alphabet (GOOG) had a year to remember. The tech giant posted the best performance among megacap stocks since 2025 began and topped the returns of its Magnificent 7 peers. The rally was driven by AI advancements in its Gemini platform, strong growth in cloud services, and progress at Waymo, its autonomous vehicle subsidiary.

Retail investors were highly bullish on Alphabet after what could only be described as a stellar year. The enthusiasm on Reddit and X was palpable, with investors celebrating the company's execution across multiple business lines.

The stock was trading in the $313 to $315 range, with a 52-week range of $142.66 to $328.67. Alphabet surged 64.61% in 2025 and gained 74.57% over the past six months. The stock maintained a stronger price trend over short, medium, and long-term periods, along with a solid quality score according to market rankings.

IREN Faces Geopolitical Crypto Mining Questions

IREN (IREN) came into focus this week after reports that the U.S. floated the idea of using Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for cryptocurrency mining as part of broader negotiations with Russia. The concept raised eyebrows because shifting mining operations overseas could reduce U.S. bitcoin production, which would contradict President Donald Trump's earlier pledge to ensure bitcoin is "mined, minted and made in the U.S."

Retail investors who bought IREN at higher price points were seen on Reddit contemplating their decisions, despite the stock's remarkable 200%-plus rally in 2025. It's the classic dilemma of being up big but still feeling the pain of not timing the entry perfectly.

IREN was trading around $36 to $38 per share, with a 52-week range of $5.12 to $76.87. The stock skyrocketed 261.09% in 2025 and posted the same gain over the past six months. Market data indicated a stronger price trend in the long term, though short and medium-term trends were weaker, with a moderate value ranking.

Strategy Continues Bitcoin Buying Despite Market Turbulence

Strategy (MSTR) announced on Dec. 29 that it purchased 1,229 Bitcoin for approximately $108.8 million, funded through stock sales. The purchase boosted the company's holdings to 672,497 BTC, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy even as year-end recaps highlighted a tough 2025 for the stock.

Then on Jan. 1, Strategy posted a New Year's message emphasizing its AI and data analytics focus for 2026 rather than Bitcoin. The messaging shift was notable given how closely the company has become associated with cryptocurrency.

Retail investors appeared cautious about taking new positions in Strategy after its volatile 2025 performance. The Reddit sentiment suggested investors were wary of chasing the stock after such dramatic moves.

Strategy was trading around $150 to $152 per share, with a 52-week range of $151.42 to $457.22. The stock plummeted 49.35% in 2025 and fell 62.23% over the past six months. According to market data, the stock was maintaining a weaker price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, with a poor value ranking.

The Bigger Picture

What's interesting about this week's retail focus is how it blended meme-driven narratives with actual earnings outlooks and corporate news flow. These weren't just random picks based on social media hype. There were real catalysts behind each stock's moment in the spotlight.

The diverse lineup also reflected the breadth of retail investor interests right now. From traditional retail activism to cutting-edge AI infrastructure, from crypto mining geopolitics to Bitcoin accumulation strategies, retail investors are tracking a wide range of investment themes.

This all played out during a week when the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq largely witnessed negative market action, missing the traditional Santa Claus rally that typically lifts stocks during the final trading days of the year. Even without broad market support, these five stocks managed to capture retail attention and drive significant conversation online.

    Five Stocks That Dominated Retail Investor Chatter This Week - MarketDash News