Retail investors on X and Reddit's r/WallStreetBets focused on five stocks from October 13 to 17, amid government shutdown concerns, banking earnings and AI enthusiasm. The stocks—Tesla, Rigetti Computing, Palantir Technologies, Oklo and JPMorgan Chase—spanned automotive, quantum computing, AI, nuclear energy and banking sectors. Discussions blended corporate news, future outlooks and meme-driven narratives during choppy market action.
Retail investors showed strong interest in Tesla Inc. (TSLA) this week, discussing its launch of the affordable Model Y Standard in Europe and strong China sales. Later, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began probing Tesla's Full Self-Driving system after incidents, though the Model S earned a spot in TIME's Invention Hall of Fame and energy deployments set third-quarter records. Skeptical investors questioned the stock's trading price around $419 to $425, within a 52-week range of $212.11 to $488.54, up 13.04% year-to-date and 94.10% over the year.
Rigetti Computing Inc. (RGTI) surged early in the week, driven by JPMorgan's $10 billion quantum investment news and $5.7 million in orders for 9-qubit Novera QPU systems, following a $5.8 million Air Force contract. Valuation concerns and $201 million in 2024 losses led to a later dip, with investors comparing gains to gold returns. The stock traded around $45 to $47, in a 52-week range of $0.91 to $58.15, up 139.85% year-to-date and 4,949.47% over the year.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) experienced volatility from a resurfaced Army security memo and Global X Japan's $2.55 million stake trim, but CEO Alex Karp's AI talks with South Korean firms boosted expansion buzz. Some investors regretted lacking positions. Trading around $173 to $178 in a 52-week range of $40.90 to $189.46, it rose 136.89% year-to-date and 324.10% over the year.
Oklo Inc. (OKLO) gained early after breaking ground on its Aurora micro-reactor at Idaho National Lab and DOE selection for a nuclear fuel pilot, tying into AI data center energy needs. Valuation debates on X caused a plunge, frustrating investors. It traded around $155 to $160, in a 52-week range of $14.11 to $193.84, up 642.06% year-to-date and 930.77% over the year.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) started banking earnings with better-than-expected third-quarter results but reserved $3.4 billion for credit losses. CEO Jamie Dimon warned of credit 'cockroaches' after Tricolor Holdings' bankruptcy, while investors noted potential investments in smaller banks. Trading around $295 to $299 in a 52-week range of $202.16 to $318.01, it increased 24.39% year-to-date and 33.03% over the year.
The S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq saw choppy action amid these discussions.