Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Applied Materials, UnitedHealth, Intel and more

After-hours trading saw significant movements, with semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials tumbling 11% on a missed current-quarter outlook, while Gambling.com and Sandisk also declined due to disappointing EBITDA guidance and narrower gross margins, respectively. Conversely, UnitedHealth surged nearly 8% following Berkshire Hathaway's disclosure of a new $1.6 billion stake, and Intel gained on reports of potential government investment to bolster U.S. manufacturing capacity. Additionally, Hims & Hers Health fell over 5% amid an FTC investigation into its subscription practices.

Analysis

The after-hours trading session revealed a market highly sensitive to company-specific guidance and strategic developments, leading to significant divergence in stock performance. In the semiconductor sector, Applied Materials (AMAT) fell 11% due to a current-quarter outlook that missed LSEG analyst expectations, a decline that occurred despite beating fiscal third-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, underscoring the market's forward-looking orientation. Similarly, weak fundamentals drove other declines, with Sandisk (SNDK) slumping nearly 10% after its non-GAAP gross margin contracted to 26.4% from 36.4% year-over-year, and Gambling.com (GAMB) dropping 11% on full-year EBITDA guidance of $62-$64 million, which fell short of the $67.2 million FactSet consensus. Regulatory risk surfaced for Hims & Hers Health (HIMS), which declined over 5% following a Bloomberg report of an FTC investigation into its subscription practices. Conversely, positive catalysts boosted other names. UnitedHealth (UNH) surged nearly 8% after a regulatory filing disclosed that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a new stake valued at over $1.6 billion. Intel (INTC) climbed almost 4%, adding to its regular session gains, on reports that the Trump administration is considering a stake to bolster U.S. manufacturing capacity.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Given the sharp negative reaction to weak guidance at Applied Materials and Gambling.com, investors should prioritize forward-looking statements and margin trends over historical earnings performance when assessing holdings.
• The nearly 8% jump in UnitedHealth following Berkshire Hathaway's stake disclosure highlights the significant impact of endorsements from prominent investors, suggesting that tracking such institutional moves can signal strong underlying conviction.
• The FTC investigation into Hims & Hers Health introduces a material regulatory risk; positions in the stock should be monitored for any developments regarding the probe, which could affect its subscription-based business model.
• For Intel, the potential for a government investment represents a significant de-risking event and a potential catalyst for long-term growth, warranting consideration for investors bullish on domestic semiconductor manufacturing.