Weekly Market Highlights – 28 Aug 2026
Investing.com’s weekly roundup, authored by Sam Boughedda, identified a dominant performance by software and AI‑focused companies, highlighted strong earnings beats, and noted a notable decline in PayPal after a failed acquisition pursuit.
Nvidia Corp
Nvidia’s shares jumped 8.7% on Thursday following the release of its fiscal second‑quarter results, then slipped 3.7% on Friday, leaving the stock essentially flat for the week with a net gain of 0.2%. The chipmaker posted earnings of $2.22 per share on revenue of $96.2 billion, representing a 106 % year‑over‑year increase. For the upcoming third quarter, Nvidia guided revenue to $108 billion ±2 %, comfortably above the consensus estimate of $104.2 billion; the guidance excludes any data‑center sales from China. Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley maintained an Overweight rating with a $275 price target, emphasizing that roughly 25 % of total revenue next year is expected to stem from AI labs. Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore reiterated Nvidia as a “Top Pick,” citing a compelling product cycle, exceptional growth, and valuation below peers.
Salesforce.com Inc
Salesforce delivered a spectacular rally, rising 22.6 % on Thursday and adding an additional 3.6 % on Friday, positioning the stock for a weekly gain exceeding 27 %. The company reported second‑quarter adjusted earnings of $5.90 per share, far surpassing the consensus estimate of $3.27, while revenue of $11.3 billion matched forecasts and grew 11 % YoY. Raymond James analysts highlighted the guidance as a standout against peers that have projected extended sales cycles through 2026, suggesting a competitive advantage for Salesforce. Bank of America analyst Tal Liani described the overall picture as solid, noting that the results challenge the narrative that AI will displace Salesforce and shifting the debate toward how effectively the firm can monetize AI.
Cybersecurity Leaders – Okta Inc and CrowdStrike Holdings Inc
Okta’s stock surged 28.6 % on Thursday and has risen 24.9 % over the week after the company posted second‑quarter earnings and revenue that beat estimates, coupled with robust full‑year guidance. BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman raised his price target to $187 from $168, maintaining an Outperform rating and Top Pick designation, and pointed to a remaining performance‑obligations beat of roughly three points and accelerating CRPO growth. Management indicated that AI has not yet materially contributed to bookings but is expanding the pipeline, suggesting acceleration potential in fiscal 2028.
CrowdStrike also posted strong results, climbing 20.5 % on Thursday and up 14 % for the week after an earnings beat and an upgraded outlook. Citizens analyst Rustam Kanga reiterated a Market Outperform rating with a $230 price target, citing durable growth across its Falcon Cloud Security, Falcon Identity Protection, and Next‑Gen SIEM offerings, and describing the product portfolio as “still underpenetrated.” Kanga also highlighted the company’s AI‑driven innovation, including the Charlotte AI digital security analyst.
PayPal Holdings Inc
PayPal experienced a sharp decline, falling 12.5 % on Friday and 13.5 % over the week after Bloomberg reported that a consortium comprising Advent International and Stripe had abandoned its pursuit of the payments company. The news erased the premium that had built up around the prospect of a deal, prompting the share price to unwind.
Analyst Commentary Summary
Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James, Bank of America, BMO Capital, and Citizens analysts collectively reinforced positive outlooks for the highlighted companies, emphasizing earnings beats, strong guidance, and strategic AI positioning, while the PayPal decline underscores the market’s sensitivity to merger‑related news.