Fears surrounding higher interest rates reemerged after today's hotter-than-expected inflation data for January. While the reading is also impacting gold prices, the precious metal is fresh off a record-setting run in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs, which boosted demand for the safe-haven commodity as investors monitor a potential trade war. Below, let's check in with two gold mining giants amid corporate earnings. 

GOLD Eyes Best Day Since August

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) stock is up 6.1% to trade at $18.11 at last glance -- its highest level since November -- after the company beat fourth-quarter profit estimates and unveiled a $1 billion share buyback program. On track for its best day since August, GOLD sports a 28.7% year-over-year lead, and earlier conquered its 100-day moving average.

Options volume is running at triple the intraday average volume today, with 69,000 calls and 18,000 puts exchanged so far today. The most popular contract by far is the March 80 call.

NEM Gears Up for Earnings

Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) will announce fourth-quarter results after the market closes on Thursday, Feb. 20. The security was last seen up 1.9% to trade at $46.37, and sports a 44.1% year-over-year lead, with 24% added just this year. The shares started the week with a pop to their highest level since late October, and are consolidating above their own 100-day trendline.

Newmont stock has a mixed history of post-earnings reactions, finishing four of its last eight next-day sessions higher, and four lower. This includes a 14.7% drop after its most recent earnings report. The security averaged a move of 6.2% over the past two years, regardless of direction, and this time the options pits are pricing in a larger swing of 8.1%. 

Hotter-than-expected inflation data is pressuring stocks this morning, but the shares of CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS), DoorDash Inc (NASDAQ:DASH), and Upstart Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UPST) are bucking today's headwinds, thanks to a round of upbeat earnings.

CVS Eyes Best Day Ever

CVS is up 14.9% to trade at $63.22 at last glance, after the pharma retailer reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter, while its 2025 profit outlook met expectations. Shares are on track for a third-straight gain and best single-day percentage pop on record, and earlier surged to their highest level since October. CVS has already added 40.2% in 2025.

DoorDash Stock Hits Record High

DASH was seen up 2.6% to trade at $198.13, and earlier hit a record high of $200.31 after the food delivery name surpassed revenue expectations for the fourth quarter, announced a $5 billion share buyback, and issued an upbeat demand forecast. The stock boasts a 71.1% year-over-year lead, and at least 14 analysts hiked their price objectives, including Deutsche Bank to $246 from $224.

Upstart Stock Upgraded

UPST is up a 29.5% to trade at $87.21 at last check, set for its sixth gain in the last seven sessions, as well as its best day since August. Today's surge comes after the company shared a surprise profit for the fourth quarter, beat revenue estimates, and issued a strong full-year revenue outlook. Shares surged to a two-year high of $89.47 earlier and now sport a 214.1% nine-month lead, after four price-target hikes and an upgrade from J.P. Morgan Securities to "neutral" from "underweight." 

Tech stock Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:SMCI) is up 3.9% at $40.12 at last glance, despite the company slashing its 2025 revenue forecast and missing fiscal second-quarter results estimates, after its 2026 guidance came in much higher than expected. CEO Charles Liang also stated that he is "confident" the company will be able to file its annual report by the Feb. 25 deadline. 

Outsized moves are common for Super Micro Computer stock. In fact, the equity hasn't seen a swing below 5% since Feb. 3. Five of the last six sessions were positive, including a 17.6% pop to kick off the week, as the stock climbs back up toward the $50 level, which has capped gains since August. Year over year, SMCI is down 48.2%. 

Options traders are chiming in straight out of the gate. So far, 341,000 calls and 207,000 puts have been exchanged, which is quadruple the overall options volume typically seen at this point. The weekly 2/14 45- and 50-strike calls are the most popular, with new positions opening at the former.

This preference for calls isn't unusual, as calls have been picked up at their fastest pace all year over the last 10 weeks. This is per SMCI's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.92 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which ranks higher than all other readings from the past 12 months. 

Shares of Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:GILD) are up 4% in premarket trading, after the company delivered a strong fourth-quarter earnings beat. The biopharmaceutical giant reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS), exceeding analyst estimates by 11.7%, on $7.57 billion in revenue -- a 6.4% year-over-year increase that topped expectations. Gilead also issued solid fiscal 2025 guidance, forecasting $28.4 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $7.90, slightly above analyst projections. They also hiked their quarterly dividend to 79 cents per share.

In response to the triple play, no fewer than eight brokerages hiked their price targets, the highest coming from Morgan Stanley to $124 from $113. Despite GILD’s strong fundamentals, 12 of 29 analysts still rate the stock a "hold", while the consensus 12-month price target of $102.86 is soon to be a slim discount to today's perch. In other words, more bull notes could keep the wind at the equity's back.

If this momentum continues, Gilead Sciences stock could challenge its nearly nine-year high of $101.51, reached on Feb. 5. The stock has carved out a channel of higher highs since a May 31 two-year bottom of $62.07, gaining 42.1% over the last nine months.

Options traders are in luck as the stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) ranks at 84 out of a possible 100. This suggests Gilead has tended to exceed options traders' volatility expectations over the past 12 months.

Software name Palo Alto Networks Inc (NASDAQ:PANW) is gearing up for its latest quarterly report, due out after the close on Thursday, Feb. 13. Wall Street expects earnings of 78 cents per share on revenue of $2.24 billion, representing a 6.9% and 13.3% increase, respectively, from the same quarter last year. Keybanc is optimistic ahead of the event, lifting its price target to $240 from $217 today. 

Options bulls have been chiming in as well. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), PANW's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.24 ranks higher than 98% of readings from the past year. 

PANW's post-earnings history leans positive, with five of the last eight next-day moves ending in gains. This time around, the options pits are pricing in a 12.3% swing, regardless of direction, which is larger than the 10.1% move the stock has averaged over the last two years. 

On the charts, the stock has been chopping higher, moving toward its Dec. 17 record high of $207.24. After bouncing off familiar support at the $180 level, which coincided with its 20-day moving average, PANW marked five-straight gains last session. The stock has pulled back slightly today, however, down 0.6% at $195.19 at last glance. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated headlines to start the year, especially after President Donald Trump revealed a joint venture to invest "$500 billion, at least" for AI Infrastructure in the U.S. More recently, Chinese startup DeepSeek shook up the sector after its AI model beat out OpenAi -- at a significantly lower cost.

With these rapid developments, now is a great time to check in on three AI-adjacent stocks: Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ:TEM), BigBear.ai Holdings Inc (NYSE:BBAI), and SoundHound AI Inc (NASDAQ:SOUN). 

Tempus AI: Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI

Tempus AI is at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare, using machine learning to analyze vast clinical datasets and enhance personalized medicine. By streamlining diagnostics and treatment plans, the company aims to improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Partnerships with leading hospitals and research institutions further solidify its market position, making it an intriguing stock for investors eyeing the intersection of AI and biotech.

At last glance, TEM was 3.7% higher to trade at $70.59. The equity just came off its best monthly performance of all time -- adding 70% in January -- and already boasts an 11.5% year-to-date lead. Plus, Tempus AI stock earlier touched $78.67, putting it within a chip shot of its Nov. 12, record high of $79.49.

BigBear.ai: Powering Government & Defense with AI

BigBear.ai stock has seen massive swings as investors shift between enthusiasm and caution. The company recently secured major government contracts, including deals with the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense, fueling a 321.7% stock surge over the past year. However, concerns about its "boom and bust" business cycle and valuation risks have led to volatility. While regulatory shifts in Europe and new leadership could boost its prospects, BigBear.ai remains a speculative AI play, requiring careful consideration from investors.

Along with its massive year-over-year lead, BigBear.ai stock is up 545.7% over the last six months. On the charts, BBAI is heading back toward the $10 level, which served as a layer of resistance for all of 2021 -- when it went public -- before it hit an all-time high of $14.04 on April 8, 2022. The equity was last seen 6.5% lower at $8.14. 

SoundHound AI: Revolutionizing Voice AI

SoundHound AI stock has skyrocketed over 500% in the past year, fueled by its cutting-edge voice AI technology for industries like automotive, restaurants, and healthcare. With revenue surging 89% and its market presence expanding beyond automotive, speculation about a potential stock split has emerged -- making this a name to watch closely.

Of the three, SOUN is performing the worst on a year-to-date basis, down 27.8% in 2025. This could be mostly due to correction, as SoundHound AI stock hit a record high of $24.98 on Dec. 26 and, along with its big year-over-year lead, is up 187.5% over the last six months. Shares were last seen 6.8% lower to trade at $14.29.

The shares of energy giants BP plc (NYSE:BP) and Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) are moving in opposite directions this morning. Below, let's take a closer look at what is driving their price action.

BP Brushes Off Quarterly Win

BP missed earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, and watched quarterly profits hit a four-year low, while annual profits missed estimates following a 35% decline. BP is down 0.4% to trade at $34.28 at last check, looking to snap a five-day win streak as it retreats from yesterday's surge to its highest level since September. So far in 2025, BP has added 15.5%.

At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), BP's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 9.17 stands in the 92nd percentile of annual readings. An unwinding of this bullishness could pressure shares lower.

PSX Surges on Elliott Stake

PSX was last seen up 4.3% to trade at $129.05, following news that Elliott Investment Management built an over $2.5 billion stake in the oil company, with plans to implement operational changes. Though PSX carries a 10.7% year-over-year deficit, it earlier hit its highest level since December.

Options volume is running at 3 times the intraday average, with 3,375 calls and 2,463 puts exchanged so far today. Most popular is the weekly 2/14 121-strike put, with new positions being bought to open there.