10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Friday, September 25, 2026

Arm Holdings tumbled today even as AI CPU demand accelerates, with the semiconductor giant caught between bullish long-term thesis and near-term royalty economics uncertainty. Meta's Muse AI agent is driving CPU workload adoption across hyperscalers, yet questions linger over architecture share and chip mix impact on ARM's actual revenue. Options traders remain aggressively bullish—call-to-put ratio sits at 3.20 with heavy positioning in $330–$340 calls expiring September 25, signaling conviction that ARM can reclaim losses and challenge $330 resistance within days.

Moderna climbed 6.98% to $194.82, reaching its highest level since 2020 after announcing high-level investment discussions with the UAE and CEO Stéphane Bancel's bullish commentary on its mRNA pipeline beyond COVID vaccines. The options market is pricing in sustained momentum, with heavy call buying driving a 1.56 call-to-put ratio and notable concentration in $200 and $190 strikes expiring September 2026. Watch the $200 level as the key breakout target; a hold above $195 signals conviction in the fundamental rerating story.

Rocket Lab climbed 4.7% to $73.61 as Cathie Wood's latest $25M purchase and nearly unanimous shareholder approval of the $54-per-share Iridium acquisition fueled momentum in aerospace equities. Options traders piled into call flow with an 8.69 call-put ratio, concentrating bets around $75 and $80 strikes expiring tomorrow and next week—a signal conviction extends beyond today's pop. Watch the $75 level for bulls; closure of the Iridium deal, now expected mid-2027, remains the structural catalyst.

Meta climbed 4.5% to $777.59, overtaking SpaceX to become the world's seventh-largest public company as enthusiasm builds around its new Muse AI shopping assistant. Wall Street sentiment shifted sharply—JPMorgan, which soured on the stock in April, now sees historic upside potential from the agentic AI push. Options markets reflect sustained conviction: call-to-put ratio of 2.26 with heavy concentration in $800 and $780 strikes expiring September 2026, signaling bets on a breakout past current resistance.

Intel climbed $4.91 to $127.39 today, extending gains as Meta's Muse accelerates bets on agentic AI infrastructure and CPU demand resurgence. Options traders are aggressively positioning for upside, with a 3.13 call-to-put ratio and over 86,000 contracts flowing into $125 calls expiring September 2026. Heavy concentration in $125–$130 strikes signals conviction above current levels, though elevated beta of 2.37 warrants caution on volatility.

Oracle tumbled 3.47% after invoking force majeure on its New Mexico data-center project, triggering fresh concerns about AI infrastructure execution and Michael Burry's recent warning on tech write-offs. The move rattled the broader hyperscaler complex, with SoftBank paring losses as investors reassess the $1 trillion annual AI buildout. Options traders show cautious positioning: call volume at $140 (OTM) dwarfs put interest, but the 1.30 call-to-put ratio and heavy September 2026 volume suggest hedging appetite near $135–$138 support.

C3.ai dropped 2.78% to $10.48, trading near the midpoint of its 52-week range as investor attention picks up. Options flow reveals defensive positioning: a massive 1,040-contract put block at $11.0 (in-the-money) expiring late September suggests traders are hedging downside risk below current levels. Call activity—775 contracts at $11.5—remains muted by comparison, indicating limited conviction for a near-term bounce. Watch the $11.0 support level through September 25; a breach could accelerate selling toward $7.5, where October puts suggest an institutional floor.

Eli Lilly jumped 2.68% today on FDA clearance of once-weekly basal insulin Onswik, expanding its diabetes portfolio amid a crowded obesity-drug race. Heavy call buying—a 9.17 call/put ratio—signals trader conviction in upside; September 2026 $1,220 calls saw 2,852 contracts flow. The stock trades near 52-week highs with a defensive 0.43 beta, while management's $6.5B Houston plant investment and 49.6% revenue growth underpin durability. Watch the $1,220–$1,250 zone through Q3 2026 for resistance confirmation.

AMD climbed 2.38% to $629.26 as agentic AI reshapes CPU demand expectations, with Taiwan's record $30.8B chip exports lifting the semiconductor complex. Options traders are aggressively positioning bullish, with a 1.54 call-to-put ratio and 21,000+ contracts flowing into $630 calls expiring tomorrow, signaling conviction above current levels. Yet analysts warn the stock has grown "very expensive" on fundamentals—a critical headwind if momentum stalls. Watch the $625–$630 zone; a close below $620 could trigger option-driven selling.

ConocoPhillips climbed above $128 today as geopolitical risk premiums bolster crude markets amid prolonged Iran tensions, which analysts say unlock multiple profit channels including refining margins and LNG volatility. Options flow remains mixed with a 1.24 call-put ratio, though heavy put volume near $128 (929 contracts) and $124 (342 contracts) suggests traders are hedging downside ahead of third-quarter earnings on Nov. 5. Resistance sits at the $132 call strike dated mid-October; breach there would confirm bullish momentum.