Netherlands-based chip stock STMicroelectronics NV (NYSE:STM) is up 5.2% at $23.71 at last glance, after an upgrade from Jefferies to "buy" from "hold," with a price-target hike to €34 from €23. The firm expects growth in the second half of 2025, driven by several factors, including content within Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup. Separately, the company has been repurchasing its shares: 287,561 ordinary shares between Feb. 10 and Feb. 14. 

On the charts, STMicroelectronics stock has been climbing since its Feb. 3 four-year low of $21.36, though long-term pressure at the 100-day moving average appears to be keeping a cap on gains today. Year-over-year, the equity is down 42%. 

Call traders are targeting STM at triple the intraday average volume. The March 27 call is the most popular, followed by the 26 call in the same series. This represents a shift in sentiment, as the stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.28 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks higher than 90% of readings from the past year. 

Investors are reacting strongly to earnings reports from Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:TOL) and Bumble Inc (NASDAQ:BMBL), sending both stocks sharply lower in early trading.

Toll Brothers shares are down 5.2% to trade at $115.57, after the homebuilder missed fiscal first-quarter expectations. The company reported profits $1.75 per share on $1.84 billion in revenue, both falling short of analyst estimates. Home deliveries also came in at 1,991 units, significantly below the forecasted 2,060.

The decline extends TOL’s 2025 losses to 8.8%, with the stock now down over 24% in the last three months and earlier slipping to its lowest level since July. The downturn also triggered a surge in options trading, with activity in the normally quiet pits spiking to eight times the average intraday volume. The most popular contract is the February 121-strike put.

Meanwhile, Bumble stock was last seen down 27.50% to trade at $5.87, after the online dating company announced a dismal fiscal first-quarter forecast. Meanwhile, Bumble's fourth-quarter results met earnings projections, while its revenue exceeded estimates.

BMBL is eyeing its worst single-session loss since August, and earlier gapped to its lowest level since then. The equity dropped 56.2% over the past year and is already down nearly 29% in 2025. So far today, 12,000 calls and 17,000 puts have exchanged hands. Traders are heavily favoring the February 6-strike put, where new positions are currently being opened.

Financial services giants Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:COF) and Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) are in the spotlight, after shareholders voted to approve the former's acquisition of the latter. COF was last seen 1.3% higher  at $205.51, and DFS is up 0.8% at $197.82 at last glance. 

In response to today's headlines, BofA Global Research upgraded COF to "buy" from "neutral," and raised its price target to $235 from $207. The shares boast a 47.6% year-over-year lead, and are on track for their fourth consecutive gain. Support presents at the $190 region, recently containing a pullback from their Jan. 30, record high of $208.63. 

DFS sports a 57.8% year-over-year lead, and already added 13.3% so far in 2025. The stock is also eyeing a fourth-straight gain, as it moves closer to its Jan. 30, all-time high of $205.76, following a bounce off long-term support from their 50-day moving average.

Options traders lean bullish on both COF and DFS. This is per the stocks' 50-day call/put volume ratios of 1.08 and 1.47 over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which sit higher than 75% and 77% of readings from the past year, respectively.

Aerospace and defense stock Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:KTOS) is headed for its eighth loss in the last nine sessions, down 0.7% at $26.97 and falling further from its recent Jan. 22, 18-year high of $35.66. A short-term bounce could soon be in the cards, however, as the equity is flashing a historically bullish signal on the charts. 

Per Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, the stock has pulled back to its ascending 128-day moving average. Specifically, the stock is within 0.75 of the trendline's average true range's (ATR), or 20-day ATR, for the first time in at least eight of the past 10 trading days, after spending at least 75% of the last six months above it.

KTOS has seen five similar signals over the past three years, after which the stock was higher one month later 100% of the time with an average 13.6% pop. From its current perch, a similar move would push the stock back up past the $30 level. 

Furthermore, KTOS' 14-day relative strength index (RSI) of 20.5 sits in "oversold" territory, which is typically indicative of a short-term bounce. Despite being down 19.3% since the start of the month, the shares are still outperforming with a roughly 30% year-over-year gain. 

Shares of semiconductor giant Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC) stock are experiencing a significant surge following reports that the chipmaker is once again at the center of acquisition talks. According to the Wall Street Journal, Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM) are both exploring bids that could potentially lead to a breakup of Intel.

Broadcom is reportedly eyeing Intel’s chip design unit, while TSM is considering acquiring its manufacturing operations. However, restructuring Intel’s factories to align with TSM’s processes could be a complex and costly endeavor. If these acquisitions go through, they could significantly reshape Intel’s business model and competitive positioning in the semiconductor industry.

Intel Stock Surges on Acquisition News

Following the acquisition reports, Intel stock was last seen 9.6% higher at $25.87, marking its best trading day since October 2022. INTC has enjoyed an impressive start to 2025, boasting a 28.6% year-to-date gain and reaching its highest level since early November 2024.

The equity is seeing higher-than-usual intraday options volume, with 833,000 calls and 267,000 puts traded so far -- 3 times the amount typical for this point in trading. New positions are opening at the most popular contract, the February 26 call.

Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Stock Movements

Broadcom stock is moving lower, last seen down 2.8% at $226.37. The security recently fell below key support at the $230 level and is now down 2.1% in 2025. AVGO maintains long-term strength, however, up 82.2% over the past 12 months.

Taiwan Semiconductor stock was also last seen lower as well, down 0.8% at $202.29. Despite the minor dip, TSM maintains a 2.4% year-to-date lead and a robust 59% increase over the past year. The stock continues to find support around the $200 level and remains within reach of its all-time high of $226.40, set on Jan. 24, 2025

Shares of Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) and Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) are lower today, after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) lowered its stake in both banks by 15% and 74%, respectively.  Meanwhile, Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY) stock is higher, as the oil name -- which Buffett also partially owns -- gears up to report fourth-quarter result after the close.

BAC Fresh Off Weekly Loss 

BAC is down 1.2% to trade at $46.39 at last glance, chipping away at its 36.2% year-to-date lead. Fresh off their fourth weekly loss in five, shares have struggled to move back above the $48 level since conquering their Nov. 29, three-year high of $48.08, while the 40-day moving average has been providing support since mid-January.

C Looks to Snap Win Streak

C was last seen down 0.9% to trade at $83.86, looking to snap a four-day win streak as it pulls back from its Feb. 13, roughly 17-year high of $84.67. Shares still boast a 53.1% year-over-year lead, however, and already added more than 19% in 2025, with support from their 20-day trendline.

OXY Eyes 3rd-Straight Gain

OXY is up 1.2% to trade at $48.64 at last check, but carries a 23.6% nine-month deficit. The security is pacing for a third-straight gain, however, though overhead pressure at the 40-day moving average lingers. The stock has an encouraging history of post-earnings reactions, finishing five of the last eight next-day sessions higher, averaging a move of 2.5% over the past two years, regardless of direction. This time, the options pits are pricing in a much larger swing of 6.4%. 

Delta Air Lines Inc (NASDAQ:DAL) is in focus after the highly publicized Toronto crash on Monday, in which a flight from Minneapolis, operated by the carrier's regional jet subsidiary Endeavor Air, flipped upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport. All 80 passengers and crew members were accounted for after evacuation, with those hurt reportedly only sustaining minor injuries. 

At last glance, DAL was down 0.4% at $65.15. The stock isn't too far removed from its Jan. 22, record high of $69.98, carrying a 62.4% year-over-year lead. Plus, long-term support at the 80-day moving average helped capture last week's pullback. 

Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) also garnered attention yesterday, after announcing its first mass layoffs in company history. The 1,750 employees that will be laid off at Love Field in Dallas equate to roughly 15% of the air line's corporate positions. 

Southwest Airlines stock has pulled back from its early morning surge, last seen trading near breakeven at $30.28. On the charts, shares have been chopping lower since their Dec. 5, 52-week high of $36.12. More recently, LUV bounced off the 200-day moving average and finished the last three sessions higher. Year over year, the equity is down 10.7%.