ASML (ASML) popped by 8.78% last Friday, to close at $1,163.78 and to open this year at a fresh new high. Although Aletheia Capital’s analyst is the reason for the jump, the chip equipment maker has strong tailwinds for 2026.
ASML invested to increase its capacity. Demand for extreme ultraviolet lithography will accelerate this year, thanks to strong demand for memory chips. Last year, DRAM prices soared as suppliers decided to cut output for the PC industry. Instead, it will supply more chips to AI servers.
Investors who took advantage of the pullback in ASML stock late last year are up by as much as 13%.
In the healthcare sector, CVS Health (CVS) has strong momentum continuing from last year. Shares bottomed at $44.11 last year and closed at above $80 to start this year. The firm, along with Cardinal Health (CAH), benefits from long-term growth. Moreover, as subsidies for the Affordable Care Act expire, profit margins from the healthcare plan market will expand.
In the cybersecurity sector, watch CrowdStrike (CRWD). The stock pulled back since its peak in early November 2025. Momentum investors bet on AI-related names, ignoring the importance of cybersecurity software demand. Once they realize that criminals will use AI to create cybersecurity threats, demand for CrowdStrike software will increase.
The related cybersecurity firms to watch include Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Check Point (CHKP), and Fortinet (FTNT).
