The Market’s Wild Ride: 4 Stocks That Took Investors on a Rollercoaster This Week

11th January 2024: The stock market has been on a rollercoaster ride this week, with some major stocks seeing huge single-day gains and losses. For investors, it has been a white-knuckle journey trying to navigate the ups and downs.

Alcon – surged 6% on positive trial data for the dry eye disease drug

Intuitive Surgical – jumped 5% as preliminary Q4 revenue beat expectations

Aehr Test Systems – plunged 15% despite earnings beat due to sector headwinds

WD-40 – rose 7% but faces slowing sales momentum amid economic uncertainty

Alcon was one stock that saw a steep incline on Wednesday, surging 6% after reporting positive data from Phase 3 trials for its dry eye disease drug.

As Tobi Opeyemi Amure, an analyst at Trading.Biz puts it: “Alcon delivered very promising data that could lead to a new drug approval in a key therapeutic area. With an ageing population, dry eye disease represents a major growth market.”

Yet while some stocks soared, others took investors on a scary plunge. Take Aehr Test Systems – its stock plunged a stomach-churning 15% despite beating earnings expectations.

Aehr blamed slowing electric vehicle sales for delayed customer orders

But its products remain essential for supply chain manufacturing

This dynamic illustrates a key takeaway for investors during volatile markets:

Separate short-term stock moves from a company’s long-term outlook.

Even quality stocks like AEHR can face temporary headwinds beyond their control.

Other Major Movers:

Intuitive Surgical also rode the ups, with shares jumping 5% on preliminary fourth-quarter revenue that handily beat expectations.

Boosted by strong robotic surgery system sales and a steady rise in procedures

Positions company for 13-16% procedure growth in 2024

Yet while surgical volumes shine, cleaning supplies maker WD 40 faces slowing momentum after delivering ho-hum 7% sales growth despite broader economic uncertainty.

So for investors seeking an oasis of stability amidst the ups and downs:

Focus on high-quality stocks aligned with unstoppable megatrends in health care, technology and other essential sectors. The long runways for growth should help smooth out any short-term bumps.