Pre-Thanksgiving optimism swept through tech stocks Wednesday as Oracle surged 4% on analyst backing, while Nvidia and Microsoft rode the wave higher. The rally comes as Apple prepares to ship more iPhones than Samsung for the first time in 14 years, signaling a major shift in mobile dominance.
The tech sector's pre-holiday rally kicked into high gear Wednesday, with Oracle leading the charge after months of sideways trading. The database giant jumped roughly 4% following a Deutsche Bank analyst note that characterized Oracle's recent price weakness as creating an "attractive entry point for investors when looking at Oracle's business in totality."
The Oracle bounce sent ripples through the broader tech ecosystem. Nvidia and Microsoft both climbed in sympathy, helping push the major indexes to their fourth straight day of gains. The momentum reflects what Eric Diton, president and managing director at The Wealth Alliance, calls typical holiday-week psychology: "Thanksgiving week is generally a strong week in the markets. Everyone's feeling good."
But Oracle's rally represents more than seasonal sentiment. The enterprise software giant has been struggling to regain its footing after wiping out a September spike and hobbling through November as AI enthusiasm cooled. Deutsche Bank's endorsement suggests institutional investors see value in Oracle's cloud infrastructure buildout, particularly as AI workload demand continues growing.
Meanwhile, the smartphone wars are witnessing a seismic shift. Apple is on track to ship approximately 243 million iPhones this year, compared to Samsung's projected 235 million smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research. If the numbers hold, it would mark Apple's first annual shipment victory over Samsung since 2010 - a stunning reversal that underscores the iPhone's enduring appeal despite market saturation concerns.
The competitive dynamics extend beyond pure volume. Apple's dominance in premium segments continues paying dividends, while Samsung faces pressure across multiple price tiers from Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and Honor. The shift also validates Apple's AI strategy, as iPhone 15 and 16 series devices capitalize on consumer interest in on-device AI capabilities.
