Ten large-cap stocks were top performers during the week of Feb. 23-27, 2026. Circle Internet Group led with a 34.99% gain after strong Q4 results. Netflix, Dell, IonQ, Keysight, and Axon Enterprise also posted significant gains (22-27%) driven by better-than-expected earnings and positive guidance. Other gainers included Paramount Skydance, Block, Thomson Reuters, and First Majestic Silver.

The killing of CJNG cartel leader El Mencho on February 22 has triggered widespread violence across Mexico, threatening silver mining operations in key producing regions. Mexico is the world's largest silver producer, with major mines in Jalisco, Michoacán, Zacatecas, and Durango—territories historically controlled by the CJNG. The resulting cartel fragmentation poses risks to global silver supply, mining company valuations, and logistics chains, with potential for market manipulation through coordinated financial and operational attacks on vulnerable junior miners.

Ten large-cap stocks were top performers last week, with First Majestic Silver leading gains at 25.23% following better-than-expected Q4 results. Other notable gainers include Moderna (19.68%) on FDA seasonal flu vaccine review news, Global Payments (19.52%) with strong Q4 earnings and a $2.6B buyback authorization, and Coinbase (11.32%). Companies like Omnicom, Garmin, Figma, and Pan American Silver also reported strong quarterly results and positive guidance.

Gold prices have surged with tight physical supply, making mining stocks more attractive than physical gold. The article highlights several precious metals companies as strong investment opportunities, including Hecla Mining, First Majestic Silver, Alamos Gold, Kinross Gold, and Eldorado Gold. CF Industries is also discussed as a cyclical fertilizer play benefiting from strong farming demand.

First Majestic Silver stock tumbled 9% on Tuesday as both gold and silver prices declined. Gold fell to $4,878 and silver remained well below $80 per ounce after recent volatility. With a P/E ratio exceeding 61x and Q4 earnings expected Thursday, analysts question whether the stock's valuation is justified given the weak precious metals prices.

With silver prices surging 160% amid geopolitical tensions and a multi-year supply shortage, two mining stocks offer different exposure strategies. First Majestic Silver is a traditional miner with leveraged upside to silver prices but higher operational risk, while Wheaton Precious Metals uses a streaming model to finance mines and collect profits with lower operational risk and better margins.

Ten large-cap stocks experienced significant declines during the week of January 26-30, 2026. Unity Software fell 31.63% following CEO comments about world models amid competition from Google's Project Genie. Precious metals stocks including Hecla Mining (down 33.33%) and Coeur Mining (down 26.13%) declined after President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair strengthened the dollar. Healthcare stocks UnitedHealth (down 17.87%) and Humana (down 26.07%) fell after analyst downgrades. Other notable losers included The Trade Desk (down 16.61%), First Majestic Silver (down 22.86%), Axon Enterprise (down 20.88%), Reddit (down 16.79%), and Regencell Bioscience (down 13.38%).

Silver prices have surged 280% since early 2025, driven by strong demand from AI, electric vehicles, and solar panels, with a fifth consecutive year of annual supply deficit. First Majestic Silver, which derives 57% of revenue from silver mining, has gained 364% and could benefit from continued price increases, though earnings remain vulnerable to silver price volatility and operational risks.

Ten large-cap stocks were top performers last week, led by precious metals and semiconductor companies. Hecla Mining gained 29.31% amid geopolitical tensions and weakening US dollar, while First Majestic Silver rose 26.57%. Moderna jumped 17.44% following positive cancer vaccine trial data. Micron Technology gained 13.21% after analyst coverage initiation. Other gainers included Venture Global (21.6%), New Gold (24.03%), Coeur Mining (23.13%), Korea Electric Power (15.29%), and United Microelectronics (13.82%).

Economist Peter Schiff criticizes the disconnect between silver's 35% December surge and silver mining stocks' modest 11% gain, arguing mining stocks should have doubled given their typical leveraged exposure to the metal. Despite silver's historic rally and 154.57% year-to-date gains, major mining stocks and ETFs have significantly underperformed, presenting what Schiff views as an attractive buying opportunity.

First Majestic Silver reported record silver production of 3.9 million ounces in Q3 2025, with a 95% revenue increase, but experienced stock decline due to an unfavorable Mexican Supreme Court ruling in a long-standing taxation dispute.

First Majestic Silver reported record silver production and revenue in Q3 2025, but missed analyst expectations, causing its stock price to drop over 7%.