Nasdaq Index Enters Correction Territory as Energy Prices Rise
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 26 2026
0mins
Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.Hopes for a near-term resolution to U.S.-Iran standoff continue to fade with more saber-rattling comments out of both sides, denting equity markets that are already reeling from internal challenges while goosing up energy prices. Thursday's market action was decidedly negative as Nasdaq Composite index also officially closed in "correction" territory - down by over 10% from its February highs. Communication Services sector was especially hard-hit as the sector's top two stocks - Alphabetand Meta- fell 3% and 8% respectively in the wake of an adverse court ruling regarding social media addiction. Those stocks are now down 10% and 17% year-to-date, while the State Street Communication Services ETF, of which they are the top two holdings, is down 10% from the highs.In the opening hour of the evening session, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures contracts are up 0.3% following Truth Social post by Trump that Iran would be granted another extension until its energy infrastructure assets are bombed, though that bounce is fairly shallow after the 1.7% and 2.4% declines in the respective indices on Thursday. WTI Crude Oil trades just above $93 per barrel - off the Thursday highs above $95.50 but also well off the lows near $90 seen after the Trump post, with traders consistently fading the president's attempts to signal a path toward de-escalation.HIGHER AFTER EARNINGS -Arganup 9.5%Newsmaxup 5.5%ALSO HIGHER -Unity Softwareup 14.4% after raising Q1 revenue guidanceSIGA Technologiesup 9.9% after declaring special dividendDOWN AFTER EARNINGS -Laird Superfooddown 11.0%P3 Health Partnersdown 6.8%ALSO LOWER -Lithium Argentinadown 11.4% after block saleZenas BioPharmadown 9.8% after equity offering
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Analyst Views on AGX
Wall Street analysts forecast AGX stock price to fall
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 725.230
Low
325.00
Averages
347.50
High
370.00
Current: 725.230
Low
325.00
Averages
347.50
High
370.00
About AGX
Argan, Inc. is a holding company. The Company is an engineering and construction firm that conducts its operations through its subsidiary business segments including Power, Industrial, and Teledata. Its power segment offers a full range of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, maintenance, project development and technical consulting services to the power generation market. Its Industrial segment provides on-site services that support new plant construction and additions, maintenance turnarounds, shutdowns and emergency mobilizations for industrial operations. Its Teledata segment provides project management, construction, installation, maintenance repair, and emergency response services across power distribution and information, communications, and data networks. These segments serve his presence in the construction and engineering sectors.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Dividend Attraction: With earnings exceeding expectations, companies have more cash to return to shareholders, and increased dividends typically drive stock prices higher; this positive correlation between dividends and stock prices may attract more investors to these stocks over the long term.
- Altria Group Outlook: Altria (MO) is expected to raise its dividend by 4% in 2025, with a current yield of 5.7%, and despite facing stringent anti-smoking regulations, the company's focus on smokeless products is anticipated to drive future revenue growth.
- Virtus Investment Partners: Virtus (VRTS) has a dividend yield of 6.7% and is projected to increase its dividend by 7% in 2025; despite competitive pressures in the market, its dividend has nearly tripled over the past five years, indicating potential for higher future distributions.
See More
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide investors with valuable insights for technical analysis, aiding in market trend assessment.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors are buying and selling 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting ETF liquidity.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding highlights significant inflows or outflows, as the creation of new units necessitates purchasing underlying assets, while destruction involves selling them, potentially affecting individual stock performance within the ETF.
See More
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- Ongoing Industry Pressure: The building products industry faces persistent inflation in raw materials, transportation, and labor costs in 2026, leading to increased operating expenses; companies are responding with selective price increases and supply chain diversification, yet overall profitability remains under pressure.
- Weak Residential Construction: High mortgage rates and cautious consumer spending have kept residential construction demand sluggish, limiting new project launches; while repair and remodeling activities remain relatively stable, overall industry growth is constrained.
- Infrastructure Investments Support Demand: Large-scale investments in infrastructure, energy, and data centers continue to be the primary demand drivers for the industry, providing healthy order pipelines and revenue visibility despite weakness in traditional construction markets.
- Innovation and Market Share Growth: Despite market uncertainties, manufacturers are maintaining pricing power and expanding market share through the introduction of premium, energy-efficient, and innovative building products, demonstrating the industry's resilience.
See More
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- GE Vernova Options Volume: Today, GE Vernova Inc's options volume reached 21,067 contracts, equivalent to approximately 2.1 million shares, representing 69.8% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in the stock.
- High Strike Options Activity: Within GE Vernova, the $1500 strike call option has seen particularly high activity, with 3,976 contracts traded today, representing about 397,600 shares, reflecting investor expectations for future price increases.
- Argan Options Trading: Concurrently, Argan Inc's options trading volume stood at 2,413 contracts, equivalent to approximately 241,300 shares, accounting for 65.7% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, showcasing the stock's market activity.
- High Strike Options Interest: For Argan, the $960 strike call option has recorded a trading volume of 1,096 contracts, representing about 109,600 shares, indicating optimistic sentiment among investors regarding the stock's future performance.
See More
Argan Shares Surge 90% Year-to-Date Amid AI Infrastructure Demand
- Significant Backlog Growth: Argan's backlog doubled from $1.4 billion to $2.9 billion by the end of fiscal 2026, indicating strong demand in the power infrastructure sector, particularly driven by the ongoing construction of AI data centers.
- Robust Revenue Growth: In Q1 of fiscal 2027, Argan reported revenue of $291 million, a 50% year-over-year increase, demonstrating that the company's multi-year projects are translating into substantial revenue growth, with earnings per diluted share nearly doubling.
- Future Demand Expectations: A study by ICF forecasts a 25% increase in electricity demand by 2030, with U.S. data center electricity demand projected to nearly triple, laying a solid foundation for Argan's long-term growth, especially as AI infrastructure investments continue to rise.
- Sustained Capital Expenditures: As tech companies ramp up capital expenditures, Argan anticipates continued benefits from the construction of AI data centers over the coming years, which will further drive stock price increases, despite the stock having already surged over 1,000% in the past five years.
See More
Argan Doubles Backlog in Fiscal 2026 Amid AI Demand Surge
- Significant Backlog Growth: Argan's backlog surged from $1.4 billion to $2.9 billion in fiscal 2026, indicating strong demand in the power infrastructure sector, particularly driven by the construction of AI data centers.
- Revenue and Profit Boost: The company reported $291 million in revenue for Q1 fiscal 2027, a 50% year-over-year increase, with earnings per diluted share nearly doubling, showcasing its enhanced profitability in a high-demand environment.
- Future Growth Expectations: Future revenue growth is expected to approach 50%, rather than the 27.6% three-year average, reflecting strong ongoing capital expenditures and robust electricity demand, especially from data centers and electric vehicles.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: With the U.S. Department of Energy forecasting the retirement of 104 gigawatts of aging power plants by 2030, Argan's market positioning suggests it will continue to benefit from rising electricity demand in the coming years, further driving stock price appreciation.
See More
