Biggest stock movers Friday: AMAT, UNH, and more

Stock futures were mixed early Friday as investors awaited a high-stakes meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders to discuss a potential Ukraine ceasefire, with traders weighing the prospects for geopolitical de-escalation against broader market uncertainties.

Here are some of Friday’s biggest stock movers:

Biggest stock gainers

• UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) +13% — Shares jumped after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed in a regulatory filing that it purchased more than 5 million shares of the insurer last quarter, a stake valued at roughly $1.6B as of the end of June. The investment, which makes UnitedHealth Berkshire’s 18th-largest holding behind Amazon and Constellation Brands, surprised some given the company’s current challenges but aligns with Buffett’s track record of buying quality businesses at perceived bargain valuations.
• Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU) +10% — Shares surged after Q2 results showed robust growth, with 4.1M new customers added (+17% Y/Y) to reach 122.7M globally, making Nu the 3rd-largest financial institution in Brazil. ARPAC topped $12 for the first time, up 18% Y/Y, while costs to serve remained at $0.80 per customer. Net income jumped 42% Y/Y to $637M, with revenue hitting a record $3.7B (+40% Y/Y) and gross profit up 24% Y/Y. Deposits grew 41% to $36.6B, and net interest income climbed 33% to $2.1B, driving a risk-adjusted NIM expansion to 9.2%.

Biggest stock losers

• Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) -14% – Shares sank after the chip equipment maker topped FQ3 expectations but cut its Q4 outlook, citing macroeconomic and policy headwinds, including weaker demand from China. For the current quarter, Applied Materials sees revenue of $6.2B–$7.2B (midpoint $6.7B) vs. $7.32B consensus and adjusted EPS of $1.91–$2.31 (midpoint $2.11) vs. $2.38 consensus. Management flagged capacity digestion in China and uneven demand from leading-edge customers as key drags on near-term performance.
• Bionano Genomics (NASDAQ:BNGO) -6% – Shares fell after the company posted a Q2 net loss of $6.86M and revenue of $6.73M (-13.4% Y/Y), slightly above estimates. For Q3 Bionano guided revenue to $6.7M–$7.2M vs. $7.22M consensus and reiterated full-year revenue of $26M–$30M vs. $28.98M consensus. The company raised its 2025 OGM system installation target to 20–25 units from 15-20 and said its cash runway extends into Q1 2026, supported by cost savings, capital efficiency, debt restructuring, and prior equity raises.