Ari Wald has some thoughts on buzzy stocks as the new trading year kicked off. Oppenheimer’s head of technical analysis joined CNBC’s “Power Lunch” to discuss three names that have come up on best ideas lists from Wall Street firms for 2025: Nvidia , Boeing and Howmet Aerospace . Here’s what he thought of each: Nvidia Even after Nvidia’s banner year, Wald is still optimistic. “It comes down to trend following 101,” Wald said, noting that shares continue to trade above the 200-day moving average since the start of 2023. “Nothing has really changed in our work. … We are advocates for letting winners run.” The artificial intelligence darling and retail investor favorite surged more than 171% in 2024, making it one of the top performers in the S & P 500 . It also marked the megacap tech stock’s fifth winning year of the last six. NVDA 5Y mountain Nvidia, 5-year chart Wall Street agrees with Wald. Nearly all analysts polled by LSEG have a buy rating, with an average price target implying shares can rally more than 23%. “As much as Nvidia has been established as leadership, there’s really no cracks in the trend, either,” Wald said. Boeing On the other hand, Wald isn’t so excited about fellow Dow Jones Industrial Average member Boeing . The airplane maker had a rough 2024 that began with a door plug blowing off an Alaska Airlines flight. Shares finished 2024 lower by just over 32%, its fourth negative year of the last five. “We don’t like relative weakness,” he said, noting shares have struggled despite the broader market being in a bull cycle. “You stay away from this one.” After that drop, the average analyst surveyed by LSEG anticipates shares bouncing just over 7%. The majority of analysts also have hold ratings on the stock. Howmet Aerospace While Wald said aerospace as a whole has been lackluster, he pointed out Howmet as a top idea. “The industry didn’t really take off, but the stock has continued to work,” he said. “We still like it.” In fact, he said investors can buy the current pullback in shares. While the stock dropped more than 7% in December, it still ended 2024 with gains slightly above 102%. HWM 3M mountain Howmet, 3 months Most analysts have buy ratings on the stock, according to LSEG. The typical price target implies shares can rise more than 10%.
