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Beyond Palantir: 3 Stocks That Soared Higher in 2025

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Published on: Dec 1, 2025
Author: Sunlight Xiang

The artificial intelligence (AI) wave swept through the markets in 2025, with Palantir Technologies (PLTR) surging nearly 123%, becoming one of the standout performers in the S&P 500. Its data analytics platforms found favor with both governments and enterprises. Yet, quietly overshadowing Palantir’s impressive run, three other stocks—Western Digital, Newmont, and Warner Bros. Discovery—posted even more staggering gains.

The question for investors now is whether these contenders can maintain their momentum in 2026 and once again outpace both Palantir and the broader market.

Suggested Opportunity

Dynacor Group Inc.

Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX: DNG)

Dynacor Group Inc. is a gold production corporation headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The corporation is engaged in production through its government licensed ore processing operations. At present, Dynacor produces and explores in Peru where its management team has decades of experience and expertise.

Western Digital (WDC): The “Hard” Backbone of the AI Data Deluge

  • 2025 Performance: Western Digital successfully capitalized on AI’s insatiable appetite for data storage, becoming a core supplier to hyperscale data centers. As cloud giants expanded server clusters to train large language models, demand for high-capacity nearline hard disk drives (HDDs) soared. The company’s move to spin off its flash memory business allowed it to focus intensely on the HDD segment, a move that unlocked value and won investor applause. Fiscal 2025 revenue jumped 51% to $9.52 billion, swinging the company to profitability and positive free cash flow. The momentum continued into Q1 FY2026, with revenue up 27% and profits skyrocketing 367%, far exceeding expectations.
  • 2026 Outlook: Growth is expected to continue if AI-related capital expenditure remains robust. Analysts maintain a “Buy” rating with an average price target around $181, implying roughly 10% upside from the current ~$163, with bullish scenarios pointing to $250. Government AI investment and enterprise data lake construction could provide additional tailwinds. Risks include potential supply chain disruptions or a post-spin-off downturn in NAND prices. If Western Digital can capture more share in AI-optimized storage from rivals like Seagate, its hardware-layer advantage may continue to lead Palantir’s analytics software layer.

Newmont (NEM): Riding a Dual Tailwind of Gold Prices and AI Demand

  • 2025 Performance: Newmont rode a “perfect storm” in 2025. Gold prices breached the historic $4,000 per ounce level, while an unexpected surge in demand from AI data centers emerged—gold is a critical material in some high-reliability components of next-gen AI chips and data center infrastructure. As the world’s largest gold producer, Newmont achieved record margins, fueled by its tier-one asset portfolio (with projects like Cadillac in Canada and Tanami Expansion 2 in Australia coming online ahead of schedule). While annual production trended toward 7 million ounces, all-in sustaining costs were kept below $1,600/oz. The company generated over $4 billion in free cash flow, enabling a $2 billion share buyback and a 1% annualized dividend.
  • 2026 Outlook: With gold prices now above $4,200/oz, the outlook remains bright if industrially driven by AI demand persists. Analysts project annual free cash flow of $2.5-$3 billion at current gold prices. Expansion of the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture and the Yanacocha sulfides project will add low-cost production. A strong balance sheet with net debt below $3 billion allows for further industry consolidation through acquisitions. This mining giant, leveraging hard assets exposed to the same macro trends, is positioned to continue outpacing Palantir’s software growth.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD): A Twin Victory in Streaming Turnaround and Debt Reduction

  • 2025 Performance: WBD successfully turned around its post-merger struggles in 2025 through streaming strategy and stringent cost control. HBO Max subscribers grew to 128 million, with the streaming segment turning profitable. Theatrical releases, driven by blockbuster hits, contributed to a 23% rise in adjusted revenue. The company aggressively de-levered, reducing debt from $38 billion to $33.3 billion. Plans to split into two separate entities—”Studio/HBO” and “Cable Networks (CNN, HGTV, etc.)”—aimed to unlock value. Furthermore, acquisition rumors involving potential suitors like Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix fueled market anticipation of a bidding war.
  • 2026 Outlook: CEO David Zaslav has declared 2026 as the year of “maximum growth” for HBO Max, driven by European expansion and a robust content slate (including a 2027 Gremlins reboot). The analyst average price target sits at $22.47, with potential for further upside if the separation or asset sales materialize. Risks include regulatory hurdles for any deal, continued cord-cutting in linear TV, and intensified streaming competition potentially capping revenue in the $41-$42 billion range. However, with growing free cash flow and a focus on quality-over-quantity content, this entertainment giant may continue to rival Palantir’s B2B growth path by combining broad audience appeal with improving profitability.

The Bottom Line

While Palantir demonstrated dominance in the AI software realm in 2025, Western Digital (storage hardware), Newmont (gold/AI materials), and Warner Bros. Discovery (streaming/content) achieved even greater gains by tapping into AI infrastructure, commodity booms, and consumer recovery, respectively. Their performance in 2026 will hinge on whether the unique drivers in their respective lanes remain potent, alongside shifts in the macroeconomic and competitive landscape. These three companies prove that in the AI frenzy, the winners extend far beyond pure-play software vendors.

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