AI-Linked Tech Stocks Rally After Hours; Whirlpool Tumbles on Weak Outlook

Shares of technology companies exposed to the artificial intelligence boom rallied in after-hours trading Thursday, while appliance maker Whirlpool saw its stock plunge after reporting a steep loss and cutting its forecast. The divergent moves highlight the market's focus on AI-driven growth sectors versus challenges facing consumer-dependent industries.

AI and Chip Stocks Lead Gains

Celestica (CLS) shares jumped 9% in extended trading after the company delivered a strong third-quarter report and raised its forward guidance, citing surging demand from AI data centers. The manufacturing services provider announced results that surpassed analyst expectations:

• Q3 Adjusted EPS: $3.30 (versus $2.99 consensus)
• Q3 Revenue: $5.83 billion (versus $5.44 billion estimate)
• Q4 Revenue Guidance: $6.275 billion – $6.575 billion

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) rose 2.4% after it also topped third-quarter estimates and lifted its full-year 2026 outlook. The electronic design automation software firm pointed to robust licensing momentum for advanced semiconductor design and AI system verification tools. It raised its full-year EPS guidance to $8.37–$8.43, above the $8.15 consensus.

Broadcom (AVGO) shares gained 0.7% following the announcement of a landmark $63 billion AI infrastructure financing structure. According to the report, a newly formed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) backed by major financial institutions will fund the purchase of Broadcom's custom AI accelerators and networking hardware for the AI company Anthropic, with deliveries set to begin in 2027.

Mixed Signals in Semiconductor Packaging

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Amkor Technology (AMKR) shares rose 5% in post-market trading, even after the company reported mixed third-quarter results and issued soft guidance for the fourth quarter. The semiconductor packaging provider posted Q3 earnings of $0.76 per share, a penny below estimates, on revenue of $1.99 billion, which also missed the consensus.

Despite the misses and a below-consensus Q4 forecast, investors appeared to focus on the underlying strength in the company's advanced packaging business. The source material noted resilient demand for 2.5D and other advanced packaging technologies used in high-performance computing, a critical component of the AI supply chain.

Whirlpool Plunges on Weak Consumer Demand

In a stark contrast to the tech sector, Whirlpool (WHR) shares plummeted 8.5% after the company reported a significant third-quarter miss and drastically cut its full-year outlook. The home appliance maker posted an adjusted loss of ($0.21) per share, far below Wall Street's expectation for a $1.04 profit.

Management slashed its full-year 2026 outlook to a projected loss of ($1.30) per share on revenue of $14.5 billion, citing persistent promotional discounting, weak North American housing turnover, and elevated raw material costs as primary headwinds.