Dow Reclaims 50,000 as Cisco Earnings and Nvidia Chip News Power Rally

CNBC reported Thursday that the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged back above 50,000, propelled by a blowout earnings print from Cisco Systems and positive signals on U.S.-China trade relations.

The 30-stock index gained 373 points, or roughly 0.7%, retaking a milestone level it first reached earlier this year. The S&P 500 added 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1%.

Cisco Drives the Dow Above 50,000

Cisco shares rocketed roughly 15% after the networking giant delivered third-quarter earnings and forward guidance that surpassed analyst expectations. The company also announced plans to eliminate nearly 4,000 positions. That single-stock move added substantial points to the Dow and brought the index back to a closely watched threshold.

Boeing also contributed, rising around 1% as investors anticipated that the Trump-Xi summit could open doors for U.S. aerospace contracts.

Also Read: What the U.S.-China Trade Truce Means for Markets

Nvidia Gets a Lift From Chip Sales Clearance

Nvidia advanced more than 2% after Reuters reported that Washington has approved roughly ten Chinese firms to purchase the company’s H200 chip, though no shipments have been completed. Nvidia joins Cisco and Amazon among the biggest contributors to the Dow’s two-month recovery, with all three up between 25% and 30% over that stretch.

Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk**** told CNBC’s Power Lunch on Wednesday that chipmakers may still be undervalued. He argued the sector is backed by genuine earnings growth, not speculation, and that demand is outpacing supply by a wide enough margin to sustain further upside.

Records Set the Day Before

Wednesday’s session had already delivered fresh milestones. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite posted new intraday and closing records, even as another hotter-than-expected inflation report unsettled parts of the market. Semiconductor names, including Micron Technology, led that advance. Elevated oil prices kept energy-linked inflation concerns alive, and Middle East tensions remained a backdrop risk. The Trump-Xi meeting addressed the Strait of Hormuz directly, with both sides agreeing to keep the waterway open.

Goldman Cuts Whirlpool; Retail Data In Line

Not every name benefited. Goldman Sachs downgraded Whirlpool to neutral from buy Thursday, citing stubborn industry and macroeconomic headwinds. Analysts flagged the stock’s roughly 50% decline over the past year and expressed skepticism that price increases or cost cuts would fully offset ongoing pressure. Shares fell around 1% in premarket trading. Separately, April retail sales rose 0.5%, matching forecasts, while weekly jobless claims came in slightly above expectations.

Read Next: Tech Earnings Season: What to Watch as AI Spending Stays Elevated