AMD Shares Dip 0.77 as Stock Ranks Eighth in Trading Activity Amid Split Analyst Outlook and Institutional Buys

On August 18, 2025, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) traded at $177.51, down 0.77% with a daily trading volume of 51.4 million shares. The stock ranked eighth in trading activity, with a 30.91% drop in volume compared to the prior day. MarketBeat data indicated a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, with a median price target of $180.12. Mizuho raised its target to $205, signaling a 15.49% potential upside, while Loop Capital reduced its target to $140. Institutional investors increased holdings, including Brighton Jones LLC and Revolve Wealth Partners, which added 178.2% and 2.9% of shares, respectively.

Analysts highlighted mixed signals from AMD’s recent quarterly earnings. The company reported $0.48 earnings per share, missing the $0.54 consensus estimate, though revenue surged 31.7% year-over-year to $7.69 billion. Institutional ownership now stands at 71.34%, reflecting growing institutional confidence despite short-term earnings underperformance. Insider transactions included executive sales, with EVP Paul Grasby reducing his stake by 7.38% and Mark Papermaster by 1.04%, totaling $2.01 million in proceeds.

The stock’s technical indicators showed a beta of 1.94, a 52-week range of $76.48–$186.65, and a market capitalization of $288 billion. Institutional investors’ increased stakes contrasted with mixed analyst ratings, including a "buy" from Piper Sandler and a "hold" from DZ Bank. The company’s share repurchase program, authorizing $6 billion in buybacks, underscored management’s belief in undervaluation. However, recent insider sales and short-term earnings misses introduced volatility amid broader AI-driven sector momentum.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 1-day return of 0.98% and a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This suggests moderate short-term momentum capture but highlights risks tied to market timing and volatility.