Tracking the Market's Google Search Trends: HOOD, TSM, RDDT, IBI, ASTS

The market's attention is split between a major sector catalyst, a viral biotech story, and several speculative or negative sentiment plays. Search volume and news cycle intensity are pointing to clear winners and losers.

For Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), the story is a powerful one. The chip giant delivered a record fourth-quarter profit and rose 5.84% on the news. This isn't just a beat; it's a signal of robust AI chip demand fueling a 35% profit jump. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $336.42, making it the main character in today's tech narrative. This surge is likely driving significant search interest as investors track the AI supply chain's health.

On the flip side, ImmunityBio (IBI) is riding a wave of viral sentiment. The company reported preliminary net product revenue of $113 million-a 700% year-over-year increase. This explosive growth is backed by recent regulatory approvals, including accelerated approvals from the Saudi FDA for its cancer therapies. This combination of skyrocketing sales and positive clinical news creates a perfect storm for search volume, turning IBI into a trending biotech story.

Meanwhile, several other tickers are seeing heavy volume but for less positive reasons. Robinhood Markets (HOOD) is a clear negative sentiment play, with shares falling 7.5% on Thursday and volume spiking 26% above average. The drop suggests the market is reacting to headwinds, though the stock's earlier positioning around crypto staking may keep it in the news cycle.

Reddit (RDDT) is also under pressure, slumping after RBC Capital Markets said it received mixed feedback from ad agencies. The analyst called the feedback "challenging," highlighting concerns over ad performance and ROI. This is a classic case of headline risk impacting search volume, as investors scrutinize the company's advertising turnaround.

Finally, AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) presents a mixed bag. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $102.79, suggesting speculative interest. Yet this is happening alongside a securities investigation and the recent delay of its BlueBird 6 satellite launch. The tension between a high price and operational setbacks likely fuels a volatile search pattern, as traders weigh potential upside against regulatory and execution risks.

Which Ticker Is the Main Beneficiary? Ranking by Market Attention

Ranking these stocks by the intensity and sustainability of their current news cycles reveals a clear hierarchy. The market's attention is not evenly distributed; it's concentrated on a few powerful narratives.

At the top is Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM). This is the main character for the AI chip narrative, and its recent earnings have cemented that role. The stock's 5.84% surge on record profits is a sector catalyst, directly fueling search volume as investors track the health of the AI supply chain. This isn't a fleeting event; it's a fundamental driver of the tech market's momentum. The search interest here is likely to be sustained, as TSM's position as the world's largest contract chipmaker makes it a bellwether for the entire industry.

Next is ImmunityBio (IBI), which is riding the most viral sentiment. Its story is a concentrated news cycle of multiple positive events happening in quick succession. The company reported preliminary net product revenue of $113 million-a 700% year-over-year increase, backed by recent regulatory approvals from the Saudi FDA. This explosive growth combined with clinical and partnership news creates a perfect storm for search volume, turning IBI into a trending biotech story. The intensity is high, but the sustainability depends on whether the revenue growth can be maintained beyond the initial product launch phase.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) presents the most speculative story. The stock is trading near its 52-week high, driven by hopes for its satellite launch. Yet this optimism is directly countered by significant headline risk, including a securities investigation and the recent delay of its BlueBird 6 satellite launch. The search pattern here is likely volatile, as traders weigh the potential upside of a successful launch against the regulatory and execution risks. This is a high-risk, high-reward play where sentiment can swing sharply on any operational update.

Finally, Robinhood (HOOD) and Reddit (RDDT) are reacting to specific, negative operational feedback, making them defensive plays on sentiment shifts. HOOD's 7.5% drop and high volume signal the market is digesting headwinds, though its crypto staking strategy keeps it in the news cycle. RDDT's slump follows challenging feedback from ad agencies about its advertising performance, highlighting concerns over ROI. Their search volume is tied to these specific, negative catalysts rather than a broad, positive narrative.

What's Next? Catalysts and Risks to Watch

The market's current attention is a snapshot. For these tickers, the next few weeks will determine if the search volume translates into sustained moves or fades. The catalysts and risks are now clear.

For Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), the immediate test is follow-through. The stock's 5.84% surge on record profits is a powerful start, but the broader chip sector's reaction will be key. Investors are watching to see if other chip stocks mirror this strength, confirming a sector-wide AI demand cycle. A major risk to watch is the U.S. tariff environment; any escalation could pressure margins and sentiment. The stock is already near its 52-week high of $336.42, so it needs continued strong execution to justify further gains.

ImmunityBio (IBI) faces a dual catalyst. The viral sentiment is driven by explosive sales and regulatory wins, but the sustainability hinges on two near-term events. First is the commercial rollout of its ANKTIVA drug, which must convert preliminary revenue into consistent prescriptions. Second is the 700% year-over-year increase in net product revenue; investors will scrutinize the next earnings for signs of this growth accelerating or plateauing. The company's recent Saudi FDA approvals provide a strong foundation, but the market will demand proof of commercial traction.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is defined by a single, high-stakes risk: the launch schedule. The stock's speculative run to its 52-week high is directly tied to the successful deployment of its BlueBird satellites. The recent delay of the BlueBird 6 launch by the Indian Space Research Organisation is a major red flag. Any further delays, or issues with the satellite's performance after launch, could trigger a sharp pullback. This is a pure execution play where operational setbacks are the primary headline risk.

For Robinhood (HOOD) and Reddit (RDDT), the catalysts are more operational. HOOD's 7.5% drop signals headwinds, but the stock's positioning around crypto staking keeps it relevant. The next catalyst is management commentary on staking adoption and its impact on revenue. For RDDT, the key is upcoming earnings and management's update on its advertising turnaround. The challenging feedback from ad agencies about ROI is a clear headwind, but investors will watch for signs of improvement in its AI-powered Max Campaign offering. The next major strategic event for RDDT is the renewal of its AI licensing deal with Google, which is not expected until 2027.