Key Moments
- HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) surged about 8.3% on September 11 to a 52-week high of $34.94, following the launch of its OmniBook AI-PC line and new analyst coverage.
- Investing.com’s Beat the S&P 500 strategy, which added HPQ at $31.02 on September 1, is up 2.37% month-to-date compared to the S&P 500’s -0.60%.
- Within the same strategy, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is the top performer this month with a 13.33% gain since September 1.
HPQ Rally Highlights AI-PC Theme
Tech hardware stocks have been quietly outperforming broader equity benchmarks this month, and HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) has emerged as a standout. The stock jumped roughly 8.3% in a single trading session on September 11, reaching a new 52-week high of $34.94. The move followed HP’s introduction of its OmniBook AI-PC portfolio and the launch of analyst coverage from RBC Capital.
HPQ had already been included in Investing.com’s algorithm-driven “Strategies” model since September 1, with the position initiated at $31.02. Based on that entry level, the holding is currently showing a month-to-date gain of +9.03%.
Strategy Overview: Beat the S&P 500
The HPQ position is part of the Beat the S&P 500 strategy. The approach is described as: “Picked from S&P 500, refined by AI. This strategy studies all 500 stocks, then selects the elite 20 most likely to outperform the market in the next month.” That concept has been delivering in September, with the equal-weighted basket up 2.37% so far this month, compared to a -0.60% return for the S&P 500, implying a 2.97-point performance advantage.
InvestingPro members can view the complete list of September’s AI-powered stock selections, which is currently available at a 55% discount. Access links are provided for both app and web users:
- App users can subscribe here
- Web users can subscribe here
Fundamental Drivers Behind HP’s Move
HP’s September 11 announcement of its OmniBook AI-PC family, which leverages collaborations with Red Hat, Nvidia and OpenAI to support hybrid, on-device AI workloads, followed closely on the heels of its fiscal Q3 report released on August 26.
For that fiscal Q3 period, HP reported non-GAAP EPS of $0.83, an 11% year-over-year increase, on record revenue of $15.7 billion, up 13%. Personal Systems revenue climbed 18%. HP also raised its full-year EPS outlook to a range of $3.19-$3.29 from a prior range of $2.90-$3.10, a revision that includes an estimated $0.11 per share benefit from tariff refunds.
On the analyst side, RBC’s David Paige initiated coverage on HP with a Sector Perform rating and a $33 price objective. That target sits below the current trading level, underscoring that not all market participants are pursuing the recent strength even as investors focus on a potential multi-year PC refresh cycle and HP’s edge-AI positioning.
Qualcomm Leads the Strategy’s Performance
Within the Beat the S&P 500 universe, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is the strongest performer so far this month, advancing 13.33% since September 1. The most recent catalyst differs from its earlier chip-related agreement with Amazon/AWS. On September 15, StoneX reaffirmed a Buy rating and a $270 price target, pointing to “encouraging leverage” in Qualcomm’s data-center business.
This positive view is balanced by intensifying competitive signals. In the same week, MediaTek launched two new premium smartphone processors, the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M, which directly confront Qualcomm’s high-margin flagship lineup.
Top and Bottom Contributors in Beat the S&P 500
Out of the 20 holdings in the Beat the S&P 500 portfolio, 12 are in positive territory for the month. Alongside QCOM and HPQ, several other technology names are among the leading contributors, while a few positions are weighing on returns.
| Holding | Month-to-date Performance | Role in Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) | +13.33% | Top performer |
| HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) | +9.03% | Key contributor |
| HP Enterprise | +9.85% | Top gainer |
| AMD | +9.71% | Top gainer |
| Intel | +9.18% | Top gainer |
| TransDigm | -6.13% | Largest detractor |
| Applied Materials | -4.68% | Notable detractor |
Performance Across Other Quant Strategies
Beyond Beat the S&P 500, other strategies in the Investing.com framework are also showing varied performance relative to benchmarks this month. Tech Titans is the strongest global performer, with a 4.40-point lead over the S&P 500. Energy Elite and Healthcare Heroes are also outperforming, with relative gains of +2.54 and +2.62 points, respectively. By contrast, Financial Fortresses is the weakest, trailing its benchmark by -3.26 points.
In international markets, Australia-focused strategies stand out. Aussie Materials and Aussie Tech Titans are delivering the largest relative outperformance across the global strategy set, at +7.03 and +6.74 points, respectively. Their edge is primarily due to declining less than their sharply falling local indices, rather than being driven by a single dominant stock move, suggesting investors may monitor the region for a clearer single-stock catalyst.
Accessing the Full September Lineup
Existing members can review the full slate of September picks through the provided link. For non-members, access is currently being offered at a 55% discount.
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