This week, several stocks caught investors’ attention, driven by significant developments and market momentum. Here’s the breakdown of this week’s trending stocks:
Cytokinetics ($CYTK) Reports Positive Phase 3 Trial Results
Cytokinetics ($CYTK), a South San Francisco–based biopharma company focused on heart muscle disorders, has announced promising results from its Phase 3 trial of aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor under review by the FDA. The results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial, called MAPLE-HCM, compared aficamten to the widely used beta-blocker metoprolol in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and restricts blood flow.
What’s New in the Data
- Aficamten outperformed metoprolol in improving exercise capacity, measured by peak oxygen uptake (pVO2), the study’s primary endpoint.
- Patients on aficamten improved by an average of +1.1 mL/kg/min, while those on metoprolol worsened by -1.2 mL/kg/min, resulting in a statistically significant difference.
- Aficamten also showed superiority on 5 of 6 secondary measures, including symptom scores, functional class, and heart pressure gradients.
- Notably, the drug worked well even in patients with less severe symptoms, expanding its potential patient base.
Why It Matters
Metoprolol has been the standard treatment for oHCM for decades, but these results suggest aficamten could offer better outcomes for many patients. The drug is currently under FDA review, with a decision expected by December 26, 2025. It’s also being reviewed by regulators in Europe and China.
Stock Price Reaction
$SBET shares rose 40.5% on the news.
NuScale ($SMR) Rallies on Major SMR Project Deal
NuScale Power ($SMR), a U.S.-based developer of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, has announced its support for a historic agreement between ENTRA1 Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of NuScale’s SMR capacity—marking the largest planned SMR deployment in U.S. history.
The rollout will span TVA’s seven-state service region and provide enough 24/7 carbon-free electricity to power the equivalent of the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, supporting rising demand from AI datacenters, semiconductor fabrication, and critical infrastructure.
What Is ENTRA1?
ENTRA1 Energy is a power infrastructure developer focused on delivering advanced nuclear energy projects in the U.S. The company uses an innovative finance-first model, handling ownership, financing, and asset management of its ENTRA1 Energy Plants™, which will be powered by NuScale Power Modules™. The ENTRA1 team includes veterans from the energy, finance, and large-scale infrastructure sectors.
A Major Milestone for NuScale
NuScale’s modular, factory-fabricated reactors—each generating 77 MW—are the only U.S. NRC-approved SMRs ready for commercial deployment. Under this program, ENTRA1 plans to build six plants, each powered by multiple NuScale modules, to deliver a total of 6 GW of firm baseload power.
According to NuScale, this initiative aligns with President Trump’s energy policy, which prioritizes energy independence and the accelerated deployment of next-generation nuclear technology.
Stock Price Reaction
$SMR shares rose 12.3% on the announcement, reflecting investor enthusiasm for what the company calls a “critical next phase” in SMR commercialization.
$AEO Rallies as Sweeney Campaign Pays Off
American Eagle Outfitters ($AEO), a U.S.-based specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories targeting young adults, reported better-than-expected Q2 results, highlighting improved profitability and strong customer engagement, thanks in part to earlier marketing campaigns featuring Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce.
One of the most prominent campaigns—led by actress Sydney Sweeney—drew significant attention earlier this year, but also sparked backlash on social media over styling choices and perceived tone-deaf messaging. Despite the criticism, AEO now describes it as one of their most successful campaigns to date, citing stronger brand awareness, improved engagement, and a boost in comparable sales.
The retailer posted $103 million in operating income (+2% YoY) on revenue of $1.28 billion, with Aerie’s 3% comp growth helping offset declines at the American Eagle brand. Year-to-date share repurchases totaled $231 million, reducing outstanding diluted shares by roughly 10%.
Stock Price Reaction
$AEO shares climbed 37% following the report.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. The content is based on publicly available information and reflects the author’s opinions as of the publication date, which may change without notice. All investments carry inherent risks, including the potential loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Forward-looking statements, including references to projected revenues, market trends, or business developments, are based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ due to various factors, including regulatory changes, economic conditions, competitive pressures, and unforeseen market fluctuations. Readers should conduct their own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. BBAE holds no position in the securities mentioned, nor are they compensated by the companies mentioned.
