Top Mid-Cap Gainers: Akero Therapeutics and Brinker International Shine Last Week

In the week spanning from January 27 to January 31, several mid-cap stocks performed exceptionally well, making significant gains in the market. Here’s a closer look at the standout performers.

Akero Therapeutics Surges After Study Results

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKRO) saw its shares jump by a remarkable 106.57%. This surge followed the release of preliminary Week 96 results from its Phase 2B SYMMETRY study of Efruxifermin, a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The positive study outcomes prompted several analysts to upgrade their price forecasts for the stock, contributing to investor optimism.

Noteworthy Performers in the Market

Alongside Akero, other mid-cap stocks also made headlines with substantial gains:

1. Surgery Partners, Inc. (NYSE: SGRY) increased by 25.44% after announcing it received a non-binding acquisition proposal from Bain Capital Private Equity, raising speculation about a potential deal.
2. Flagstar Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FLG) shares rose by 24.40% following better-than-expected financial results. Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price forecast from $13 to $14.
3. Nextracker Inc. (NASDAQ: NXT) shares gained 22.98% after reporting strong financial second-quarter results for fiscal year 2025 and raising its guidance, prompting analysts to revise their price forecasts.
4. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: BHF) saw its shares climb 21.76% after reports indicated the company is exploring a potential sale. Barclays analyst Alex Scott upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight, raising the price target from $52 to $85.
5. Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) also performed well, with a gain of 21.72% after announcing second-quarter results that exceeded expectations. Analysts were quick to adjust their price forecasts accordingly.
6. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) saw its stock rise by 20.76%.
7. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) experienced a 19.38% surge after beating fourth-quarter estimates and initiating above-expectation fiscal year 2025 earnings per share guidance while also increasing its quarterly dividend by 11%.
8. Kingsoft Cloud Holdings (NASDAQ: KC) shares increased by 16.50%, likely influenced by the Lunar New Year and recent developments in AI across China, coupled with government efforts to boost financial markets.
9. Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAV) shares jumped 14.78% following better-than-expected financial results for the second quarter.

These mid-cap stocks have shown impressive performance, showcasing the potential in this segment of the market. Investors should evaluate their portfolios to determine if they hold any of these standout stocks.

stocks, gains, mid-cap