SanDisk Looks Sweet, Tech Blooms in April, Is It Sell in May (Or Stay?) The U.S. stock market experienced a remarkable surge in April 2026, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posting record highs. The S&P 500 gained 10.4% for the month, while the Nasdaq Composite soared 15.3%, marking the best single-month performance since the pandemic rebound in 2020. This surge was driven primarily by the technology sector, which saw the tech sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rise 20%, the highest gain in 24 years. The Dow Jones U.S. Software Index climbed 10.5%, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surged 38.4%, with the SOX index recording 18 consecutive green candle sessions, a record for the index created in late 1993. Semiconductor stocks led the charge, with Intel (INTC) rising 114.1% in April. SanDisk (SNDK) also delivered a strong performance, with sales growth of 252% that exceeded Wall Street expectations by over $1.2 billion. Adjusted earnings per share beat estimates by nearly $9. The company projected current-quarter sales of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion, significantly higher than the $6.65 billion expected by analysts. Other notable performers included Marvell Technology (MRVL), which gained 88.2%, ON Semiconductor (ON) with an 81.1% increase, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) rising 80.8%. The market's momentum continued into early May, with the S&P 500 adding 1.02% and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.89% on the day. Small-cap stocks outperformed, as the Russell 2000 rose 2.21%, nearly setting a new record close. Narrow, specialized mid-major indexes also saw gains, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index up 2.28%, the KBW Banks index rising 1.44%, and the Dow Transports adding 1.28%. Despite crude oil trading sideways, investors flocked back into U.S. Treasuries, with the U.S.#s_p_500 #nasdaq_composite #san_disk #tech_sector_spdr_etf #philadelphia_semiconductor_index
