US Stock Market Move | AI momentum fades, shifting the market wind. Dow rises about 0.5%, with most component stocks advancing.

On Thursday, the Dow rose about 0.5%, with component stocks Coca-Cola Company (KO.US) and Visa (V.US) up over 2%, both hitting record highs; Walmart Inc. (WMT.US) and NIKE, Inc. Class B (NKE.US) rose over 4%, Home Depot, Inc. (HD.US) gained over 3%, and McDonald's Corporation (MCD.US), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.US), and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH.US) advanced more than 2%. Analysts noted that after years of AI and momentum trading dominance, the "quality factor" investment strategy has made a strong comeback. Driven by repricing of interest rate expectations and slowing earnings growth, capital is shifting from chasing growth to focusing on earnings quality and solid balance sheets. The strategy of going long quality and short momentum has surged 55% year-to-date. The quality factor is negatively correlated with AI, and with momentum positions highly crowded, the Buffett-style philosophy of holding onto quality assets is gaining recognition on Wall Street once again.