Updated: December 12, 2025
The most active stocks in the United States today are being driven by a familiar mix of forces: heavyweight mega-caps that routinely soak up the most trading volume, and a fresh wave of “AI trade” volatility sparked by Oracle’s spending shock and Broadcom’s margin warning. By early Friday, US stock-index futures were softer—especially in tech—while investors weighed whether aggressive AI infrastructure spending is translating into sustainable profits. [1]
Below is a detailed look at the most active US stocks today , what’s behind the surging volume, and the key forecasts and market analysis shaping the tape on 12/12/2025 .
Market snapshot: why volume is clustering in a few names
Friday’s early action reflects a tug-of-war:
- AI leaders and AI infrastructure plays (chips + cloud) are absorbing heavy flows as investors voteize spending, margins, and the timeline for returns.
- The broader market has been resilient , with Thursday’s session seeing record closes for the S&P 500 and the Dow even as AI-linked names wobbled—suggesting rotation rather than outright risk aversion. [2]
- Traders are also looking ahead to Fed speaker commentary later today and next week’s major US data (including payrolls and CPI) that could reset rate expectations. [3]
Most active stocks today: pre-market volume leaders (early Friday)
In the most recent US pre-market session , trading activity clustered around mega-cap tech and semiconductors. As of the early morning update, Broadcom (AVGO) and Nvidia (NVDA) were among the most heavily traded pre-market names, alongside Tesla (TSLA) , Alphabet (GOOGL/GOOG) , Microsoft (MSFT) , Micron (MU) , Palantir (PLTR) , Apple (AAPL) , and Oracle (ORCL) . [4]
Notable pre-market signals:
- Broadcom (AVGO) was a standout on both the “most active” list and the “top losers” list pre-market, reflecting a sharp reaction to the latest AI-related messaging around profitability. [5]
- Oracle (ORCL) continued to trade actively pre-market after a historic drop the prior session, keeping the AI spending debate front and center. [6]
- Lululemon (LULU) appeared among top pre-market gainers , reflecting company-specific news and an outlook update that boosted risk appetite in selective consumer names. [7]
Important context: Pre-market “most active” lists are useful for spotting where attention is concentrated before the opening bell , but total daily volume leadership can shift rapidly once the full session begins.
Latest full-session volume leaders heading into December 12: Nvidia and Oracle on top
Because Friday’s cash session is still developing, the latest completed US trading-day volume leaderboard provides the most reliable “who actually led volume” view right now.
From the most recent full session, the most active US stocks by share volume included:
- Nvidia (NVDA) — ~ 182.14M shares
- Oracle (ORCL) — ~ 100.61M shares
- Intel (INTC) — ~ 59.1M shares
- Tesla (TSLA) — ~ 55.98M shares
- Broadcom (AVGO) — ~ 45.68M shares
- Robinhood (HOOD) — ~ 44.62M shares
- Netflix (NFLX) — ~ 43.95M shares
- Alphabet (GOOGL) — ~ 42.35M shares [8]
This lineup is telling: AI bellwethers (NVDA, AVGO) , the AI infrastructure spending lightning rod (ORCL) , and high-beta mega-caps (TSLA, GOOGL) dominated trading interest—while consumer/tech hybrid names like NFLX also remained highly liquid. [9]
The big story powering “most active” status today: AI profits vs. AI spending
1) Oracle’s spending surprise keeps the AI tape unstable
Oracle’s results and spending plans have become a market-wide stress test for how investors are pricing AI expansion.
Reuters reporting on December 12 highlights that Oracle’s stumble has bruised the AI-related trade and reignited bubble concerns—yet many investors still argue the long-term AI case remains intact. Reuters also noted Oracle’s capital expenditure expectations for fiscal 2026 were flagged as $15 billion higher than earlier estimates , a key catalyst for the sharp share move and knock-on volatility in AI-linked names. [10]
One market participant quoted by Reuters framed the moment this way: “I view this more as an Oracle issue as opposed to a problem in the AI trade overall.” [11]
That distinction— company-specific balance-sheet strain vs. sector-wide bubble —is exactly what traders are debating, and why Oracle remains one of the most actively traded tickers in the market.
2) Broadcom’s margin bail hits seeding and AI infrastructure sentiment
On December 12, Reuters reported that futures tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped as Broadcom’s results and comments sparked renewed concerns about AI profitability—despite strong demand signals. Broadcom was down pre-market after warning that future margins on AI system sales would be lower, and chip peers AMD and Nvidia were also weaker pre-market. [12]
In other words: even when revenue outlooks look healthy, the market is now intensely focused on the quality of AI revenue—especially margins and cash flow .
3) “Rotation” is still the hidden driver
Even with tech turbulence, the broader market has held up. Reuters noted that major indexes had recently pushed to records, aided by rotation out of AI-popular growth names and into relatively cheaper “value” areas (including healthcare) expected to benefit from rate cuts. [13]
AP also underscored the same dynamic: record highs in major benchmarks can coexist with sharp pullbacks in individual AI leaders, especially when megacaps carry huge index weight. [14]
Stock-by-stock: what’s driving today’s most active tickers
Nvidia (NVDA): still the liquidity king, now tied to “AI proof” expectations
Nvidia remains one of the market’s most active and most influential stocks—both due to its scale and because it is widely treated as a proxy for AI demand and AI profitability.
- The latest full-session data showed Nvidia as the top volume leader. [15]
- News coverage emphasized that AI spending doubts—sparked by Oracle and reinforced by Broadcom’s margin messaging—pressured Nvidia and other chip stocks. [16]
What traders are watching next: whether the AI buildout story transitions from capex headlines to clearer evidence of end-customer adoption and productivity gains—an inflection Reuters describes as “the next stage” of the AI revolution. [17]
Oracle (ORCL): capex and debt questions keep it in the volume spotlight
Oracle’s share volume surged as investors reacted to:
- The size and speed of its AI infrastructure ramp, and
- The timeline and confidence level for returns on those investments. [18]
Even as the broader market steadied, Oracle’s move was large enough to become a daily narrative driver—helping explain why it ranked near the top of “most active” volume lists. [19]
Broadcom (AVGO): high-volume, high-impact earnings reaction
Broadcom traded heavily pre-market and remained central to the day’s tone after warning about margin dilution tied to AI systems sales. [20]
Why it matters: Broadcom sits at the intersection of chips, networking, and AI infrastructure—so when its profitability outlook shifts, it can quickly impact sentiment across semiconductors.
Tesla (TSLA): consistent “most active” status as a high-beta megacap
Tesla appeared among both pre-market most active names and the latest full-session volume leaders. [21]
Even on days without a single dominant Tesla headline, TSLA frequently lands in the “most active” bucket because it is:
- heavily owned and traded,
- options-intensive, and
- highly sensitive to shifts in risk appetite and rates.
Intel (INTC) and Micron (MU): seeding move as a complex
Intel ranked among the most active in the latest full session, while Micron showed up among pre-market most active names. [22]
With the AI narrative under scrutiny, semiconductor stocks often trade together—especially when the catalyst is “macro for AI”: margins, capex, and the profitability timeline. [23]
Alphabet (GOOGL/GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL): mega-cap liquidity magnets
These names were among the most active pre-market stocks, reflecting their enormous index weight and constant institutional/ETF flow. [24]
When the market debates the durability of AI returns, it naturally concentrates attention on the companies expected to monetize AI at scale—whether through cloud services, devices, or advertising platforms. [25]
Palantir (PLTR): active trading tied to “AI narrative discipline”
Palantir appeared among pre-market most active names. [26]
Reuters’ December 12 analysis also notes that famous investor Michael Burry has been critical of major AI beneficiaries and disclosed a short position in Palantir—an example of how investor scrutiny is becoming more stock-specific inside the broader AI theme. [27]
Beyond the top volume list: other big movers attracting attention on Dec. 12
Lululemon (LULU): pre-market surge on leadership and outlook updates
Lululemon popped in pre-market trading and was listed among top gainers early Friday. [28]
Reuters noted Lululemon jumped after the company announced a CEO change and raised its annual profit forecast. [29]
Costco (COST): earnings beat, but the stock remained cautious pre-market
Costco’s earnings release drew major attention across markets. Investing.com reported:
- Net income of about $2.0B / $4.50 per share
- Revenue about $67.31B
- Comparable sales growth (ex-fuel/FX) about 6.4%
Yet the stock traded modestly lower pre-market Friday. [30]
For volume watchers, this matters because earnings-heavy sessions can redirect liquidity into (or away from) even the most consistently traded consumer staples and retail names.
Cannabis stocks: sharp spikes on policy speculation
Reuters reported US-listed cannabis stocks jumped after a report said President Donald Trump was considering an order to cut marijuana restrictions, lifting names such as Canopy Growth and Tilray in early trading interest. [31]
What to watch for the rest of today’s session
- Fed speakers later Friday and how they frame the path for 2026 cuts. [32]
- Next week’s headline economic data —particularly payrolls and CPI—which can reshape the rate narrative that’s been supporting rotation. [33]
- AI “quality of growth” signals : investors appear less willing to reward AI spending without clearer proof of sustainable profitability, pushing the market toward more selective positioning. [34]
What “most active stocks” really means (and why it changes quickly)
“Most active” typically refers to share volume , not necessarily “best performers” or “most important companies.” Low-priced stocks can sometimes dominate share volume, while mega-caps can dominate dollar volume and index influence.
On December 12, the center of gravity is clear: AI-linked liquidity + mega-cap trading + post-earnings repositioning are dictating which names top the tape. [35]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. apnews.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.investing.com, 5. www.investing.com, 6. www.investing.com, 7. www.investing.com, 8. www.investing.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. apnews.com, 15. www.investing.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.investing.com, 20. www.investing.com, 21. www.investing.com, 22. www.investing.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.investing.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.investing.com, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. www.investing.com, 29. www.reuters.com, 30. www.investing.com, 31. www.reuters.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. www.reuters.com, 34. www.reuters.com, 35. www.investing.com
