What’s Going On With The Gain In Dell Stock?

by | Feb 19, 2026 | General

Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:DELL) shares are trading higher on Thursday, standing out in a market that’s broadly under pressure. Dell is moving in the opposite direction of the Nasdaq, which is down 0.52% and the S&P 500 is off 0.37%.

Despite a broader market downturn, Dell’s stock is bucking the trend, with the Nasdaq down 0.52% and the S&P 500 shedding 0.37%.

Dell Outperforms Amid Market Downturn

Today, Dell Technologies is standing out in a market that’s mostly moving lower. While major indices are slipping and the broader Technology sector is under pressure, Dell is managing to push higher. It’s a noticeable bit of strength on a day when only defensive areas like Utilities and Energy are in the green. Dell’s ability to outperform in this environment suggests the stock is benefiting from solid fundamentals and some positive momentum building within its corner of the tech landscape.

Analyst Upgrade Boosts Sentiment Ahead Of Earnings

Additionally, Evercore ISI raised its rating to Tactical Outperform, signaling confidence heading into Dell’s upcoming earnings release, according to CNBC. The firm did trim its price target to $160 from $180, but said it expects Dell to beat current revenue and EPS estimates of $31.4 billion and $3.52.

The firm also noted that rising memory prices are actually helping Dell in the short term. Concerns about memory inflation are prompting customers to accelerate purchases of PCs and traditional servers to get ahead of expected price increases. Evercore ISI believes this pull‑forward effect has boosted Dell’s recent demand environment.

Dell’s Technical Indicators Show Mixed Signals

Dell’s stock is currently trading at $118.50, showing a modest gain of 0.4% above its 20-day SMA but remains 11.5% below its 100-day SMA. Over the past 12 months, the stock has seen a slight decline of 2.31%. It is positioned closer to its 52-week low of $66.25 than its high of $168.08, indicating some potential room for recovery or further retraction depending on upcoming market conditions.

The RSI stands at 46.73, suggesting a neutral market momentum, while the MACD indicates a bullish signal with a histogram value of 17 cents. These indicators suggest that while the stock is not currently in overbought or oversold territory, there is potential for upward movement if market conditions improve.

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $163.71. Recent analyst moves include:

  • Morgan Stanley: Underweight (Lowers Target to $101.00) (Feb. 18)
  • Citigroup: Buy (Lowers Target to $160.00) (Feb. 17)
  • Citigroup: Buy (Lowers Target to $165.00) (Jan. 20)

Dell’s Mixed Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Dell Technologies, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

  • Value: Neutral (Score: 39.4) — Reflects a fair valuation compared to industry peers.
  • Momentum: Weak (Score: 20.44) — Indicates that the stock is underperforming the broader market momentum.

The Verdict: Dell’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals mixed signals. The moderate value score suggests a balanced investment at current levels, while the weak momentum score indicates potential challenges ahead. Investors should monitor these trends closely, especially with earnings on the ho

DELL Price Action: Dell shares were up 1.06% at $117.98 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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