Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) has emerged as the best-performing Nasdaq 100 stock since the year-to-date lows recorded last Monday, gaining 47%. This performance slightly outpaces the ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF (TQQQ), which rose 44% over the same period. Gold miners ETF GDXU showed an even stronger gain of 90%. Palantir has continued its upward momentum, with an 11% increase so far this week, surpassing its March bounce highs and reaching an eight-week high. It currently consolidates near the highs, with market observers noting it as a leading momentum stock during a volatile two-week period. Palantir ranks third on the Investor's Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 list and is considered one of the market's relative strength leaders, with price targets set between $110 and $115. Traders are watching the $100.51 level as a key entry point. Meanwhile, other notable stocks such as MicroStrategy (MSTR), Nvidia (NVDA), and Micron Technology (MU) have experienced mixed trading sessions amid elevated volatility, with the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) at 31.60. The market is expected to remain volatile, especially around options expiration, prompting traders to favor smaller positions with wider stops.