U.S. stocks experienced a mixed trading day on Thursday as tech stocks faltered, offsetting the earlier rally led by chip stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7% while the S&P 500 dipped 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.9%.

Nvidia, which had recently become the world's most valuable company, gave up its early gains, causing its market capitalization to briefly surpass $3.4 trillion. Dell Technologies and Super Micro Computer also slipped despite initial surges after Elon Musk announced their partnership with Nvidia to build an AI factory for Grok, Tesla CEO's AI startup, xAI.

Meanwhile, Kroger reported better-than-expected revenue for the first quarter, beating analysts' estimates. However, the supermarket chain decided to pause its stock buybacks to prioritize deleveraging ahead of its $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons. Regulatory approval for the merger is being challenged over concerns about potential competition limitations. Kroger's shares were over 2% lower but have gained more than 10% since the beginning of the year.

In the restaurant sector, Darden Restaurants saw its shares rise after posting higher-than-expected adjusted earnings for the fourth quarter. The company's acquisition of Ruth's Chris Steak House contributed to its success, with revenue rising 6.8% year-over-year. However, same-store sales were unchanged compared to the previous year, and shares of Darden Restaurants remain down more than 5% year-to-date.

Accenture's shares also climbed as the consulting giant reported strong third-quarter results. Despite a minor revenue dip compared to last year, net income exceeded expectations, and the company revealed that its AI-related bookings surged, surpassing $900 million for the quarter and reaching a total of $2 billion fiscal year-to-date. However, Accenture lowered its full-year diluted EPS guidance, citing an uncertain macro environment and reduced client spending. The stock is down over 14% so far this year.

Additionally, Nvidia's market value continued to rise, making it larger than several European stock markets. The company has seen rapid growth, with its market capitalization doubling this year and adding $1 trillion in just 23 trading days. Analysts expect some profit taking in the near term but anticipate the company's solid fundamentals and attractive valuation to mitigate potential volatility.

Lastly, Dell's shares rose after Elon Musk announced that xAI, his AI startup, would utilize the hardware giant's server racks. Dell has experienced a positive trend in its stock price since the golden cross chart pattern formed. The stock is up by almost 6% and has doubled this year.

Overall, the U.S. stock market experienced a mixed session, with tech stocks facing some challenges while companies such as Kroger and Accenture displayed resilience and growth in their respective sectors.