What happened Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) stock rose 17.6% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. For context, the S&P 500 returned 2.8% last month. March hasn't been as kind to shares of the image-sharing platform operator (which went public in April 2019), as they fell 15.6% in the first week of this month. Despite the pullback, shares are up 259% over the last year, versus the broader market's 29% return. Image source: Getty Images. So what February performance We can attribute Pinterest stock's strong performance last month to two related catalysts: the Feb. 4 release of better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and a Feb. 16 Wall Street analyst upgrade. On Feb. 5 shares popped 5.3% following the company's earnings release. In Q4, revenue soared 76% year over year to $705.6 million, speeding by the $646 million analyst consensus estimate. Growth was driven by a 37% year-over-year surge in the number of monthly active users (MAUs) to 459 million and a 29% increase in global average revenue per user (ARPU) to $1.57. Bottom-line performance was also impressive. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rocketed 258% to $0.43, easily beating the $0.32 Wall Street had expected. On Feb. 16, shares rose 6.1% following Loop Capital raising its price target to $105 per share, 25% above where the stock had closed on the previous trading day. (Shares closed at $68.14 on Friday.) March performance (to date) Market dynamics are behind Pinterest stock's weak start to March. Many highly valued growth stocks that have benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic pulled back this past week. This dynamic is largely attributable to the falling number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Concerns about inflation heating up has also hurt some stock sectors. Data by YCharts. Now what Management guided for first-quarter 2021 revenue to grow in the low-70-percent range year over year. Find out why Pinterest is one of the 10 best stocks to buy now Motley Fool co-founders Tom and David Gardner have spent more than a decade beating the market. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* Tom and David just revealed their ten top stock picks for investors to buy right now. Pinterest is on the list -- but there are nine others you may be overlooking. Click here to get access to the full list! *Stock Advisor returns as of February 24, 2021 Beth McKenna has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Pinterest. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source