Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Friday
10 hr 40 min ago
Decliners
- Texas Instruments (TXN) shares fell 7.5%, logging the weakest performance in the S&P 500, after the analog chipmaker issued a weaker-than-expected profit outlook. The soft forecast raised concerns the analog chip market could face a slower recovery than previously anticipated, sending shares of several semiconductor industry peers lower, with Microchip Technology (MCHP) and Analog Devices (ADI) sinking 5.3% and 4.8%, respectively.
- Shares of fertilizer producer CF Industries (CF) dropped 7.5% after JPMorgan downgraded the stock to “underweight” and lowered its price target. Analysts pointed to an anticipated increase in the price of natural gas, which is an important input in the nitrogen fertilizer production process. JPMorgan also said that shifts in the agriculture industry, including an increase in the acreage of corn planted in the U.S. in 2025, could drag down crop prices, while geopolitical and trade uncertainties could also affect CF’s performance.
- Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) shares lost 4%. Although the medical device maker topped quarterly sales and profit forecasts, boosted by a year-over-year increase in procedures performed with its da Vinci surgical robots, currency headwinds weighed on the results and the company projected procedure growth could slow in 2025 from 2024. It also said its adjusted gross profit margin could fall between 1 to 2 percentage points, with potential new tariffs adding some uncertainty.
Advancers
- NextEra Energy (NEE) shares surged 5.2%, gaining the most of any S&P 500 stock, after the renewable energy company announced a partnership with energy equipment maker GE Vernova (GEV). The companies said they plan to collaborate on energy projects across the U.S. that could use a combination of natural gas and renewable sources such as solar and battery storage. The projects will provide power to AI data centers and other energy-intensive facilities. However, GE Vernova shares lost 3.9% on Friday, giving back some gains earlier in the week.
- Shares of Welltower (WELL), a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on healthcare facilities, gained 3.4% after Bank of America boosted its price target. Analysts highlighted the value of Welltower’s core business, especially its senior housing properties, which could benefit from demographic shifts toward an aging population. BofA also pointed to Welltower’s opportunity to monetize WellGPT, its AI real estate platform.
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- KeyBanc lifted its price target on Lululemon Athletica (LULU) stock, and shares of the apparel maker added 3.1%. Lululemon recently highlighted strong results during the key holiday shopping season, and KeyBanc analysts noted the company’s strong position in the athleisure market as well as progress on its growth initiatives, which include ambitious sales targets for men’s apparel and in digital channels.
Investors Preparing for a Busy Week Ahead
11 hr 16 min ago
The calendar of potentially market-moving events is jam-packed next week.
The Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting starts on Tuesday. While the Fed isn’t expected to cut its benchmark interest rate, investors will be paying close attention to the post-meeting statement from the policy-setting FOMC, as well as comments from Chair Jerome Powell. The Fed, which has trimmed the key rate by a full percentage point since September, has said that the pace of cuts will likely slow this year.
Key economic data reports are due later in the week, with a reading on fourth-quarter gross domestic product scheduled for Thursday morning and the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, set for early Friday. Market participants keep a close eye on economic data as they look for information that could influence the Fed’s decision-making on rates.
On the earnings front, next week will be one of the busiest of the quarter. Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META) and Tesla (TSLA) are all slated to report after the closing bell on Wednesday, while Apple (AAPL) is due to release its results late Thursday. Quarterly results from AT&T (T), General Motors (GM), Intel (INTC), Caterpillar (CAT), Visa (V) and ExxonMobil (XOM) are also on tap.
Investors will also be following developments in Washington D.C. as President Donald Trump continues to announce policy initiatives that will affect businesses, markets and the economy.
Major Indexes Gain Ground for the Second Straight Week
11 hr 49 min ago
Despite Friday’s downturn, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all finished solidly higher for the week.
The Dow added 2.2% during the holiday-shortened trading week, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each tacked on 1.7%. (The stock market was closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)
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This was the second consecutive week of strong gains for the major indexes, which last week turned in their best performances since the week of the presidential election. It’s been a noteworthy turnaround for the major indexes, which were each riding two-week losing streaks before last week.
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Heading into the final week of January, the major averages are on pace to post monthly gains for the third straight month. The Dow is up 4.4% so far in January, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have risen 3.7% and 3.3%, respectively.
AI Optimism Has Lifted Oklo 100% This Month
13 hr 1 min ago
Oklo (OKLO) shares surged to another record high Friday as investors continue to bid up nuclear energy companies on expectations of growing energy demand to support artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The latest round of investor enthusiasm came after the announcement this week of a $500 billion AI infrastructure development project. The initiative, a joint venture between Oracle (ORCL), OpenAI, and Japan’s SoftBank, bodes well in particular for Oklo. The nuclear company is backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and could win energy agreements to power data centers built under the project.
Oklo shares were up 10% at $42.50 in afternoon trading Friday. The stock has doubled since the start of 2025, leading a big rally for nuclear energy companies.
After a breakout above key resistance in mid-October, Oklo shares consolidated within a falling wedge for several months before breaking out above the pattern in late December. Since that time, the stock has continued to trend sharply higher, with gains accelerating on increasing share turnover in recent trading sessions, suggesting institutional buying participation.
While the relative strength index (RSI) confirms the stock’s strong price momentum, the indicator has moved into overbought territory, raising the prospect of short-term profit taking.
Read the full technical analysis piece here.
What to Expect from Next Week’s Fed Meeting
14 hr 24 min ago
It would be a huge surprise to financial markets if the Federal Reserve did anything other than hold its interest rate flat when the Fed’s policy committee meets Wednesday.
The Fed’s battle to subdue inflation is entering a holding pattern. After three rate cuts in a row since September, the central bank is now waiting for inflation to fall more before cutting its interest rate again.
Stubborn inflation and a resilient labor market have put the Fed in “wait and see” mode.
Read the full story about the upcoming Fed meeting here.
Twilio Soars on Strong Outlook Amid Booming AI Demand
15 hr 49 min ago
Twilio (TWLO) shares skyrocketed Friday after the cloud communications software maker issued a strong outlook amid growing demand for its AI tools.
At an investor event Thursday, Twilio said it is looking to deliver double-digit growth, with fourth-quarter revenue up 11% from a year ago, above analysts’ estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. The company is scheduled to report its full results for the fourth quarter after the closing bell on Feb. 13.
The better-than-expected forecast comes as Twilio said a growing number of companies in the AI space use its services, with over 9,000 relying on them in 2024.
Twilio also said it is targeting GAAP operating profitability in fiscal 2025 and beyond, with $3 billion or more in free cash flow (FCF) from 2025 through 2027, and non-GAAP operating margin of 21% to 22% in 2027.
The company said it is planning to return half of its annual FCF to investors through 2027. Twilio anticipates 2025 income from operations and FCF to come in the range of $825 million to $850 million.
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Shares of Twilio were up over 22% in recent trading and have nearly doubled in value over the past year.
EA Stock Price Levels to Watch After Recent Plunge
16 hr 19 min ago
Shares in Electronic Arts (EA) were down agin Friday following a massive selloff yesterday that came after the video gamer publisher slashed its full-year bookings outlook amid softening demand for its sports games, including its prominent soccer franchise.
Since setting a record high in mid-November, EA shares have undergone a steep retracement, with the stock breaking down below a multi-year uptrend line during Thursday’s 17% drop. Importantly, the move occurred on the highest weekly trading volume since January 2023, indicating strong selling conviction.
Investors should watch crucial support levels on EA’s weekly chart around $110, $100, and $87, while also monitoring a key overhead area near $144.
The stock was down 2.6% at $115.50 in midday trading on Friday.
Read the full technical analysis piece here.
Novo Nordisk Jumps on Weight-Loss Drug Trial Results
17 hr 42 min ago
Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) shares surged Friday morning after the Danish drugmaker reported early stage results for its amycretin weight-loss drug.
The maker of Ozempic and Wegovy said that its Phase 1b/2a clinical trial showed people achieved weight loss from a mean baseline body weight of 92.7 kg (202.8 pounds) in three different maintenance doses, while those treated with placebo gained weight. In the highest dosage, 20mg, participants lost 22% of body weight after 36 weeks, while people treated with placebo gained 2% body weight.
At a dosage of 1.25mg over 20 weeks, people treated with amycretin lost 9.7% of their body weight, while those on placebo gained 1.9%. People given a dosage of 5mg over 28 weeks lost 16.2%, while those on placebo gained 2.3%.
Executive vice president for development Martin Lange said Novo Nordisk was “very encouraged” by the results. The firm said it now plans “further clinical development of amycretin in adults with overweight or obesity.”
U.S.-listed shares of Novo Nordisk, which is a leader in the weight-loss drug market along with Mounjaro and Zepbound maker Eli Lilly (LLY), had been trending lower since September. The stock plunged 18% one day last month after trial results for its weight-loss drug CagriSema disappointed.
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Novo Nordisk’s U.S. shares were up 8% in recent trading, narrowing their loss over the past 12 months to 17%.
Boeing Preliminary Q4 Results Show Impact of Strike
18 hr 47 min ago
Boeing (BA) released preliminary results early Friday that showed a bigger loss for the fourth quarter than analysts had expected.
The compan said it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of $5.46 per share—far larger than the $1.40-per-share Visible Alpha consensus—when it issues its results on Tuesday. It also expects revenue of $15.2 billion, less than analysts’ estimate of $16.3 billion.
Boeing said its results were affected by the two-month machinists’ strike that crippled production, as well as charges around its defense segment and staff cuts.
“Although we face near-term challenges, we took important steps to stabilize our business during the quarter including reaching an agreement with our IAM-represented teammates and conducting a successful capital raise to improve our balance sheet,” said Boeing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kelly Ortberg, who took the reins at the embattled company in August.
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Shares of Boeing, which said it had $26.3 billion in “cash and investments in marketable securities” at the end of the fourth quarter, were up 1% in recent trading after falling more than 2% in the opening minutes of the session. They have fallen about 16% over the past 12 months.
Stock Futures Point to Lower Open for Major Indexes
19 hr 59 min ago
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.2%.
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S&P 500 futures were down 0.1%.
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Nasdaq 100 futures also slipped 0.1%.
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