O’Reilly Automotive reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit and revenue that largely met expectations, but a cautious full-year forecast and surging employee health care costs sent shares tumbling in after-hours trading. Despite a healthy 5.6% jump in comparable-store sales, the retailer’s outlook for 2026 suggests a tightening environment for the auto-parts industry.
Shares of power producers outperformed the broader market on Wednesday as investors rotated out of high-risk technology positions into defensive sectors. While utility stocks saw minor losses, the sector remained a relative haven amid growing political scrutiny over the energy demands of the tech industry's data center expansion.
The communications services sector retreated on Wednesday as disappointing fiscal second-quarter revenue from Fox Corp and a massive staff reduction at The Washington Post signaled ongoing volatility across the media landscape.
Technology stocks retreated as disappointing earnings from semiconductor giants and high-growth AI firms forced traders to recalibrate expectations for the sector's profitability. The sell-off hit major players like AMD and Alphabet, signaling a cooling period for the artificial intelligence trade that has dominated markets for over a year.
Financial shares rallied on Wednesday after steady quarterly results from Ares Management mitigated investor anxiety over the private-credit sector and the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence. The sector-wide recovery follows a volatile session where concerns over automated software tools triggered a sharp sell-off among major lenders and data providers.
Lucky Strike Entertainment reported a 2.3% revenue increase for its second fiscal quarter, buoyed by a return to growth in same-store sales for the first time in two years. Despite missing analyst expectations and swinging to a net loss, the Richmond-based operator cited strengthening demand in its retail and league segments as a signal of a broader recovery across its 369 locations.
Health care stocks climbed Wednesday as Eli Lilly reported a massive revenue jump, highlighting a widening divide between winners and losers in the lucrative weight-loss market.
Consumer-sector equities faced downward pressure on Wednesday following a disappointing private payrolls report that underscored persistent weaknesses in the American labor market. Data from payroll processor ADP revealed that U.S. private employers added just 22,000 workers in January, significantly trailing economist forecasts and raising concerns over discretionary spending.
Industrial and transportation stocks advanced as market participants shifted capital from high-growth technology giants into cyclical sectors. The movement comes as major players in defense and logistics adjust strategies to navigate fluctuating demand and geopolitical pressures.
Investors shifted capital into the materials sector on Friday, driving sharp gains for metals and grains as markets rotated away from high-risk technology stocks. This movement comes amid a broader rebound in precious metals and new geopolitical agreements aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains.
U-Haul Holding Co. swung to a net loss for the quarter ended Dec. 31, as the moving and storage giant grappled with significant depreciation charges and a sluggish resale market for its rental fleet.
Energy stocks and crude futures climbed after Tehran unexpectedly requested that upcoming diplomatic discussions with the United States be relocated from Turkey to Iran, sparking fresh market volatility.
Amazon.com is set to report its fourth-quarter financial results after Thursday’s closing bell, facing intense pressure to prove it can keep pace with its Big Tech rivals in the generative artificial intelligence race. While the Seattle-based giant expects a significant jump in revenue to over $211 billion, investors are focused less on retail volume and more on whether its cloud and AI divisions can close the gap with Microsoft and Google.
Workday, the enterprise software giant, is reducing its global headcount by approximately 2% as part of a reorganization aimed at prioritizing revenue-generating departments. The move, announced in a Wednesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, primarily targets non-revenue roles within the company’s customer operations division.
Crown Castle is cutting its headcount by approximately 20% as the Houston-based infrastructure provider prepares to finalize the $8.5 billion sale of its fiber business. The restructuring aims to generate roughly $65 million in annual savings by trimming roles across tower and corporate divisions.
Phillips 66 is recalibrating its refining portfolio by raising capacity ratings across several key U.S. facilities, a move driven by structural improvements and a banner year for margins. Executive Vice President Rich Harbison confirmed the upgrades during a Wednesday earnings call, highlighting the company’s ability to process heavy crude—particularly from Venezuela—without additional capital expenditure.
Snap Inc. outperformed Wall Street expectations in the fourth quarter, reporting a net profit of $45.2 million as direct-response advertising fueled a 10% revenue increase. However, the company issued a cautious first-quarter outlook, citing delays in its high-profile $400 million integration with AI search engine Perplexity.
Cardinal Health is expected to report higher second-quarter earnings on Thursday, bolstered by a strategic shift toward high-margin specialty services and the continued surge in GLP-1 medication distribution. Analysts polled by FactSet project a profit of $446 million, marking a significant year-over-year increase as the healthcare giant leans into its revised full-year guidance.
Soybean futures surged to a two-month high on Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced that China is considering a significant increase in U.S. agricultural imports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump indicated that discussions with President Xi Jinping could raise the seasonal purchase target to 20 million tons, offering a potential lifeline to American farmers facing depressed commodity prices.
Veradermics shares surged over 120% during their Tuesday debut on the New York Stock Exchange, as investors rallied behind the biotech firm’s development of novel hair loss treatments. The New Haven-based company priced its upsized initial public offering at $17 per share, only to see the stock soar to approximately $38 in early trading.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) has released its latest price assessments for critical electric vehicle minerals in China, reporting that lithium carbonate and hydroxide have reached price parity at $22,325 per metric ton. The data highlights a period of relative stability for essential battery precursors as the global supply chain adapts to shifting demand.
Veradermics, a New Haven-based biotech firm developing hair loss treatments, saw its shares surge over 100% in its New York Stock Exchange debut on Tuesday. The company’s upsized initial public offering priced at $17 per share, raising significant capital as it advances a potential first-of-its-kind non-hormonal oral therapeutic for hair regrowth.
MGM Resorts International shares surged Wednesday after the company reported preliminary fourth-quarter results that comfortably exceeded Wall Street expectations. Driven by a sharp rise in casino revenue, the hotel and gaming operator expects to post a profit of $293.6 million, nearly doubling its performance from the same period last year.
Powell Industries shares jumped 19% to a 52-week high on Wednesday after the electrical equipment supplier reported a surge in new orders and first-quarter earnings that beat analyst estimates. The Houston-based company reached $540.00 in midday trading, marking a performance that has seen its valuation more than double over the past year.
Johnson Controls International shares climbed Wednesday after the industrial conglomerate reported first-quarter profits that surpassed expectations and raised its full-year earnings guidance, signaling sustained demand for its building and HVAC solutions.
Hershey is set to report its fourth-quarter results on Thursday morning, with Wall Street bracing for a significant drop in earnings despite a modest rise in revenue. As the confectioner grapples with historic spikes in cocoa prices, analysts polled by FactSet expect net income to plummet to $320.6 million, down from $796.6 million during the same period last year.
U.S. natural gas inventories are poised for a historic contraction following Winter Storm Fern, with analysts forecasting a record-breaking 374 billion cubic feet (Bcf) withdrawal for the week ended Jan. 30. This massive drain, fueled by a surge in heating demand and crippled production, is expected to flip the national supply from a comfortable surplus to a deficit against the five-year average.
Cigna Group is expected to report a significant jump in fourth-quarter profit and revenue on Thursday morning, driven by robust performance across its healthcare segments. While analysts polled by FactSet anticipate a net income of $1.74 billion, the health insurance giant faces mounting scrutiny over its pharmacy-benefit margins and a shifting regulatory landscape for Medicare Advantage.
U.S. crude oil futures reversed early gains on Wednesday, turning lower after Energy Information Administration data revealed rising gasoline stocks and a weather-induced slump in demand. While a severe cold snap triggered a significant drop in domestic production, the supply contraction failed to offset bearish signals from the refined products market.
Suncor Energy shares advanced on Wednesday after the Canadian oilsands giant reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst estimates, fueled by record upstream production and refining volumes. The Calgary-based producer achieved its multi-year financial targets a full year ahead of schedule, signaling a successful operational turnaround under its current leadership.
