Nasdaq Edges Lower; Johnson & Johnson Earnings Top Estimates

Market Overview - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance with the Dow up 0.30% to 48,632.75, the S&P 500 rising 0.16% to 6,807.83, while the Nasdaq fell 0.06% to 22,940.77 [1] Sector Performance - Energy shares increased by 2% on Wednesday, while consumer staples stocks decreased by 0.5% [2] Company Earnings - Johnson & Johnson reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.46 per share, a 20.6% increase year over year, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.44. The company also reported sales of $24.56 billion, up 9.1% year over year, exceeding the consensus of $24.16 billion [3] - For fiscal 2026, Johnson & Johnson provided adjusted earnings guidance of $11.43-$11.63, slightly above the consensus of $11.45, and expects sales of $99.50 billion-$100.5 billion compared to the consensus of $98.89 billion [4] Stock Movements - PAVmed Inc shares surged 246% to $21.43 after a contract award for its EsoGuard Esophageal DNA Test [10] - Progress Software Corp shares rose 22% to $47.08 following better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and positive first-quarter guidance [10] - Lisata Therapeutics Inc shares increased by 86% to $4.01 after announcing a binding term sheet for acquisition at $4.00 per share [10] - Venus Concept Inc shares fell 55% to $1.99 after announcing plans to delist from Nasdaq [10] - Innovation Beverage Group Ltd shares dropped 38% to $0.96 after a business update regarding energy expansion and a proposed merger [10] - Gibraltar Industries Inc shares declined 18% to $44.70 after reporting preliminary fourth-quarter results below estimates [10] International Markets - European shares were mixed, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 gaining 0.03%, while Spain's IBEX 35 rose 0.19%. London's FTSE 100 increased by 0.27%, Germany's DAX fell 0.47%, and France's CAC 40 gained 0.14% [8] - Asian markets closed mixed, with Japan's Nikkei down 0.41%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 0.37%, China's Shanghai Composite up 0.08%, and India's BSE Sensex down 0.33% [11]