Core Insights - GE Vernova was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 on Wednesday, with shares surging 7.3% after announcing its first wind repower upgrade agreement outside the U.S. [2] - Constellation Energy's shares increased by 5.3% following a $1 billion loan from the Department of Energy to restart a decommissioned nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania [3] - Lowe's Companies reported better-than-expected adjusted profit for the third quarter, leading to a 4% increase in its shares [4] - Alphabet's shares rose 2.8% to an all-time high after the launch of its latest AI model, Gemini 3 [5] - Eversource Energy's stock dropped 12.5% after regulators in Connecticut blocked its proposed $2.4 billion sale of its water subsidiary [8] - Shares of agricultural companies Archer-Daniels-Midland and Bunge fell 3.8% and 3.1%, respectively, due to reports of potential delays in biofuel import incentive cuts [9] Company Summaries - **GE Vernova**: Experienced a significant stock increase due to a new international agreement for wind turbine upgrades, marking a strategic expansion [2][7] - **Constellation Energy**: Benefited from government funding aimed at reviving nuclear energy operations, which could enhance its energy supply capabilities [3] - **Lowe's Companies**: Showed strong performance driven by online sales growth and a robust contractor business, contrasting with competitor Home Depot's struggles [4] - **Alphabet**: Achieved record stock prices following the successful launch of a competitive AI model, reflecting strong market confidence [5] - **Eversource Energy**: Faced a major setback with a significant stock decline after regulatory rejection of a key acquisition, impacting its growth strategy [8] - **Archer-Daniels-Midland and Bunge**: Experienced stock declines due to regulatory uncertainties affecting the biofuel market, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in their business models [9]

Core Viewpoint - Home Depot's stock decline was primarily driven by a series of post-earnings price target cuts from analysts following the release of its third-quarter results [1] Financial Performance - Home Depot reported a year-over-year sales growth of nearly 3% to $41.4 billion, largely attributed to a recent acquisition of construction materials company GMS [3] - Same-store sales showed only marginal increases, and net income per share under GAAP decreased by 1% to $3.62 [3] Analyst Reactions - Analysts had anticipated higher profitability, but while Home Depot exceeded revenue expectations, it adjusted its full-year guidance to reflect slightly higher sales growth projections but lowered per-share earnings expectations [4] - RBC Capital's Steven Shemesh revised his fair price estimate for Home Depot from $401 to $376, citing concerns over softened demand and potential economic challenges [4][5] Market Outlook - The outlook for Home Depot appears bleak, particularly as the construction sector often suffers first during economic downturns, raising concerns for retailers supplying this sector [6] - Analysts are suggesting that there may be better investment opportunities in the retail space compared to Home Depot at this time [6][7]

Market Performance Recap - The U.S. stock market rebounded on November 19, 2025, with major indexes ending multi-day losing streaks, driven by cautious optimism, particularly in the tech sector [1][2] - The S&P 500 rose by 0.4% to 6,642.16 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.1% to 46,138.77 points, both breaking four-session losing streaks [2] - The Nasdaq Composite led gains with a 0.6% increase to 22,564.23 points, while the Russell 2000 index saw a slight dip of less than 0.1% [2] Key Upcoming Market Events - Investors are anticipating significant economic data and corporate earnings, including the delayed September jobs report set for release on November 20, 2025 [3][4] - The minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting indicated that many officials believe no further interest rate cuts are necessary this year, impacting traders' forecasts for monetary policy [3] Major Stock News and Earnings Recap - Nvidia's highly anticipated fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings report is due after market close, with shares climbing between 2% and 3.2% ahead of the announcement [6] - Analysts forecast a substantial 56% revenue jump for Nvidia to approximately $54.9 billion for the August-October quarter [6] - Target's stock declined by 2.7% to 3.3% after reporting third-quarter sales that fell short of expectations, leading to a lowered full-year profit estimate [7] - TJX shares increased by 0.2% to 4% after better-than-expected quarterly results and raised fiscal 2026 guidance, with earnings per share of $1.28 and revenue up 7.5% year-over-year to $15.12 billion [7] - Lowe's shares rose by 4% to 6% after reporting stronger-than-expected third-quarter profit and raising its full-year sales projection [7] - Alphabet's shares jumped 3% to a new all-time intraday high following the announcement of its latest AI model, Gemini 3 [7] - Constellation Energy rallied by 5% to 5.6% after receiving a $1 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to restart its nuclear power plant [7] Additional Corporate News - Amazon's stock remained relatively unchanged after a 4.4% drop due to a rating cut by Rothschild [10] - Medtronic shares increased by 4.7% after reporting strong second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.36 per share, beating analyst estimates [10] - Amer Sports surged 8.5% following its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, which showed earnings of $0.33 per share, surpassing estimates [10] - Unity Software added 5.9% after announcing a partnership with Epic Games to integrate its games into the Fortnite platform [10] - La-Z-Boy shares soared 11% in premarket trading after reporting a year-over-year sales increase in its fiscal 2026 second quarter [10]

Core Insights - Home Depot's lowered guidance raised concerns about consumer spending, leading to a decline in its shares, prompting speculation about Lowe's potential performance [1][5] - Lowe's appears to be executing a turnaround strategy effectively, focusing on digital expansion and professional contractor offerings, which may be yielding better results compared to Home Depot [2][5] - TJX has seen a 21% increase year-to-date, indicating strong consumer demand for value-oriented retail options, despite some fluctuations in stock performance [6][10] Company Performance - Lowe's has implemented initiatives that have led to a million queries per month on its digital platform, doubling conversion rates, showcasing effective digital engagement [3][4] - Lowe's made a $9 billion acquisition to enhance its offerings for professional contractors, indicating a strategic focus on expanding its market presence [5] - Home Depot's stock is down approximately 14% year-to-date, while Lowe's is down about 7%, highlighting a divergence in performance between the two companies [5][6] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly seeking value, as evidenced by TJX's popularity, where shoppers enjoy the thrill of finding discounted designer brands [6][10] - Target is experiencing a decline in sales, down 2.7% for the quarter, and has struggled to maintain consumer excitement, indicating challenges in its turnaround efforts [11][12] - There is a narrative of a resilient consumer, with some segments still spending despite economic pressures, as seen in various retail sectors [19][20]

Company Performance - Nvidia's stock is currently trading at approximately $86 per share, with a price target of $270 over the next 12 months, indicating a significant potential upside [2][3] - Lowe's reported a profit that exceeded expectations, driven by consumer spending on home renovations, and adjusted its full year profit target to approximately $2.25 per share [9] - Alphabet's shares increased by about 3% during the session, bolstered by positive reviews for its newly released Gemini AI model, contributing to a 55% rise in shares this year [13][15] Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 41 points, or roughly 0.1%, while the S&P 500 added about 25 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq indices were up approximately 0.6% [6] - The S&P 500 saw 305 names decline, while 194 gained ground, with technology sector participation up by about 0.9% [7][8] Sector Performance - Energy sector stocks declined by 1.3%, while utilities and real estate also underperformed [8] - Eversource Energy shares fell by more than 12% after regulators denied its request to sell its subsidiary, raising concerns about potential household bill increases [18] M&A Activity - Abbott Laboratories' shares fell by 3% following reports of a potential acquisition of Exact Sciences Corp, which saw its shares rise by 23.7% [22][23] Regulatory Environment - The U.S. government is pushing Congress to remove provisions from a defense spending bill that would restrict chip exports, impacting companies' ability to sell high-end chips to China [25][29]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets experienced a modest rebound on November 19, 2025, with major indexes closing higher, breaking a multi-day losing streak as investors awaited Nvidia's earnings report [1] - The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, the Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.6%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, halting their respective losing streaks [2] Economic Indicators - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased to 4.13% from approximately 4.11% [3] - The U.S. dollar index rose by 0.7% to 100.19 [3] - WTI crude futures declined over 2% to settle at $59.50 per barrel, while gold futures advanced 0.2% to $4,075 per ounce [3] Key Company News - Nvidia (NVDA) shares climbed by as much as 3.2% ahead of its fiscal third-quarter earnings report, with analysts expecting earnings of $1.25 per share on revenue of $54.9 billion [5] - Alphabet (GOOGL) saw a 3% increase in shares, reaching an all-time intraday high following the announcement of its AI model, Gemini 3 [5] - Lowe's (LOW) shares rose 4% after reporting stronger-than-expected third-quarter profits and raising its full-year sales projection [5] - Target (TGT) shares fell 2.7% after reporting disappointing sales figures and lowering its full-year profit forecast [5] - Walmart (WMT) shares were down nearly 1% as investors awaited its earnings report [5] - Constellation Energy (CEG) rallied 5% after receiving a $1 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy [5] - Medtronic plc (MDT) jumped 4.7% after surpassing earnings estimates [5] - Amer Sports, Inc. (AS) surged 8.5% on strong earnings, while Magic Software Enterprises Ltd. (MGIC) fell 4.4% after missing expectations [5] Upcoming Events - Nvidia's fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings report is expected to be a major market mover, influencing sentiment across technology and AI sectors [6] - The September jobs report, delayed due to a government shutdown, is set to be released on November 20, providing insights into the labor market [10] - Walmart's earnings report is anticipated to offer further indications of consumer spending and retail sector health [10] - Preliminary PMI data for November will be released on November 21, providing clues on global economic growth and business confidence [10]

CONCLUDED Stock Futures Climb After Nvidia Earnings Last Updated: 2 hours ago S&P 500 Kicks Higher at Finish. Now It's Nvidia Time. By Karishma Vanjani The U.S. stock market took off in the final minutes of regular trading, before Nvidia shared its quarterly earnings, a report that will vibe check the optimism on artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 closed 0.4% higher, breaking a four-day streak of losses. Dow gained 0.1%. Nasdaq led the pack, rising 0.6%. Much of this afternoon, the S&P 500 did basically n ...

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's CEO anticipates an increase in home renovations as homeowners are hesitant to purchase new homes due to high mortgage rates, which has positively impacted the company's stock performance [1]. Company Performance - Lowe's stock rose nearly 6% following the CEO's optimistic outlook on home renovations [1]. - The company reported better-than-expected results in the third quarter, raising its full-year sales outlook [3]. - Despite a small increase in same-store sales of 0.4%, which was below the expected 1.02%, Wall Street remains optimistic about Lowe's performance [4]. Market Conditions - Homeowners are likely to utilize home equity lines of credit (HELOC) for larger home improvement projects, driven by their reluctance to give up low mortgage rates [2]. - The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate is currently at 6.24%, reflecting a slight increase [2]. - The average age of homes in the U.S. is approximately 44 years, indicating a growing need for renovations [2]. Competitive Position - Lowe's has achieved double-digit growth in its home installation business, including kitchens, bathrooms, and HVAC systems [5]. - The company is gaining market share, which is contributing to its success despite a lack of overall market recovery [6]. - Analysts believe Lowe's profitability will improve, and its margin gap with Home Depot is expected to narrow as it gains traction with professional customers [6].

Core Insights - The third-quarter earnings season is concluding, with significant attention on Nvidia and mixed results from major home improvement retailers Home Depot and Lowe's amid softer demand [1][2]. Home Improvement Sector - Home Depot reported fiscal third-quarter results that fell short of analyst expectations, with adjusted earnings per share at $3.74, missing the expected $3.81 by 1.84% and declining from $3.78 in the prior year [4][3]. - Home Depot's sales reached $41.4 billion, a 2.8% year-over-year increase, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.88%, with approximately $900 million from a recent acquisition [5]. - Comparable sales growth for Home Depot was only 0.2%, significantly below the projected 2.1%, with customer transactions down 1.4% from the previous quarter [6]. - The company lowered its full-year 2025 adjusted earnings forecast due to ongoing consumer uncertainty and weaker housing turnover, leading to a 7% drop in its stock value [7]. Lowe's Performance - Lowe's reported fiscal third-quarter results that exceeded profitability expectations, with total sales of $20.8 billion, up 3.2% year-over-year, aligning closely with estimates [9]. - Adjusted earnings per share for Lowe's reached $3.06, surpassing the anticipated $2.97 by 3% and reflecting a 5.9% increase from the prior year [10]. - Comparable sales for Lowe's rose 0.4% for the second consecutive quarter, supported by an 11.4% increase in online sales and strength in professional categories [10]. - Lowe's stock increased by over 5% in early trading, indicating a better positioning for gradual recovery compared to competitors [11]. Retail Sector Challenges - Target reported a 1.5% year-over-year sales decline to $25.3 billion, missing estimates, with comparable sales down 2.7% [13]. - Target's earnings of $1.78 per share were slightly above estimates, but the bottom line declined 3.8% from the previous year, reflecting cautious consumer spending [14]. - Walmart is set to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings, with projections of a 5.2% increase in earnings per share to $0.61 and revenue expected to reach $177.14 billion, up 4.5% year-over-year [16].

Core Insights - Homeowners are avoiding large renovations, but there is a trend towards smaller home improvement projects, which is seen as a positive indicator for 2026 [1][2] - Lowe's reported third-quarter results that surpassed analysts' expectations, although the profit guidance for 2025 was lower than anticipated [3] Consumer Behavior - Many homeowners are delaying expensive renovations due to affordability concerns and economic uncertainty, particularly regarding larger discretionary purchases [3] - High interest rates have made home renovations less appealing, especially for those needing loans [3][4] Market Conditions - Despite rising home prices providing borrowing opportunities, homeowners are waiting for lower interest or mortgage rates before committing to larger purchases [4] - There is potential for homeowners to access between $11 billion to $13 billion in equity for borrowing when interest rates decrease [4] Company Outlook - Lowe's executives express cautious optimism about future conditions as they anticipate potential near-term rate reductions could serve as an additional stimulus for consumer spending [5]