Group 1 - Nvidia shares increased ahead of its earnings report, which is considered a significant event for the earnings season [1] - Lowe's stock surged after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profits, indicating strong performance in the home improvement sector [2] - Alphabet's shares continued to rise following Berkshire Hathaway's investment, reflecting positive market sentiment towards the tech giant [2] Group 2 - Eversource Energy's shares fell after a regulatory block on its $2.4 billion sale of Aquarion Water, highlighting challenges in the utility sector [3] - Plug Power's stock declined after announcing a $375 million convertible notes sale, indicating potential dilution concerns among investors [3] - Energy sector stocks, including Valero Energy and APA, dropped as crude oil prices fell due to oversupply worries [3] Group 3 - Gold futures rose, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury note decreased, suggesting a shift in investor sentiment towards safe-haven assets [4] - The U.S. dollar strengthened against major currencies, indicating a potential shift in currency market dynamics [4]

Market Overview - Pre-market futures show slight increases, with the Dow up 73 points (+0.16%), S&P 500 up 16 points (+0.24%), Nasdaq up 77 points (+0.31%), and Russell 2000 up 8 points (+0.37%) [1] Trade Data - The U.S. trade deficit for August is reported at -$59.6 billion, better than the expected -$61.0 billion and improved from the previous month's -$78.2 billion [3] - Imports fell while exports remained sluggish, indicating a weaker trade narrative despite the improved deficit figures [4] Earnings Reports - Target (TGT) shares fell -3.4% after Q3 earnings of $1.78 per share beat consensus by 2 cents, but revenues of $25.27 billion missed expectations by -0.36% and were lower than the previous year's $25.67 billion [5] - Lowe's (LOW) shares rose +5.9% following a positive earnings beat of $3.06 per share, with revenues of $20.81 billion meeting estimates and outperforming Home Depot on year-over-year comparisons [6] - The TJX Companies (TJX) reported earnings of $1.28 per share, surpassing estimates of $1.22, with sales of $15.12 billion exceeding the $14.88 billion consensus [7] NVIDIA Performance - NVIDIA (NVDA) is expected to report extraordinary earnings growth of +53.1% and revenue growth of +55.85% for Q3, with a market cap of $4.4 trillion [8] - Pre-market futures for NVIDIA are up +1.6%, contributing to a +35% stock value gain since the start of the year, and shares have increased over +1500% since October 2022 [9]

U.S. stock markets are showing cautious optimism in midday trading on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, as investors digest a flurry of corporate earnings and eagerly await a pivotal report from artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant Nvidia after the closing bell. The major indexes are attempting to rebound from a recent losing streak, with technology and growth stocks leading the charge.Major Index Performance and Market MomentumThe S&P 500 (SPX) is up between 0.5% and 0.7%, trading around the 6,650 to 6,636. ...

Core Insights - Lowe's reported better-than-expected profits, leading to a surge in its stock price, contrasting with rival Home Depot's disappointing earnings [1][2][7] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Lowe's in Q3 were $3.06, an increase from $2.89 year-over-year, exceeding analyst expectations [2] - Revenue for the quarter was approximately $20.81 billion, aligning with estimates, while comparable sales growth was slower than anticipated at 0.4% [2][5] Sales Drivers - The increase in profits was attributed to a rise in online sales and sales to professional contractors, alongside double-digit growth in "home services" [3] - CEO Marvin Ellison noted that the current quarter has started positively with comparable sales growth, which is significant given last year's strong sales due to hurricane-related demand [4][7] Future Outlook - Lowe's raised its full-year revenue forecast to $86 billion, up from a previous range of $84.5 billion to $85.5 billion, surpassing analyst consensus [5] - The company anticipates adjusted EPS at the lower end of its previous range, now projected at $12.25, citing ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty [5] - Comparable sales are now expected to be roughly flat, compared to the previous guidance of flat to 1% growth [5] Market Context - The results from Lowe's and Home Depot may indicate broader trends in the U.S. housing market and demand for home improvement supplies and services [4] - Analysts from JPMorgan highlighted the contrast between Lowe's positive outlook and Home Depot's cautious stance regarding current demand [8]

Market Overview - Major stock indexes mostly rose, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 advancing 0.4% and 0.2% respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% [2] - The S&P 500 was on pace to snap a four-session losing streak [1][16] - Investors are focused on Nvidia's upcoming quarterly results, which could have significant implications for the AI trade and the broader market [2][11] Nvidia and AI Sector - Nvidia's shares have fallen nearly 5% this week and are down more than 12% from their closing high on October 29 [2] - Concerns about AI valuations are prevalent, with 45% of fund managers surveyed by Bank of America citing an AI bubble as the biggest tail risk for the market [14] - Peter Thiel's hedge fund sold its entire stake in Nvidia during the third quarter, raising concerns among investors [23][24] Retail Sector Performance - Lowe's shares surged 5% after reporting a third-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' expectations and raising its full-year sales projection to $86 billion [4][10] - Home Depot's stock fell 6% after reporting disappointing profits and cutting its full-year outlook [4] - Target's stock declined about 1% after missing sales estimates and lowering its full-year profit forecast [5] Other Notable Companies - Microsoft shares fell 2.7% after announcing partnerships with Nvidia and Anthropic, and were down more than 1% recently [3] - Amazon's stock slipped 0.2% following a 4.4% drop due to a rating cut [5] - Alphabet's shares jumped 4% to an all-time high after announcing its latest AI model, Gemini 3 [3] Economic Indicators - Investors are awaiting the delayed September jobs report, originally scheduled for October 3, due to the U.S. government shutdown [2] - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is near its highest level since May, indicating increased market anxiety [12][13]

Hello, hello. Good Wednesday morning from Yahoo Finance's New York City headquarters studios. I'm Yao Finance executive editor Brian Sazi.The day has arrived. It's Nvidia earnings day after the close and by judging what Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Wong was doing last night. He thinks the earnings results will crush.Let's put up a photo here. There you can see Jensen uh just hanging out at the White House with Nvidia chip users. Elon Musk of Tesla and opening eyes.Greg Brockman. No clue if AI's David Saxs ...

Core Insights - The company is focusing on long-term growth from professional contractors, highlighted by an $8.8 billion acquisition of Foundation Building Materials to enhance wholesale capabilities and better serve Pro customers [1][3][5] - Despite modest sales growth, the company faces challenges from inflation, elevated interest rates, and a fluctuating housing market, leading to a lowered full-year profit outlook [8][11] - Online sales increased by 11.4%, and home services revenue saw double-digit growth, indicating a shift in consumer behavior towards outsourcing installation and remodeling tasks [9][10] Financial Performance - For Q3, net sales rose to $20.8 billion, up from $20.2 billion year-over-year, while comparable sales increased by only 0.4% [8] - The company is experiencing a complex integration of expanded capabilities while maintaining operational simplicity, which includes aligning technology systems and consolidating supply chains [10][11] Strategic Focus - The integration of Foundation Building Materials is a significant shift for the company, allowing it to control more of the Pro ecosystem from specification to fulfillment [7][11] - Professional contractors, although a small share of overall store traffic, contribute a disproportionately large share of revenue, making them central to the company's long-term strategy [4][9]

Core Insights - Lowe's Companies, Inc. reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results with year-over-year growth in both revenue and earnings, with revenues meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate and earnings exceeding it [1][3] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were $3.06 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.97, marking a 5.9% increase from $2.89 per share in the same period last year [3] - Net sales reached $20,813 million, slightly up from $20,170 million in the previous year, driven by a 0.4% rise in comparable sales, 11.4% growth in online sales, and double-digit growth in home services [4][9] Margin and Cost Analysis - Gross margin expanded to 34.2%, up 50 basis points from the prior-year quarter, while SG&A expenses increased to 20% of sales from 19% [5] - Operating income was $2,481 million, down from $2,536 million in the year-ago quarter, with the operating margin contracting to 11.9% from 12.6% [5] Financial Health - As of the end of the quarter, Lowe's had cash and cash equivalents of $621 million, long-term debt of $37,498 million, and a shareholders' deficit of $10,382 million [6] - Operating cash flow for the nine months ended October 31 totaled $8,297 million, with $8.8 billion deployed for the FBM acquisition and $673 million paid in dividends [6] Outlook - Lowe's updated its full-year sales outlook to $86 billion, up from the previous range of $84.5-$85.5 billion, while projecting flat comparable sales [8][9] - The company anticipates an adjusted operating margin of 12.1%, slightly below the previous forecast of 12.2%-12.3%, and expects net interest expenses to be approximately $1.4 billion [8][10]

Core Viewpoint - Home Depot reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the third consecutive quarter, leading to a significant drop in stock price, with management lowering its earnings guidance for the year [1][2]. Financial Performance - In fiscal Q3, Home Depot earned $3.74 per share, below the expected $3.84, with same-store sales growth at only 0.2% [1]. - The company now anticipates a 5% decline in adjusted earnings per share for the year [2]. - Following the earnings report, Home Depot's shares have decreased approximately 20% from their September high [2]. Strategic Positioning - Despite the earnings dip, management asserts that Home Depot maintains its market-leading position and is gaining market share from competitors [3]. - The recent acquisition of GMS contributed about $900 million to quarterly sales, indicating strategic expansion into the higher-margin professional contractor segment [3]. Digital and Operational Growth - Home Depot's digital platform sales grew by 11% year-over-year, showcasing successful omnichannel execution and operational improvements [4]. Dividend and Valuation - The company offers a healthy dividend yield of 2.73%, making it an attractive option for investors [4]. - Home Depot is currently trading at a price-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.23x, which is considered inexpensive relative to its historical multiples [6]. Market Outlook - The Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts are expected to drive a recovery in Home Depot shares, particularly as the housing market begins to thaw [5]. - Home Depot's exposure to both professional contractors and DIY clients positions it well to benefit from a potential housing market recovery [5]. Analyst Sentiment - Despite the recent earnings miss, Wall Street analysts remain bullish on Home Depot shares [7].

Lowe's logo is seen on the store in Texas, United States on October 21, 2025. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLowe’s (NYSE: LOW) surged nearly 6% in pre-market trading to around $230, indicating early enthusiasm from investors about the company's operational progress. At first glance, Q3 might not seem impressive—comparable sales increased by only 0.4%—but the underlying figures present a different picture. Beneath the surface, Lowe’s is subtly transforming its gr ...