S&P 500 Movers Driven by Hope and Speculation
July 28, 2025 06:40 PM EDT
Advancers
In a stunning plot twist that even Netflix couldn’t script, shares of the server manufacturer Super Micro Computer (SMCI) soared more than 10%, stealing the spotlight as the S&P 500’s top performer—because who doesn’t love a good server story? Rumor has it that President Trump is finally cutting some red tape on tech exports to China as part of a trade negotiation strategy, because apparently, allowing tech sales can solve all our woes.
Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) pranced up 4.3%—not unlike a peacock at dawn—after reports suggested they increased prices on their Instinct MI350 AI chip. Is this newfound confidence, or just another day in the competitive cosmic clash with Nvidia (NVDA)? Meanwhile, UBS analysts, perhaps in a moment of optimistic rebellion, decided to boost their price target for AMD, anticipating a more positive earnings report coming this Aug. 5. Fingers crossed!
Nike (NKE) shares jumped 3.9% Monday, and if you think it’s just because everyone suddenly felt inspired to run, think again. Thanks to a shiny upgrade from JPMorgan, who said “overweight” instead of “just okay,” analysts are buzzing about Nike’s long-term recovery plan that includes not only aligning inventory but also a nacho-level excitement for the upcoming soccer World Cup in the U.S. We can only assume soccer cleats will now come with a side of nachos.
Decliners
On the flip side, shares of Albemarle (ALB), the crème de la crème of lithium producers, took a nosedive of nearly 11%. It’s like they discovered less love for lithium after a major Chinese lithium miner decided to hit the brakes on operations. Albemarle apparently thought the party was just getting started, but then—surprise—they’re left sweeping the confetti.
Revvity (RVTY) felt a little less enthusiasm, dropping 8.3% post-earnings, despite the news that they managed to outperform expectations. Apparently, lowering profit outlooks is the new black. They cited expected weak performance in China’s immunodiagnostics. Meanwhile, Centene (CNC) shares stumbled down 5.4% after being downgraded to ‘neutral’—the beige of stock ratings—by Cantor Fitzgerald, who managed to rain on their parade mainly due to Medicaid market issues. If only “neutral” was a color we could sell!
-Michael Bromberg
Microsoft: Eyes on the Prize, Ears to the Ground
July 28, 2025 05:58 PM EDT
Microsoft (MSFT) shares dipped slightly on Monday, clearly in a contemplative mood as investors await what could either be a blockbuster or a dumpster fire of quarterly results due out Wednesday.
With the tech world buzzing like caffeinated bees around artificial intelligence developments, Microsoft is no exception. Last week, Alphabet—Google’s not-so-secretive parent—decided to increase its 2025 capital expenditure forecasts by $10 billion, ostensibly just to ‘keep up with the cool kids’ in AI technology.
Microsoft’s shares slid 0.2%, finishing Monday at $512.50. They’ve seen a nearly 22% climb this year thanks to their Intelligent Cloud segment exploding with growth — who needs therapy when your clouds are this intelligent?
Since May’s decisive breach of the 200-day moving average, Microsoft has been ascending like a majestic eagle. Well, at least until now, with volatility dropping faster than my willpower in front of a pizza. The technical predictions say we might be looking at a potential upside target of $620. Keep your binoculars ready!
Meanwhile, let’s not forget the crucial support levels: watch for signs of life around $468 and $430, and pray to the stock gods for some upward momentum.
-Timothy Smith
Analysts’ Optimism: Hold Onto Your Wallets
July 28, 2025 05:02 PM EDT
Some analysts seem to have swapped their gray clouds for rosy glasses as they become optimistic—perhaps a bit too optimistic.
Oppenheimer bumped its year-end target for the S&P 500 from a cozy 5950 to a breezy 7100, claiming an improbable 11% upside from Friday’s close. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley is giddily talking about a possible 7200 for the index in mid-2026—granted, this isn’t the sort of prediction you’d want to take to a high-stakes poker game.
But let’s not forget the dark history: levels under 5000 experienced right after that pesky “Liberation Day” from Trump’s tariffs. The next days should really test our capacities for optimism.
Analysts observe that S&P 500 firms are slated for more than 6% year-on-year earnings growth this quarter. Still, the Magnificent 7—yes, those tech giants—have a pretty big responsibility to deliver some earnings fireworks this week. Can we expect more than sparklers?
So far, the earnings season feels more like a lukewarm cup of coffee: the surprises have triumphed, but the enthusiasm is rather flat. Morgan Stanley likens this to witnessing the slow dissolve of an earnings recession that has been happier than a cat in a sunbeam.
-Crystal Kim
Firefly Aerospace’s IPO: To Infinity and Beyond
July 28, 2025 03:53 PM EDT
Firefly Aerospace is headed to the public markets, and they’re pricing their IPO between $35 and $39 per share—because why not aim for the stars while we’re at it?
This lofty pricing means a possible valuation exceeding $5 billion, which sounds impressive until you remember that a billion is just a number that sounds good during dinner conversations. They’re offering 16.2 million shares, potentially raising up to $631.8 million, likely to cover past debts like a financial cleanup crew on a wild weekend.
Firefly has been reveling in some serious acclaim since their Blue Ghost lander made a successful moon landing—so they got that going for them. No longer just a company with a cute name, they now bring an interstellar reputation to the IPO party.
With 140.55 million shares expected post-IPO and a “just in case” option for underwriters to snatch more shares, the excitement builds. They were once valued at merely $2 billion, proving that even in space, fortunes can increase dramatically.
In 2024, Firefly reported revenues of $60.79 million but still took a hefty loss of around $231 million. But hey, who doesn’t love a good story of ambition? Just remember, space is not always about the destination; sometimes it’s just about how expensive it gets while getting there.
-Aaron McDade
UnitedHealth: Is the Glass Half Full or Empty?
July 28, 2025 02:30 PM EDT
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is gearing up to reveal its second-quarter results, and traders are already on the edge of their seats like kids at a candy store.
Recent options pricing suggests the stock might swing more than 7% in either direction post-earnings—you might say it’s the financial equivalent of a choose-your-own-adventure book. The stock was wobbling around $281 when we last checked—how charmingly unstable!
Last quarter was a bit of a heartbreaker, with shares sinking more than 22%, and it turns out a sudden CEO exit can really shake things up more than a neighborhood gossip fest. Despite this, 12 out of 15 analysts still label the stock a “buy,” probably because they love a good comeback story.
UnitedHealth is projected to post incredible revenue growth, with estimates soaring to around $111.88 billion. But the adjusted earnings per share is expected to drop—a classic “good news/bad news” scenario. Will they be able to impress the skeptics this time, or will it be another episode of “Thrills and Spills”? Stay tuned!
-Aaron McDade
Cheniere Energy: A Trade Deal Saga
July 28, 2025 12:31 PM EDT
Shares of liquefied natural gas provider Cheniere Energy (LNG) saw a bounce after President Trump made headlines with a freshly minted trade agreement that has Europe set to buy more U.S. LNG—because who knew natural gas could spark such joy?
The deal implies that the 27 EU countries will lay down $750 billion for LNG and other energy sources over the next three years, which sounds like a sweet deal until you remember they might just as well have remarked, “Let’s get this party started!”
This agreement isn’t just about LNG; it also tosses in fancy tariffs for good measure—a hefty 15% on exports from the EU, while leaving American energy unscathed. So, it’s like a buffet but with weird pricing rules. Cheniere’s shares climbed 1.5% to keep the momentum alive—those who wish to buy stock in future gas parties should probably keep their eyes peeled.
-Bill McColl
Celcuity: Biotech Rises from the Ashes
July 28, 2025 11:12 AM EDT
Stocks of biotech firm Celcuity (CELC) skyrocketed after they reported positive results from a significant study on their experimental treatment for breast cancer—because a little good news goes a long way.
In conjunction with two other drugs, gedatolisib reached primary endpoints faster than your last relationship. The trial boasted a staggering 76% reduction in disease progression or death compared to previous treatments, which is a great leap forward for cancer therapies and a major win for science.
As Dr. Sara Hurvitz noted, they’ve achieved results that could quite literally redefine breast cancer treatment—a transformational moment in the universe of biotech. Celcuity, with its eyes on the FDA approval bench, plans to submit an application for gedatolisib in the fourth quarter. Who would’ve thought throwing science at cancer could result in such astonishing outcomes?
Shares of Celcuity went from a modest up 5% to soaring nearly 190% during trading. It seems when biotechs win, the market throws them a confetti party—figuratively, of course.
-Bill McColl
JPMorgan Says Nike Stock Is Worth the Hype
July 28, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Nike (NKE) shares hit a five-month high after JPMorgan decided to upgrade the stock basically shouting “Just Buy It!” from the rooftops.
With an upgrade to “overweight” from “neutral”—a transition that sounds like moving from a cramped studio apartment to a penthouse—JPMorgan increased their price target to a sunny $93. Analysts cited the company’s recovery strategy that includes exciting new performance products and adjusting inventory, particularly with the soccer World Cup looming—the dream of every wannabe soccer mom.
Nike’s stock had barely changed entering Monday, but after some analyst sparkles, it rose 2.5% to around $78—a reminder that hype can be as crucial as quality when selling shoes.
With a turnaround plan that seems more strategized than a game of chess, it appears Nike is poised for some notable performance. Just think—each pair of soccer cleats could come blessed with the hopes of a nation.
-Bill McColl
Big Tech Earnings: What’s Up for Grabs?
July 28, 2025 08:58 AM EDT
As the week unfolds, four massive tech names—Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta (META)—are ready to dip into the earnings pool, and investors are already thinking about what diving techniques will bring the biggest returns.
AI investment updates will be a focal point and, frankly, it feels like we’re all waiting for the next blockbuster show rather than economic insights. Microsoft and Meta kick off earnings reporting after Wednesday’s market closing. Will it be excitement or crickets?
Having already released their results, Alphabet and Tesla have dropped teasers, leaving only Nvidia (NVDA) as the last star in August. It’s the drama every investor secretly lives for—the AI plot twists!
Earlier this year, investors were concerned about tech spending on AI. But with Alphabet raising its full-year capex to $85 billion, it seems there’s a newfound freedom to spend. Of course, we all know that AI is like those magical gadgets that promise not to burn your toast—great in theory, if you can just avoid the pitfalls.
As for Apple, investors are advised to lower their expectations. One Morgan Stanley analyst asked the right questions: will we get updates or just a recitation of company PR? The suspense is palpable, if not a bit laughable.
Trade policy and tariffs loom large for companies like Amazon and Apple. As they navigate the uncertain waters, it’s likely we’ll hear more about how to sidestep tariffs while still loading up customers’ carts on the way to profits.
-Colin Laidley
Futures Point to a Bigger Open
July 28, 2025 08:35 AM EDT
Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed a modest 0.1% because why not, right?
S&P 500 futures saw a slightly more enthusiastic 0.2% rise. Nasdaq 100 futures went up 0.3%—perhaps they’ve taken a caffeine pill ahead of today’s potential busyness.
With all this anticipation in the air, it appears that traders are as jittery as coffee addicts on a Monday morning. Who knows what excitement awaits them as the markets prepare to open?
