Stocks End Mixed as S&P 500 and Dow Snap Six-Week Winning Streaks

Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Friday

7 hr 44 min ago

Decliners

• Shares of flooring manufacturer Mohawk Industries (MHK) plunged 13.7%, surrendering the heaviest decline in the S&P 500 in the wake of an underwhelming earnings report for the third quarter. Although sales and profit results fell largely in line with analysts’ expectations, Mohawk noted sluggishness in the flooring market as high interest rates, persistent inflation, and slumping consumer confidence weigh on the housing sector. On the bright side, the company says it expects interest-rate cuts in various geographies to help underpin a recovery next year.
• HCA Healthcare (HCA) shares dropped 8.8% after the hospital operator’s third-quarter revenue and earnings per share (EPS) fell short of consensus forecasts. Although HCA maintained its guidance ranges for the full year, the company said results would likely come in toward the low end, reflecting a negative impact from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• Fellow hospital company Universal Health Services (UHS) also disclosed quarterly results. Although revenue came in slightly ahead of estimates, profits were lower than expected. Increased corporate expenses related to debt refinancing and legal settlements weighed on the company’s performance during the quarter. UHS shares sank 9.8% on Friday.

Advancers

• Tapestry (TPR) shares soared 13.5%, gaining more than any other S&P 500 stock on Friday after a federal judge blocked the fashion holding company’s planned acquisition of luxury industry peer Capri Holdings (CPRI). The judge sided with antitrust regulators who argued that a combination of Tapestry—home to high-end brands Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman—with Versace and Michael Kors parent Capri would restrain competition in the luxury handbag market. Capri shares plummeted 48.8% following the court’s ruling. The companies said they would appeal the decision.
• Footwear maker Deckers Outdoor (DECK) posted better-than-expected sales and profits for its fiscal second quarter, and its shares surged 10.5%. Sales of the company’s Hoka shoe brand increased nearly 35% year-over-year, while Ugg brand sales were up 13%. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales jumped nearly 20% from a year ago. In conjunction with the strong results, Deckers lifted its full-year sales forecast.

• Strong quarterly results also helped lift shares of Digital Realty Trust (DLR), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns data center properties around the world. Digital Realty exceeded expectations with its funds from operations (FFO), an important gauge of cash flow for REITs. The REIT’s shares closed 9.6% higher on Friday.

–Michael Bromberg

Retail Investors Snapping Up Single Stocks Over ETFs

8 hr 28 min ago

Retail investors have been buying up Nvidia (NVDA) and favoring single stocks over exchange-traded funds lately. That could indicate optimism about the markets.

According to Vanda Research, which tracks investment flows from retail buyers and sellers, net retail purchases of Nvidia totaled more than $1.1 billion between Oct. 17 and Oct. 23. Retail investors had inflows totaling $885 million into single stocks versus $497 million into ETFs during that period, Vanda said.

“The recent uptick in single stock purchases suggests that confidence levels remain relatively optimistic,” wrote Vanda analysts in a Thursday note. “In a more cautious environment we would see purchases of ETFs increase as individuals generally like to stay invested but scale down risk levels by broadening exposure outside of concentrated single-name bets.”

Read the full article here.

–Trina Paul

Nasdaq Composite Briefly Touched Record High On Friday

9 hr 55 min ago

The Nasdaq Composite hit an all-time of 18,690 in early trading Friday, its first record high since July.

The tech-heavy index has backed off those levels but remains on track to finish the session higher and record its seventh straight week of gains.

The NYSE Wants Even Longer Trading Hours

10 hr 34 min ago

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday said it plans to extend trading on its digital exchange to 22 hours a day as it seeks to seize on global demand for U.S. stocks. 

The NYSE’s plan would allow investors to trade all U.S. stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and closed-end funds between 1:30 a.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET every weekday, except for holidays.

 Extended trading currently runs from 4 a.m. ET until 8 p.m. ET, with regular trading—when volumes are generally highest—between 9:30 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET.

The extension “underscores the strength of our U.S. capital markets and growing demand for our listed securities around the world,” said Kevin Tyrrell, head of markets at NYSE. The proposal is subject to approval by regulators.

Interest in 24-hour trading has grown significantly in recent years. Online brokerage Robinhood (HOOD) launched its 24 Hour Market last year, allowing investors to trade 43 popular stocks and ETFs between 8 p.m. ET on Sunday and 8 p.m. ET on Friday.

Robinhood has since expanded the list of stocks and funds that can be traded between those hours.

–Colin Laidley

Centene Stock Pops on Membership, Revenue Growth

12 hr 11 min ago

Centene (CNC) shares surged Friday after the managed care and health insurance provider’s third-quarter results easily beat estimates as it boosted its membership rolls and premium and service revenue.

The company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.62, with revenue up more than 10% year-over-year at $42.02 billion.

Membership totaled 28.64 million compared with 27.97 million a year earlier, lifted by a 22% gain in Marketplace and 49% advance in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Premium and service revenue grew almost 6% to $36.90 billion.

Centene noted that based on ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it had about 46% of its Medicare Advantage enrollees in plans rated 3.5 stars or higher, up from 23% in the prior year.

Centene expects full-year revenue in a range of $159 billion to $161 billion, up from its earlier outlook of $155 billion to $157 billion.

The stock was up nearly 7% in recent trading at around $66, after rising above $70 early in Friday’s session. Despite the gain, Centene shares have lost 11% so far in 2024.

–Bill McColl

Deckers Soars as Earnings Boosted by Strong Hoka Sales

13 hr 47 min ago

Deckers Outdoor (DECK) shares soared Friday, a day after the footwear maker posted better-than-expected results and boosted its outlook as demand for its Hoka brand shoes surged.

The company reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.59, with revenue up 20.1% from a year ago to $1.31 billion. Both exceeded analysts’ estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

Sales of Hoka shoes jumped 35% to $579.9 million, while Ugg sales were up 13% to $689.9 million. Domestic revenue rose 14% to $853.9 million, and surged 33% to $457.4 million internationally.

Shares of Deckers were up 13% Friday morning, trading at their highest levels since June, and have added more than 50% of their value this year.

–Bill McColl

Versace Parent Capri Plunges as Tapestry Deal Blocked

14 hr 37 min ago

Capri Holdings (CPRI) shares plummeted nearly 50% after a federal judge blocked Coach owner Tapestry’s (TPR) $8.5 billion acquisition of the Versace and Michael Kors parent.

Shares of Tapestry, which also owns the Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman brands, were up 15% after the ruling, which sided with antitrust regulators in arguing that the combination would hurt competition and lead to higher prices.

The luxury brands announced the deal last year but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to block their merger, saying the combined firm would have too much power and reduce competition in the market for accessible luxury handbags.

On Thursday, Southern District of New York judge Jennifer Rochon granted the FTC’s motion for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger in a 169-page ruling.

Both Capri and Tapestry said they would appeal.

–Nisha Gopalan

Six-Week Winning Streak in Danger of Ending

15 hr 44 min ago

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have posted weekly gains for six consecutive weeks.

That streak is in danger of ending as trading gets underway Friday. The chart below shows the performance of the major indexes this week through Thursday’s close.

Futures Point to Higher Open for Major Indexes

16 hr 35 min ago

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.2%.

S&P 500 futures were up 0.3%.

Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.4%.