U.S. equity futures moved lower Thursday as market participants monitored rising tensions in the Middle East and digested results from several large companies. By 06:42 ET (10:42 GMT), the Dow futures contract had fallen by 351 points, or 0.7%, S&P 500 futures had slipped by 35 points, or 0.5%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had dropped by 126 points, or 0.5%.
Corporate earnings and related guidance produced a varied set of reactions across sectors. Below are some of the most notable premarket stock movers and the specific developments driving investor responses:
- Tesla - The automaker reported quarterly results that beat estimates on both the top and bottom lines, with its core automotive performance stronger than anticipated. Despite the beat, shares reversed course in aftermarket trading after management disclosed plans to spend in excess of $25 billion this year to accelerate investments in robotics and autonomous driving. That figure compares with a January forecast of $20 billion in annual capital expenditures.
- IBM - Shares dropped after the company reported a slowdown in revenue growth, attributed in the release to weakness within its software business.
- Comcast - The media and cable company outperformed expectations on broadband customer churn, shedding fewer broadband customers in the first quarter than analysts had projected, and shares moved higher as a result.
- American Express - The credit card issuer ticked up after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter profit, driven in part by stronger spending from its wealthier cardholders.
- American Airlines - The airline climbed after reporting quarterly revenue that exceeded forecasts and an adjusted per-share loss narrower than expected. The company noted headwinds from a war-linked rise in fuel costs.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific - The life sciences supplier posted first-quarter profit and revenue above estimates, with growth in laboratory products and biopharma services helping offset softer returns from analytical instruments and specialty diagnostics. Nonetheless, the shares fell.
- Honeywell - The industrial conglomerate saw its stock slip after flagging that Iran-related disruptions would affect its business and issuing a current-quarter forecast below Wall Street expectations.
- Lockheed Martin - Shares declined after the defense contractor reported negative free cash flow of $291 million, signaling a larger-than-expected cash outflow during the winter period.
Market reactions were uneven: some companies were rewarded for revenue beats or lower-than-expected customer losses, while others were penalized for guidance shortfalls, margin pressure or cash-flow weaknesses. Investors appeared to be balancing near-term earnings signals with broader geopolitical risk when pricing futures and individual equities.
Sectors impacted: Technology and autos (Tesla), software (IBM), media and telecommunications (Comcast), financial services (American Express), airlines (American Airlines), life sciences and laboratory supplies (Thermo Fisher), industrials and aerospace/defense (Honeywell, Lockheed Martin).