Stock futures moved higher as investors watched corporate updates ahead of a holiday-shortened trading week; Intel (INTC) shares advanced after a report that Broadcom (AVGO) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) are separately weighing plans to take over parts of the struggling chipmaker; Walmart’s (WMT) report is due later this week as S&P 500 companies are having one of their best quarterly earnings season in years; Constellation Brands (STZ) is rising after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) opened a position in the beer maker; Southwest Airlines (LUV) shares rose on announcement of corporate layoffs.
Here are 5 things investors need to know today.
1. Stock Futures Move Higher to Start Shortened Trading Week
Stock futures moved higher ahead in premarket trading to start a shortened trading week highlighted by corporate earnings reports and remarks from Federal Reserve speakers. Futures associated with the S&P 500 were recently up 0.4%l the benchmark index approached an all-time-high in the prior session. Nasdaq futures were also higher by around 0.4% while futures connected with the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.2%. Bitcoin was down slightly over the past 24 hours, trading near $96,000. Gold and oil futures were each higher by about 1%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note advanced, sitting a bit higher than 4.5%.
2. Intel Stock Rises on Broadcom, TSMC Takeover Report
Intel shares shot up by nearly 6% in premarket trading as investors reacted to a weekend report indicating that Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. were weighing plans that could break up the US chipmaker. A story in The Wall Street Journal said that Broadcom was looking at Intel’s chip-design and marketing business while TSMC was mulling taking over some or all of Intel’s chip plants as part of an investor consortium. Intel and Broadcom aren’t working together and talks are still at an informal and early stage, the report said. The move comes as Intel shares jumped more than 20% last week on optimism over U.S. chip making policy, rebounding after the chipmaker plunged by nearly 60% in 2024.
3. Walmart Earnings Due This Week as S&P 500 Firms Largely Beating Estimates
While more than three-quarters of the S&P 500 have reported earnings for the 2024 fourth quarter, some noteworthy firms are still set to report, including Walmart’s scheduled earnings on Thursday and Nvidia’s (NVDA) scheduled report next week. Companies have reported strong results this earnings season, as both the percentage of firms reporting earnings that were better than estimates, and the magnitude of those beats, were above the 10-year averages. S&P 500 firms are on pace to report a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 16.9% for the quarter, the highest quarterly earnings growth in three years, according to Factset.
4. Constellation Brands Surges As Berkshire Hathaway Opens Position
Constellation Brands stock jumped by more than 8% in premarket trading after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway entered a position in the beer maker. Berkshire added 5.6 million shares of Constellation Brands, the maker of Modelo beer, according to the firm’s Form 13-F filing, which arrived late last wek. The report also revealed that Berkshire trimmed its stake of Bank of America (BAC) and exited Ulta Beauty (ULTA), while keeping its position in Apple (AAPL) unchanged.
5. Southwest Gains on Plans to Layoff 15% of Corporate Workforce
Southwest Airlines (LUV) shares gained more than 2% in premarket trading after the company said it would lay off 15% of its corporate workforce. It’s the first time in the airline’s 53-year history it has enacted mass layoffs, the company said. “We are at a pivotal moment as we transform Southwest Airlines into a leaner, faster, and more agile organization,” said CEO Bob Jordan. The move comes after Southwest last fall added six new board seats in an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management.