US Stock Futures Stagnant Amidst Earnings Uncertainty and Tariffs
US stock futures remained relatively unchanged after major indices declined on Thursday following Walmart's (WMT) weak earnings outlook. Futures tied to the S&P 500 (ES=F), Nasdaq (NQ=F), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) hovered near their respective baselines.
President Trump's tariffs continue to impact retailers and consumers. Walmart's warning regarding its 2025 forecast triggered a market downturn on Thursday, with tariff uncertainties cited as a contributing factor. Walmart's CFO indicated that potential tariff-induced price hikes for electronics and general merchandise may be passed on to consumers.
Economic data releases on Friday are limited, with existing home sales data for January providing insights into the housing market and a consumer sentiment reading expected from the University of Michigan.
In individual movements, Celsius Holdings (CELH) surged over 35% after-hours following the announcement of its $1.8 billion acquisition of Alani Nutrition. Dropbox (DBX) shares declined by over 6% in extended trading due to reported slower customer growth.
Meta (META) continues to attract attention during a year of record gains. On Thursday, it was reported that the tech giant will reduce equity awards for most employees, with stock options for 2025 projected to decrease by approximately 10%.