Market Updates: Stock Movements
Here’s a quick look at some companies making waves in intraday trading. General Mills saw a drop of 7% in its shares after the parent company of Lucky Charms and Progresso revised its 2026 outlook downward. They anticipate organic net sales to decrease by 1.5% to 2%, with operating income and adjusted earnings per share expected to drop between 16% and 20%.
In contrast, Southwest Airlines’ stock jumped over 6% following an upgrade to buy by UBS. The analyst highlighted new initiatives, including extra legroom and reserved seating, aimed at attracting more travelers.
Media and entertainment firms Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance experienced a rise in their stocks after Netflix granted Warner Bros. Discovery a seven-day window to negotiate with Paramount Skydance. Warner Bros. Discovery’s shares increased nearly 3%, while Paramount’s rose by over 6%.
TripAdvisor’s stocks climbed by more than 7% after the company revealed that discussions had taken place between its board, management, and activist investor Starboard Value, which owns 9% of the company. The hedge fund has suggested that TripAdvisor consider selling the business.
On the downside, Genuine Parts’ shares fell over 12% after announcing its intention to split its auto and industrial parts divisions into two publicly traded entities. This decision stems from a strategic review linked to its deal with activist investor Elliott Investments. Additionally, they reported disappointing fourth-quarter profits and sales.
Health tech company Masimo saw its shares increase by more than 34% after reports emerged that it is close to acquiring Danaher for $180 per share, approximately $10 billion in cash. This news led to a roughly 3% drop in Danaher’s stock.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings shares rose by more than 10% after Elliott Investment Management disclosed a 10% stake in the company. It seems that activist investors are looking to initiate changes to improve Norwegian’s competitive standing, as it has been lagging behind rivals like Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
In shipping, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services experienced a 30% surge after Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft of Germany announced plans to acquire the Israeli company in a deal estimated at $4.2 billion, financed through cash and external means.
Conversely, Vulcan Materials saw a drop of 5% following disappointing financial outcomes. They reported an adjusted EBITDA of $518 million for the fourth quarter, which fell short of the FactSet consensus estimate of $603.1 million. Their sales totaled $1.91 billion, below the expected $1.96 billion.
Labcorp’s shares fell over 3%, even though their fourth-quarter results surpassed expectations. The company earned $4.07 per share, excluding certain items, with revenues of $3.52 billion. Analysts had projected earnings of $3.94 per share and revenue of $3.56 billion. Despite the stock being up nearly 9% this year, concerns lingered regarding the pace of organic revenue growth.
Lastly, Leidos saw its shares decline by nearly 3% after reporting fourth-quarter revenues of $4.21 billion, which was under the FactSet consensus estimate of $4.3 billion. However, their adjusted earnings per share came to $2.76, outperforming the expected $2.61.
