Key takeout
- On July 14, 2025, the S&P 500 experienced a slight uptick of 0.1% as trade policy took center stage at the start of a week filled with various earnings and economic reports.
- EQT’s stock prices surged due to climbing natural gas futures, influenced by shrinking production and shifting weather forecasts.
- Waters’ stock took a hit after the lab equipment maker announced a deal to acquire Becton Dickinson’s Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions division.
Major U.S. equity indexes opened the week positively, coinciding with revenue figures from key financial institutions and significant inflation data.
The S&P 500 gained about 0.1%, closing just shy of its all-time high. Meanwhile, the Dow Industrials rose by 0.3%, propelling the tech-focused Nasdaq to a record close, with the Dow itself gaining 0.2%.
Natural gas futures jumped by 4%, as analysts noted signs of a tightening market, with declining production levels and rising demand driven by weather conditions. Shares of EQT Corp. climbed 5.3%, making it the top performer in the S&P 500 on that day. Recent upgrades from analysts at RBC Capital, Jefferies, and Scotiabank pushed their price targets higher for EQT.
Autodesk’s shares rose over 5% after reports indicated they would not be moving forward with an acquisition of PTC, a competitor in engineering design software. Previously, Autodesk faced pressure following talks about possibly purchasing PTC, but clarified in a regulatory filing that their focus would be on “target and tuck-in acquisitions” without specifically referencing PTC. PTC’s stock fell by 1.3%.
Palantir Technologies saw its shares soar 5%, hitting an all-time high. Wedbush had recently increased its price target, suggesting Palantir could greatly benefit from an anticipated spike in AI spending. There’s a belief that investors might be underestimating future revenue from Palantir’s AI initiatives, which Wedbush estimates could exceed $1 billion.
Waters announced a deal to acquire Becton Dickinson’s Biosciences & Diagnostic Solutions division for $17.5 billion in a significant restructuring move. This acquisition is expected to enhance Waters’ market reach but analysts have raised concerns about the complexities of execution and integration. As a result, Waters’ stock plummeted 13.8%, underperforming within the S&P 500.
Micron Technology’s shares fell 4.8%, prompted by Edgewater Research’s findings indicating that memory chip prices and demand may fall short of seasonal expectations later in 2025. Sandisk, a competitor, saw even steeper declines, with shares dropping 7.8%.
Lastly, Constellation Brands’ stocks decreased by 4.4% as investors reacted to escalating trade tensions and new tariff information. The company, like many beverage makers, relies on aluminum cans for packaging, vital for popular Mexican beer brands like Corona and Modelo. Earlier in June, Constellation had forecasted that aluminum tariffs could cost them about $20 million throughout the fiscal year.
