Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stock futures slipped Monday morning as Wall Street heads into a high-stakes week marked by fresh tariff threats, inflation data, and a flurry of corporate earnings. The pullback comes after President Trump announced over the weekend that 30% tariffs on goods from the European Union and Mexico will take effect August 1—escalating trade tensions and intensifying inflation concerns.

Both the EU and Mexico have expressed interest in returning to the negotiating table, but uncertainty looms large ahead of June’s CPI report. Investors are closely watching for signs of how earlier tariff rounds are rippling through the economy, with the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates also in focus.

Earnings season heats up this week as major U.S. banks begin reporting results on Tuesday. There’s growing optimism around IPO activity and M&A news as well, with Wells Fargo (WFC) drawing attention after recent regulatory constraints were lifted.

Earnings Watch

Earnings hit today from Fastenal $FAST before open, plus FB Financial $FBK, Simulations Plus $SLP, and Equity Bancshares $EQBK after close.

Analysts expect FAST to post $0.52 EPS with industrial demand steady, FBK at $0.78 EPS with regional banking resilience, SLP at $0.05 EPS amid software growth, and EQBK at $0.39 EPS with stable banking performance.

Happening Today

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Core CPI

✓ 08:30 AM ET – NY Empire State Manufacturing Index

✓ 09:15 AM ET – FOMC Member Bowman Speaks

✓ 12:45 PM ET – Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Barr Speaks

✓ 04:30 PM ET – API Weekly Crude Oil Stock

SECTOR SNAPSHOT✨

On the last trading day, most sectors saw declines, with Financials and Health Care experiencing significant drops. This widespread weakness could stem from broader economic concerns or profit-taking. In contrast, Consumer Discretionary and Energy managed gains, possibly due to specific consumer spending trends or commodity price movements, despite the overall cautious market sentiment.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

📈 OceanPal Inc. (OP) is surging +80.15% to $1.36 on massive volume, showing a strong rebound after regaining Nasdaq compliance, though recent dilutive public offerings continue to create volatility.

📈 LQR House Inc. (YHC) is gaining +41.54% to $2.60 with substantial volume, following recent strategic marketing collaborations and acquisition news, despite prior volatile price movements.

📈 Stardust Power Inc. (SDST) is up +30.12% at $0.2520 with very high volume; this follows recent public offerings to fund its lithium project, and the stock remains highly volatile.

📈 Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd (TDTH) sees an +11.50% rise to $0.3825 with notable volume, as it navigates Nasdaq compliance notifications while also announcing progress in its digital identity partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

📈 Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (RANI) is gaining +15.90% at $0.6440 on increased volume, amidst recent positive preclinical data for an oral obesity treatment and a research agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical, despite current Nasdaq non-compliance issues.

Premarket Picks

Rani Therapeutics (RANI) rose 17.12% pre-market to $0.75 ahead of its presentation at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco. The company will share promising preclinical data on its RaniPill® capsule, showing oral delivery matched injection bioequivalence in canines.

OceanPal Inc. (OP) skyrocketed 91.91% pre-market to $2.61 after the company filed an F-1/A registration statement with the SEC, signaling potential offering activity. The regulatory filing appears to have sparked strong investor interest.

Ramaco Resources, Inc. (METC) gained 9.39% to trade at $18.18 this morning. The boost follows the release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the company’s Brook Mine project, prepared by engineering firm Fluor Corporation. The report offers a promising outlook on the mine’s economic potential.

Upexi, Inc. (UPXI) climbed 10.39% to $5.95 in pre-market hours after announcing a $100 million capital raise. The company plans to use the funds to build a Solana-based treasury strategy, pointing to a deeper move into blockchain-backed financial management.

Below is a complete list of hot stocks in pre-market today:

Top Upgrades:

1. Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

Analyst Firm: Seaport Research

Upgraded: Neutral to Buy

Price Target: $616

Yesterday's Close: $550.18

Jeff Cantwell, an analyst at Seaport Research, raised his rating on Mastercard from Neutral to Buy and set a price target of $616. Analysts have set Mastercard’s stock price targets between $562.00 and $690.00. The median target is $627.50, with an average of $629.19. Mastercard continues to be a key player in global payment processing and financial technology.

2. Paymentus Holdings, Inc. (PAY)

Analyst Firm: Raymond James

Upgraded: Market Perform to Outperform

Price Target: $37

Yesterday's Close: $28.40

Raymond James improved its rating on Paymentus, moving it from Market Perform to Outperform, with a new price target of $37. Paymentus has price targets ranging from $34.00 to $40.00. The median estimate is $37.50, and the average is $37.25. The company provides cloud-based bill payment solutions in the U.S. and internationally.

3. Visteon Corporation (VC)

Analyst Firm: Baird

Upgraded: Neutral to Outperform

Price Target: $125

Yesterday's Close: $108.29

Baird upgraded Visteon from Neutral to Outperform and lifted its price target from $96 to $125. Analysts expect Visteon Corporation’s stock to reach as high as $125.00, with a median estimate of $100.50 and a low projection of $82.00. The average target price is $101.71. Visteon specializes in automotive electronics and connected car technologies for global vehicle manufacturers.

Maeve Grace
Editor In Chief
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Important: This newsletter does not provide investment advice. The stocks mentioned should not be taken as recommendations. Your investments are solely your decisions.

Disclosure: I hold no positions in any companies mentioned, either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.