Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stock index futures showed little movement on Tuesday as traders awaited key inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s near-term policy decisions. S&P 500 futures rose slightly by 0.1% to 6,422.75, Nasdaq 100 futures also gained 0.1%, and Dow Jones futures remained steady around 44,069.

In Monday’s trading session, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both slipped 0.3%, while the Dow Jones fell 0.5%. Despite this, the Nasdaq hit a new intraday record last week, and the S&P 500 came close to a record closing high. Investors are now focused on the July Consumer Price Index release, expected to show a modest rise, with additional economic reports due later in the week.

Recent weak July jobs data, along with downward revisions for May and June, have increased expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in September. Markets are currently pricing in an 88% chance of this move. Meanwhile, investors remain alert to potential inflation effects from recent tariff hikes imposed by the Trump administration on several trading partners.

Earnings Watch

Earnings Watch for Tuesday, August 12, 2025Earnings hit today from Sea Limited $SE, Cardinal Health $CAH, and On Holding $ONON before open, plus CoreWeave $CRWV, H&R Block $HRB, and CAVA Group $CAVA after close.

Analysts expect SE at $0.51 EPS with e-commerce and gaming growth, CAH at $1.79 EPS on healthcare distribution strength, ONON at $0.20 EPS with athletic footwear demand, CRWV at -$0.21 EPS with $1.08B revenue on AI infrastructure focus, HRB at $1.50 EPS with tax season wrap-up, and CAVA at $0.13 EPS on restaurant expansion.

Happening Today

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Consumer Price Index (CPI)

✓ 12:00 PM ET – EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook

✓ 12:00 PM ET – WASDE Report

✓ 02:00 PM ET – Federal Budget Balance

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

SECTOR SNAPSHOT

On the last trading day, most sectors closed in the red, with Energy and Real Estate experiencing the steepest declines. In contrast, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, and Health Care posted modest gains, indicating a defensive shift among investors amid broader market weakness.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

Here's a quick rundown of today's pre-market high-volume stocks:

📈 Equillium, Inc. (EQ) is up +5.44% at $0.8858 with massive volume, following yesterday's announcement of a private placement to raise up to $50 million, which will be used to advance its experimental drug EQ504.

📈 ALT5 Sigma Corporation (ALTS) is gaining +10.91% at $6.60 with extremely high volume, after raising $1.5 billion through stock offerings and adding associates of President Donald Trump to its board.

📈 Sphere 3D Corp. (ANY) is up +12.30% at $0.5048 with notable volume; as a Bitcoin mining company, its movement is likely tied to the broader cryptocurrency market, though a recent positive analyst forecast may also be a factor.

📈 Tilray Brands, Inc. (TLRY) is up +14.13% to $0.9200 with high volume, continuing to show volatility after its recent Q4 2025 earnings report and with analysts debating the effectiveness of its cannabis and alcohol businesses working together.

📈 Gevo, Inc. (GEVO) is up +48.80% at $1.25 with significant volume, fueled by yesterday's Q2 2025 earnings report and an analyst upgrade with a higher price target, alongside recent news of the sale of carbon removal credits from its North Dakota asset.

Premarket Picks

180 Life Sciences Corp. (ATNF) surged 46.41% to $4.89 in pre-market trading after filing an 8-K form with the SEC.

Gevo, Inc. (GEVO) saw a 53.60% rise to $1.92 as it reported strong Q2 2025 financials, with revenues increasing by $14 million quarter-over-quarter.

Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (FSI) gained 16.52% to $6.42 after signing a second major food-grade contract.

Kopin Corporation (KOPN) rose 10.16% to $2.06 following a $15 million strategic investment agreement from Theon International Plc aimed at accelerating global defense innovation.

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

Top Upgrades:

1. Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)

Analyst Firm: Baird

Upgraded: Neutral to Outperform

Price Target: $115

Yesterday's Close: $91.74

David Tarantino, an analyst at Baird, raised Starbucks’ rating from Neutral to Outperform and increased the price target from $100 to $115. Analysts have set a high price target of $115.00 for Starbucks stock, with a median estimate of $100.00 and a low of $73.00. The average price target stands at $99.14. Starbucks and its subsidiaries are known globally for roasting, marketing, and selling coffee.

2. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW)

Analyst Firm: Piper Sandler

Upgraded: Neutral to Overweight

Price Target: $225

Yesterday's Close: $168.17

Rob Owens, an analyst at Piper Sandler, upgraded Palo Alto Networks (PANW) from Neutral to Overweight, raising the price target from $200 to $225. The stock price target for Palo Alto Networks ranges from a low of $130.00 to a high of $240.00, with a median of $220.00. The average price target is $213.53. The company specializes in providing cybersecurity solutions worldwide.

3. GDS Holdings Limited (GDS)

Analyst Firm: RBC Capital

Upgraded: Sector Perform to Outperform

Price Target: $48

Yesterday's Close: $36.87

Jonathan Atkin, an analyst at RBC Capital, improved GDS Holdings’ rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and lifted the price target from $37 to $48. GDS Holdings has a price target range between $28.50 and $51.20, with an average estimate of $40.19. The company and its subsidiaries focus on developing and operating data centers across China.

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.