Good Morning, Traders!…👋

Market futures are mixed, with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ showing slight gains of 0.04% and 0.14% respectively, while the Dow is down 0.15%. This divergence suggests a cautious sentiment among investors, possibly influenced by varying expectations around upcoming economic data, recent corporate earnings, or sector-specific news.

For instance, while tech-heavy NASDAQ continues to see some upward momentum, perhaps driven by individual company performance, the Dow, which is more sensitive to traditional industrial and financial sectors, may be reacting to different market signals or profit-taking.

Earnings Watch

Earnings hit today from Taiwan Semiconductor $TSM, GE Aerospace $GE, Abbott Laboratories $ABT, PepsiCo $PEP, and Novartis $NVS before open, plus Netflix $NFLX after close.

Analysts expect TSM at $1.79 EPS with chip demand strength, GE at $0.98 EPS on aerospace recovery, ABT at $1.11 EPS with medical device growth, PEP at $2.12 EPS amid stable consumer demand, NVS at $1.92 EPS with pharma resilience, and NFLX at $7.06 EPS driven by streaming momentum.

Happening Today

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Jobless Claims

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Retail Sales

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Price Indices

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Business Inventories

✓ 12:45 PM ET – FOMC Member Daly Speaks

✓ 01:00 PM ET – Atlanta Fed GDPNow (Q2)

✓ 04:00 PM ET – TIC Net Long-Term Transactions (May)

✓ 06:30 PM ET – Fed Waller Speaks

SECTOR SNAPSHOT

On the last trading day, most sectors ended positively, with Health Care, Real Estate, and Financials seeing strong gains. Energy and Communication Services, however, experienced minor declines. This performance likely reflects a diverse set of influences, from company-specific news to broader economic factors impacting investor sentiment.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

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

📈 FAST TRACK GROUP (FTRK) is up +7.63% at $0.5750 with significant volume, following its recent IPO and a denial of misleading rumors about a large direct offering, emphasizing transparency.

📈 Draganfly Inc. (DPRO) is gaining +19.31% at $5.18 with high volume, propelled by recent military successes, including a 100% success rate in U.S. Army trials for its drone recharging system and selection of its Commander3 XL UAV by a major DoD branch.

📈 22nd Century Group, Inc (XXII) is exploding +120.09% to $4.58 on massive volume, driven by news of a "reduced-nicotine push" and recent shareholder approvals for a share increase and reverse stock split to maintain Nasdaq compliance.

📈 ATIF Holdings Limited (ZBAI) is up +12.28% at $0.6620 with strong volume, continuing to show volatility as it navigates Nasdaq non-compliance issues while also announcing strategic moves into the Bitcoin sector.

📈 X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (XFOR) is gaining +5.92% at $1.52 with notable volume; recent analyst optimism with high price targets and ongoing Phase 3 trials for its rare disease drug are contributing to its movement, despite increasing short interest.

Premarket Picks

Shares of 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII) surged 127.07% in pre-market trading to $10.40. The sharp rise follows news of expanded adoption of its FDA-aligned VLN® reduced-nicotine cigarettes through new brand partnerships, reinforcing the company’s leadership in harm reduction efforts.

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (SRPT) jumped 34.06% pre-market to $24.64 after announcing a new strategic plan. The company aims to sharpen its focus on key programs, reach its 2027 financial goals, and enhance long-term stability.

Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI) climbed 15.61% to $101.00 in pre-market hours. The stock gained momentum following the release of record-breaking financial results for Q2 2025.

CSX Corporation (CSX) rose 5.05% to $34.94 ahead of the market open. The gain comes after the company’s Board of Directors approved a $0.13 per share quarterly dividend on its common stock.

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

Top Upgrades:

1. Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ)

Analyst Firm: Jefferies

Upgraded: Hold to Buy

Price Target: $78

Yesterday's Close: $67.47

Jefferies analyst Scott Marks raised his rating on Mondelez from Hold to Buy and increased the price target to $78, up from $66. Mondelez makes and sells snacks and drinks globally. Analysts have set a stock price target ranging from $66.00 to $81.00, with a median of $73.00 and an average of $72.87.

2. Cars.com Inc. (CARS)

Analyst Firm: JPMorgan

Upgraded: Neutral to Overweight

Price Target: $14

Yesterday's Close: $12.33

JPMorgan upgraded its rating on Cars.com from Neutral to Overweight while keeping the price target steady at $14. Cars.com is a U.S. tech company offering solutions for the auto industry. Analyst price targets range from $11.00 to $25.00, with a median of $14.00 and an average of $16.21.

3. Brixmor Property Group Inc. (BRX)

Analyst Firm: Mizuho

Upgraded: Neutral to Outperform

Price Target: $29

Yesterday's Close: $25.54

Mizuho analyst Haendel St. Juste boosted his rating on Brixmor from Neutral to Outperform, maintaining the price target at $29. Brixmor is a REIT that owns and operates open-air shopping centers across the U.S. Analysts project a stock price range of $26.00 to $35.00, with a median of $29.25 and an average of $29.75.

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.