Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stock futures moved higher Wednesday as markets prepared for a pivotal day packed with catalysts—from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement to earnings from major tech players and fresh economic data.

Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META) are set to report earnings after the closing bell. Investors are watching closely to see whether their massive bets on artificial intelligence are beginning to show results, as scrutiny around their tech spending intensifies.

Looking ahead to Thursday, Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) will take the spotlight with their own earnings releases. That same day, markets will also digest the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index—considered the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—for further clues on the future path of interest rates.

Adding to the uncertainty, a looming Friday deadline set by former President Trump could trigger sweeping tariffs if key trade deals aren’t finalized in time, potentially shaking up global markets.

Earnings Watch

Earnings hit today from Microsoft $MSFT, Meta Platforms $META, Automatic Data Processing $ADP, and Altria $MO before open, plus Qualcomm $QCOM, Fortinet $FTNT, and GFL Environmental $GFL after close.

Analysts expect MSFT at $3.35 EPS with AI and cloud strength, META at $5.83 EPS on ad and AI growth, ADP at $2.10 EPS with payroll demand, MO at $1.35 EPS amid tobacco stability, QCOM at $2.45 EPS with chip recovery, FTNT at $0.51 EPS on cybersecurity trends, and GFL at $0.08 EPS with waste management growth.

Happening Today

✓ 08:15 AM ET – ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (Jul)

✓ 08:30 AM ET – GDP and Inflation: Core PCE Prices (Q2)

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Pending Home Sales (MoM) (Jun)

✓ 10:30 AM ET – Oil Inventories

✓ 02:00 PM ET – FOMC Statement

✓ 02:00 PM ET – Fed Interest Rate Decision

✓ 02:30 PM ET – FOMC Press Conference

SECTOR SNAPSHOT

On the last trading day, most sectors were down, with Industrials and Financials seeing notable declines. Conversely, Consumer Staples, Energy, Real Estate, and Utilities posted gains. The strength in Real Estate and Utilities likely reflects their defensive nature and stable demand for essential services, making them attractive to investors during periods of broader market caution.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

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

📈 Safe and Green Development Corporation (SGD) is surging +49.21% to $1.26 on monumental volume, driven by yesterday's announcement of two sites appraised at $9.9 million, alongside recent strategic acquisitions in engineered soils and composting.

📈 Tigo Energy, Inc. (TYGO) is up +36.59% at $1.23 with massive volume, following yesterday's Q2 earnings report that beat revenue estimates and narrowed its loss per share, signaling positive momentum for the solar industry company.

📈 STAK Inc. (STAK) is gaining +25.97% at $1.68 with high volume; while no fresh news today, recent amendments to corporate bylaws and reports on shareholder meetings have kept investor interest, with analysts highlighting strong growth potential.

📈 Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (ACRS) is up +13.55% at $1.55 with significant volume, following yesterday's announcement of positive top-line results from its Phase 2a trial of ATI-2138 for atopic dermatitis, achieving primary and key secondary endpoints.

📈 WEBUY GLOBAL LTD. (WBUY) sees a +7.95% rise to $4.15 with notable volume, after recently partnering with Victory Securities to pioneer stablecoin adoption and integrating Coinbase Commerce for crypto payments.

Premarket Picks

Tigo Energy, Inc. (TYGO) surged 36.04% pre-market, trading at $1.65. The boost came after the company reported strong Q2 2025 results, with revenue hitting $24.1 million—an impressive 89.4% increase compared to the same quarter last year.

LendingClub Corporation (LC) saw its shares climb 23.83% to $16.29 pre-market. The lender’s Q2 2025 report revealed a 33% jump in total net revenue, reaching $248.4 million, up from $187.2 million in the prior year.

Fundamental Global Inc. (FGF) gained 27.15%, with a pre-market price of $27.35. The rally followed news of a $200 million private placement and the launch of an Ethereum Treasury Strategy, coinciding with Ethereum’s 10th anniversary.

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (ACRS) rose 13.55% pre-market to $1.76 after releasing encouraging early data from a Phase 2a trial of ATI-2138. The oral drug targets ITK and JAK3 in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

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

Top Upgrades:

1. Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC)

Analyst Firm: B. Riley

Upgraded: Neutral to Buy

Price Target: $23.50

Yesterday's Close: $22.54

B. Riley's analyst Sean-Paul Adams raised his rating on Ares Capital from Neutral to Buy and increased the price target to $23.50, up from $22.50. Analysts estimate Ares Capital’s stock price to range between $22.00 and $26.00. The median and average targets are both $23.00. The company focuses on financing and investing in mid-sized businesses.

2. Peloton Interactive, Inc. (PTON)

Analyst Firm: UBS

Upgraded: Neutral to Buy

Price Target: $11

Yesterday's Close: $6.18

UBS upgraded Peloton from Neutral to Buy and boosted its price target to $11, previously set at $7.50. Peloton’s stock price target spans from $4.00 on the low end to $20.00 on the high end. The median estimate is $8.38, with an average of $9.16. Peloton operates a global connected fitness platform.

3. Aon plc (AON)

Analyst Firm: Jefferies

Upgraded: Hold to Buy

Price Target: $426

Yesterday's Close: $354.03

Jefferies lifted its rating on Aon plc from Hold to Buy, raising the price target to $426 from the prior $400. Aon’s stock is projected to reach as high as $451.00, with a low estimate of $340.00. The median target is $417.00, and the average is $409.56. Aon provides global risk and human capital solutions.

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.