Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stock futures declined early Tuesday, signaling a third consecutive day of losses for the S&P 500 as traders remained cautious about the economic impact of recently imposed tariffs.

Concerns over global trade weighed on investor sentiment, leading to a weaker dollar and rising bond yields. Despite the market retreat, the reaction remained relatively muted, as China’s response to U.S. tariffs was measured, and Canada and Mexico were granted a last-minute reprieve.

The dollar index fell 0.3% as some traders expressed relief that the worst-case tariff scenarios had been avoided. In commodities, crude oil prices dropped amid growing concerns over weaker demand, while gold hovered near record highs, reflecting investor uncertainty.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies also faced declines, with Bitcoin falling 3.1% to $98,770.36 and Ether dropping 3.7% to $2,713.99. Meanwhile, Brent crude slipped 1.3% to $74.98 per barrel, while spot gold remained relatively unchanged.

Happening Today

✓ 10:00 AM ET – JOLTS Job Openings (Dec)

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Factory Orders (MoM) (Dec)

✓ 11:00 AM ET – FOMC Member Bostic Speaks

✓ 01:15 PM ET – FOMC Member Daly Speaks

PREMARKET SNAPSHOT 📈

As of now, U.S. stock index futures are showing slight declines. The S&P 500 futures are down 0.13%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have decreased by 0.27%, and the Nasdaq futures have edged up by 0.02%. These movements come amid ongoing market reactions to recent geopolitical developments, including the U.S. imposing tariffs on Chinese imports and China's subsequent retaliatory measures. Investors are closely monitoring these events to assess their potential impact on the global economy.

SECTOR SNAPSHOT✨

Yesterday market saw mixed performance, with Consumer Staples, Energy, Health Care, and Utilities showing modest gains, while Information Technology and Industrials faced notable declines. Consumer Discretionary took a hit, dropping 1.35%, reflecting cautious consumer sentiment. Financials and Real Estate also struggled, while Materials barely held onto gains. Despite market volatility, defensive sectors like Consumer Staples and Utilities provided stability amid broader weakness.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

📈 Evaxion Biotech A/S ADR (EVAX) is witnessing a significant pre-market surge, with trading volume reaching 27.49 million shares compared to its average of 1.25 million. The stock is up 82.08%, reflecting heightened investor interest.

📈 Quantum BioPharma Ltd (QNTM) is displaying strong momentum in early trading, with volume increasing to 1.39 million shares versus its average of 112,530. The stock has surged 121.07%, indicating robust pre-market activity.

📈 Azitra Inc (AZTR) has recorded a notable pre-market spike, trading 17.94 million shares compared to its average of 1.69 million. The stock is up 47.86%, suggesting increased speculative interest.

📈 Achilles Therapeutics Plc ADR (ACHL) is experiencing an early volume surge of 912,132 shares, surpassing its average of 175,740. The stock is up 21.43%, signaling renewed investor confidence.

📈 Largo Inc (LGO) is seeing a modest increase in pre-market activity, with 343,597 shares traded against an average of 127,380. The stock is up 4.23%, reflecting steady interest from traders.

Premarket Picks

Solidion Technology Inc. (STI) saw a significant rise in pre-market trading, jumping 23.30% to a price of $0.48. This surge came after the company received a notice from NASDAQ confirming it had regained compliance with the Minimum Market Value of Publicly Held Shares and Listed Securities deficiency.

Invivyd, Inc. (IVVD) also experienced a notable pre-market gain, rising 15.09% to $1.22. The positive movement was driven by the company’s announcement of promising Phase 1/2 clinical data for its monoclonal antibody, VYD2311. This treatment is positioned as a superior alternative to COVID-19 vaccination for the broader population.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) jumped 19.64% in pre-market trading, reaching $100.19. The surge followed the company’s release of impressive Q4 2024 earnings, with a 36% year-over-year revenue growth. U.S. revenue grew by 52% Y/Y, and the company provided a strong FY 2025 revenue forecast, projecting a 31% Y/Y increase, far exceeding analyst expectations.

Snow Lake Resources Ltd. (LITM) saw a 20.31% pre-market gain, reaching $0.83. The boost was driven by the company’s announcement of a strategic partnership aimed at leading the North American nuclear renaissance through a domestic production strategy.

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

Top Upgrades:

1. AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC)

Analyst Firm: Roth MKM
Upgraded: Sell to Neutral
Price Target: $3.25
Yesterday's Close: $3.08

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) has been upgraded by Roth MKM from a "Sell" to a "Neutral" rating, with a revised price target of $3.25, reflecting an upside potential of approximately 5.5% from its previous closing price of $3.08.

Analysts have set a range of price targets for AMC Entertainment, with a high estimate of $4.00, a median target of $3.63, and a low of $2.90. The average target price stands at $3.54, indicating a relatively modest outlook for the stock in the near term.

2. Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN)

Analyst Firm: Piper Sandler
Upgraded: Underweight to Neutral
Price Target: $58
Yesterday's Close: $57.74

Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN) received an upgrade from "Underweight" to "Neutral" by Piper Sandler, setting a new price target of $58, which implies a modest upside of 0.5% from yesterday's close of $57.74.

For Tyson Foods, analysts are forecasting a high price target of $75.00, with a median estimate of $63.00 and a low of $58.00. The average stock price target comes in at $64.55, suggesting a positive, but not overly aggressive, outlook for the company.

3. Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)

Analyst Firm: Morgan Stanley
Upgraded: Underweight to Equal-Weight
Price Target: $95
Yesterday's Close: $83.74

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) was upgraded by Morgan Stanley from "Underweight" to "Equal-Weight," with a price target of $95, offering a notable potential upside of 13.4% from its prior closing price of $83.74.

Palantir Technologies presents a wider range of price targets. The highest estimate reaches $105.00, while the low is considerably lower at $38.00. The median target is $85.00, and the average stock price target stands at $73.13, reflecting a mixed sentiment from analysts regarding the company's future performance.

Happy investing,

Maeve Grace
Editor In Chief
Premium Stock Alerts

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.