Good Morning, Traders!…👋

U.S. stock futures were little changed early Friday, following a strong rally that brought the S&P 500 closer to a record high.

Markets surged on Thursday after President Donald Trump unveiled his long-anticipated "reciprocal tariffs" plan, though without a specific timeline or concrete details. Meanwhile, higher-than-expected inflation data earlier this week has reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady for now.

Investors are awaiting fresh economic data, including January retail sales, which are expected to show a slight decline of 0.2% after a 0.4% increase in the previous month. Beyond retail sales, investors will also be watching import prices and industrial production data set for release later in the session.

Happening Today

✓ 08:30 AM ET – Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Jan)

✓ 09:15 AM ET – Industrial Production (MoM) (Jan)

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Business Inventories (MoM) (Dec)

✓ 10:00 AM ET – Retail Inventories Ex Auto (Dec)

✓ 03:30 PM ET – CFTC Nasdaq 100 and S&P500 speculative net positions

PREMARKET SNAPSHOT 📈

As of February 14, 2025, U.S. stock index futures are experiencing declines, with the S&P 500 down 0.22%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.31%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.27%. Investors are closely monitoring developments related to President Trump's proposed reciprocal tariffs, which could impact international trade dynamics.

SECTOR SNAPSHOT✨

Yesterday markets rebounded strongly, with all sectors closing in positive territory. Consumer Discretionary and Information Technology led the gains, while Financials, Energy, and Materials also posted solid advances. Health Care, Industrials, and Real Estate saw modest improvements, while Utilities edged higher. The broad-based rally signals renewed investor confidence across the board.

PreMarket Unusual Volume Stocks

📈 Moleculin Biotech Inc. (MBRX) is witnessing a substantial pre-market surge, with trading volume reaching 25.3 million shares, significantly outpacing its average volume of 1.92 million. The stock is trading at $2.06 in pre-market activity, reflecting a 62.2% increase. This spike suggests strong investor interest, possibly fueled by recent clinical or regulatory developments.

📈 Virpax Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRPX) has seen an exceptional pre-market volume of 40.04 million shares, far exceeding its average of 4.43 million. Currently priced at $0.54, the stock has gained 86.74% in early trading, signaling heightened speculation and potential news catalysts driving momentum.

📈 ConnectM Technology Solutions Inc. (CNTM) is also attracting early attention, with 1.23 million shares traded pre-market versus an average of 194,000. The stock is currently priced at $1.00, up 6.78%. While the movement is relatively modest compared to others, the volume spike suggests emerging interest.

📈 Zoomcar Holdings Inc. (ZCAR) has recorded a pre-market volume of 10.76 million shares, notably above its average volume of 1.88 million. The stock is trading at $1.89, reflecting a 27.7% gain, likely due to renewed optimism around the company’s business model or recent corporate updates.

📈 WeRide Inc. ADR (WRD) has demonstrated an impressive pre-market performance, with volume reaching 510,216 shares against an average of 98,490. The stock's price has surged to $30.30, marking a 76.47% increase, indicating strong market enthusiasm for the autonomous vehicle sector.

Premarket Picks

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. (MBRX) experienced a significant surge in the pre-market, with its price reaching $2.07, reflecting a 62.99% increase. This jump followed the company’s announcement regarding the exercise of warrants, which generated $5.8 million in gross proceeds.

Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VRPX) saw a notable pre-market surge of 99.96%, with its stock price climbing to $0.57. The surge was driven by the completion of a full study that followed the initial Probudur pilot study, conducted by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research under an existing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.

Zoomcar Holdings, Inc. (ZCAR) rose 39.19% in pre-market trading, reaching $2.06 after filing an 8-K form with the SEC, drawing investor attention.

Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (HNNA) also saw a strong pre-market surge of 39.69%, with its price climbing to $17.00. The company reported a 125% increase in quarterly earnings per share and announced a quarterly dividend, further boosting investor confidence.

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

Top Upgrades:

1. Roku, Inc. (ROKU)

Analyst Firm: Wells Fargo
Upgraded: Equal Weight to Overweight
Price Target: $129
Yesterday's Close: $86.80

Wells Fargo raised its rating on Roku to Overweight from Equal Weight, increasing the price target to $129, up from $74. Analysts have set varying price targets for Roku, Inc. (ROKU). The highest target is $116.00, while the lowest is $55.00. The median target stands at $86.00, and the average price target is $83.21. Roku, Inc. operates a TV streaming platform, serving customers in the United States and internationally.

2. Brixmor Property Group Inc. (BRX)

Analyst Firm: Jefferies
Upgraded: Hold to Buy
Price Target: $33
Yesterday's Close: $28.12

Jefferies analyst Linda Tsai upgraded Brixmor to Buy from Hold, setting a new price target of $33, up from $28. Brixmor Property Group Inc. (BRX) has a stock price target range with a high of $35.00 and a low of $27.00. The median target is $31.00, with the average target at $31.13. Brixmor is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and manages a high-quality portfolio of open-air shopping centers across the nation.

3. Carrier Global Corporation (CARR)

Analyst Firm: Mizuho
Upgraded: Neutral to Outperform
Price Target: $78
Yesterday's Close: $63.67

Mizuho upgraded Carrier Global to Outperform from Neutral, maintaining the price target at $78.For Carrier Global Corporation (CARR), analysts estimate a stock price target range between $70.00 and $95.00. The median target is $79.00, with an average of $81.81. Carrier provides HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies to customers worldwide.

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.