5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

U.S. stock futures are pointing mostly higher as investors review corporate earnings and ready for economic data; Apple (AAPL) is expected to report growing revenue and profit after the bell; Tesla (TSLA) shares are rising in premarket trading after it delivered an optimistic forecast on its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology; Meta Platforms (META) stock is gaining after it reporting strong revenue growth, while Microsoft (MSFT) shares are declining on disappointing cloud sales; and IBM (IBM) shares are jumping after it reported better-than-expected results. Here’s what investors need to know today.

1. US Stock Futures Point Mostly Higher as Investors Await GDP Data

U.S. stock futures are pointing mostly higher as investors eye corporate earnings results and prepare for release of fourth-quarter U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) data, which is expected to show economic growth dipped to a 2.5% annual rate. Nasdaq futures are up 0.5% following yesterday’s markets decline. S&P 500 futures are 0.2% higher and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are ticking lower. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is up more than 1% at around $105,000, while gold futures are nearly 1% higher. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note and oil futures are ticking lower.

2. Apple Expected to Post Revenue, Profit Gains After Closing Bell

Apple (AAPL) is slated to report fiscal first-quarter results after the bell, and analysts polled by Visible Alpha project revenue of $124.39 billion, up 4% year-over-year, with iPhone revenue growing 2% to $70.72 billion. Profit is expected to climb to $35.63 billion, or $2.35 per share, up from $33.92 billion, or $2.18 per share. Analysts have issued mixed ratings for the stock, which is edging lower in premarket trading.

3. Tesla Stock Rises as Musk Promotes Advances in Self-Driving Tech

Tesla (TSLA) shares are 3% higher in premarket trading after CEO Elon Musk told investors on the electric vehicle maker’s earnings call that the company continues to make progress on its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. Tesla plans to use the unsupervised version of the technology at its plant near Austin, Texas, in advance of a broader public release possibly later this year. Shares are rising even though Tesla reported worse-than-expected results.

4. Meta Stock Rises, Microsoft Shares Decline After Quarterly Reports

Shares of Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are moving in opposite directions in premarket trading after the “Magnificent Seven” tech firms reported earnings after the bell Wednesday. Meta stock is nearly 2% higher after the social media giant reported 20% year-over-year growth in revenue, led by a jump in advertising revenue. Microsoft shares are 4% lower even though the company posted a 12% revenue rise, surpassing the Visible Alpha consensus estimate. However, the software firm’s Intelligent Cloud segment revenue was below expectations.

5. IBM Stock Surges as AI Business Grows

IBM (IBM) stock is surging 9% in premarket trading after the tech firm reported better-than-expected earnings stemming from its AI-enabled business. IBM reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.92, above the consensus estimate of $3.79 of analysts polled by Visible Alpha. Revenue of $17.55 billion was a tick higher than expected. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said its generative AI business grew by $2 billion from the prior quarter as the company’s products “provide clients with a consistent and scalable AI foundation built on open source technology.”