S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: FICO Shares Regain Ground After Recent Slump

Major U.S. equities indexes ticked lower on Wednesday as investors awaited the afternoon’s earnings results from artificial intelligence (AI) chip behemoth Nvidia (NVDA).

The S&P 500 ended the day 0.6% lower. The Dow was also down 0.6%, while the Nasdaq fell 0.5%. After the bell, Nvidia reported sales topped analysts’ expectations in the fiscal first quarter, but the company’s earnings missed amid new export curbs.

After posting the sharpest drop in the S&P 500 during the previous session, shares of credit score provider Fair Isaac (FICO) changed course on Wednesday, jumping 7.7% to log the top daily performance in the benchmark index. The stock has been under pressure over the past week following criticism of FICO’s pricing structure by a top federal housing official, who singled out the cost of credit evaluations for potential borrowers as a major contributor to elevated mortgage origination expenses. 

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shares gained 4.9% after reports that David Leavy would exit his role as the chief operating officer of the entertainment giant’s cable news network CNN and return to the parent company. Before helping guide CNN through a transitional period over the past two years, Leavy was employed as WBD’s chief corporate affairs officer. 

Shares of medical device firm Hologic (HOLX) added 2.5% on Wednesday, extending gains posted the prior day following reports that the company had rejected a buyout offer from two private equity firms. Although the take-private deal for the diagnostics equipment maker did not materialize, reports suggested that negotiations could continue.

Shares of water heater and treatment solutions specialist A.O. Smith (AOS) plunged 6.3%. The decline in the stock came after heating, ventilation, and air conditioning giant Lennox International (LII) said it will jump into the water heater market in North America via a joint venture with Aris Water Solutions (ARIS). Analysts at Jefferies expressed concerns about A.O. Smith’s market position in the wake of Lennox’s announcement.

Deckers Outdoor (DECK) shares slipped 4.3% on Wednesday. The stock has seen heavy volatility in recent sessions, tumbling Friday after the parent company of the Ugg and Hoka footwear brands withheld its full-year forecast, citing tariff concerns. Then on Tuesday, it regained ground following the holiday weekend, bolstered by a strong consumer sentiment report and an extended timeline for tariffs on imports from Europe.

Shares of electric utility AES Corp. (AES) dropped 3.67% after Argus Research downgraded the stock to “hold” from “buy.” Analysts pointed to the power generator’s recent earnings report, noting that adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell sharply year-over-year and came in below consensus forecasts. Although AES could benefit over the long term from the shift to more environmentally friendly power generation, the stock has been under pressure as the renewable energy industry faces an uncertain policy outlook.