Midway through Tuesday’s trading session, the U.S. stock market exhibited divergent trends across major indices and sectors. The Nasdaq Composite climbed by over 200 points, closing up 0.88% at 23,809.27, buoyed largely by a 1.3% rise in information technology stocks. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped approximately 1%, ending the day at 48,919.57. The S&P 500 registered a moderate gain of 0.39%, reaching 6,977.34.
Turning to prominent corporate performances, Boeing Company — trading on the NYSE under ticker BA — witnessed its shares decline by 3% following the release of its fourth-quarter earnings report. The aerospace manufacturer recorded revenue of $23.948 billion, marking a 57% increase compared to $15.242 billion in the same quarter the prior year. This revenue surpassed analyst expectations, which had been projected at $22.470 billion, aided by a significant increase in commercial airplane deliveries totaling 160 units during the quarter, signifying advances in operational efficiency.
Despite the strong top-line growth, Boeing's adjusted earnings per share revealed challenges. The company reported an adjusted loss of $1.91 per share, which was notably worse than the anticipated loss of 39 cents per share projected by Wall Street analysts. On a GAAP basis, Boeing posted diluted earnings per share of $10.23, a turnaround from a loss per share of $5.46 recorded in the prior year’s corresponding quarter. Additionally, Boeing's core earnings per share, measured on a non-GAAP basis, improved to $9.92 from a previous loss of $5.90 per share.
In other significant equity movements, Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) shares surged dramatically, increasing by 135% to $0.63. This jump followed the company’s announcement of securing a contract valued at up to $151 billion for the Missile Defense Agency’s Multi-Vendor SHIELD Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) program, aimed at bolstering homeland defense capabilities.
Healthcare provider HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE: HCA) also experienced an upward share trajectory, climbing 9% to $514.82 after reporting adjusted earnings per share that exceeded expectations for the fourth quarter. The company also raised its fiscal year 2025 guidance above market estimates, signaling confidence in future performance.
Shares of Corning Inc (NYSE: GLW) increased by 15%, closing at $109.16. The increase followed the announcement of a $6 billion contract with Meta Platforms, intended to enhance data center infrastructure within the United States to support artificial intelligence initiatives.
Conversely, shares of CommVault Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVLT) fell sharply by 35% to $84.72 after releasing third-quarter financial results. Hospitality sector companies Twin Hospitality Group Inc (NASDAQ: TWNP) and FAT Brands Inc (NASDAQ: FAT) also faced significant stock price declines, dropping 43% to $0.30 and falling 43% to $0.23 respectively. Both hospitality entities filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure and strengthen their capital foundations and strategic positioning.
Commodity markets presented mixed movements on Tuesday. Benchmark oil prices climbed 2.2%, reaching $62.00 per barrel, reflecting strengthening energy demand or supply considerations. In contrast, precious metals experienced declines, with gold prices slipping 0.4% to $5,061.20 and silver dropping 8% to $106.30. Copper prices also retreated by 3%, closing at $5.8380.
European stock exchanges closed mostly higher. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.62%. Spain’s IBEX 35 recorded a 0.68% gain, the UK’s FTSE 100 increased by 0.56%, and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.33%. Germany’s DAX index saw a slight decrease of 0.14%, reflecting regional variation in investor sentiment.
Meanwhile, key Asian markets also ended sessions with positive results. Japan’s Nikkei increased by 0.85%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.35%, China’s Shanghai Composite edged up 0.18%, and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.39%.
Economic indicators released alongside market performance outlined ongoing trends in the real estate and labor sectors. The Case-Shiller Home Price Index reported a 1.4% year-over-year increase in November, slightly exceeding both October's 1.3% rise and analysts’ forecast of 1.2%. Similarly, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) house price index increased by 0.6% during November, outperforming market expectations for a 0.3% gain.
Labor market data from the ADP indicated that private employers in the U.S. added an average of 7,750 jobs per week over the four weeks ending January 3. This represented a modest decrease from the prior period’s 8,000 weekly job additions. In manufacturing, the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District index ticked up by one point to a reading of -6 in January, suggesting ongoing contraction but at a slightly reduced pace.