U.S. stock futures experienced mixed activity Thursday morning, with the Nasdaq 100 futures advancing more than 100 points. Despite this initial optimism in broader market futures, several high-profile stocks, including Whirlpool Corporation, SAP SE, Microsoft Corporation, and others, faced downward pressure in pre-market trading after releasing quarterly earnings reports that generally fell short of analysts’ projections.
Central among the declines was Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR), whose shares tumbled sharply following the release of its fiscal fourth-quarter results and revised guidance for the 2026 full year. The company reported an earnings per share (EPS) figure of $1.10, significantly below the consensus estimate of $1.57. Revenues also lagged expectations at $4.098 billion compared to the anticipated $4.269 billion.
This earnings miss led Whirlpool to reduce both its FY26 EPS and sales forecasts, amplifying investor concerns. In response, the stock price declined by 8.5%, trading near $73.95 in early pre-market action.
Beyond Whirlpool, several other companies posted similar struggles in their quarterly disclosures, reflecting uneven performance across varied sectors.
- SAP SE (NYSE:SAP): The enterprise software firm faced an even steeper decline, falling 13.5% to $204.24 pre-market after announcing its fourth-quarter results.
- Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY): The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developer's shares dropped 10% to $12.04 after pricing upsized offerings of common stock and convertible senior notes, signaling potential dilution concerns.
- Las Vegas Sands Corporation (NYSE:LVS): The casino operator also declined by 9.8% to $55.20 post announcement of its fourth-quarter financial outcomes.
- USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ:USAR): The stock declined 9.7% to $22.72 pre-market.
- Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ:CRML): Shares dropped 7.5% to $15.78.
- United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE:UAMY): Stock fell 7.5% to $9.01 pre-market.
- Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK): Following its fourth-quarter report, shares slipped 6.8% to $6.35.
- Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS): Prices fell 5.8% to $325.08.
- Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT): The tech giant's shares dropped 5.8% to $453.69 after revealing its second-quarter results.
- ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW): The cloud computing company declined 5.2% to $122.90 post earnings report.
This cluster of earnings disappointments among major industry players contributed to a cautious tone in the pre-market session, highlighting challenges faced by companies across technology, manufacturing, and resource sectors.
Market analysts note that the earnings misses, coupled with lowered guidance from Whirlpool and other companies, reflect ongoing uncertainties in the economic environment that continue to impact revenue growth and profitability. Investors may remain attentive to future earnings releases and management commentary for further insights into sector-specific headwinds and recovery trajectories.
Additionally, data from Benzinga’s rankings show notable momentum, growth, and quality disparities among these stocks. Some may present value or growth opportunities depending on their sector outlook and fundamentals, although recent results underscore prevailing market volatility.
In summary, the pre-market session on Thursday displayed a split dynamic: Nasdaq futures gained ground, while shares of Whirlpool, SAP, Microsoft, and others declined markedly following disappointing earnings reports and revised forecasts. This divergence underscores the selective pressures in equity markets as investors digest fresh corporate financial disclosures.