S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Reach All-Time Highs as Stocks Rise Ahead of Key Earnings Week

Block Shares Jump Ahead of S&P 500 Inclusion

Block (XYZ), the digital payments giant, has recently made headlines as its shares soared over 7% this past Monday, preparing for its anticipated inclusion in the S&P 500 Index. Set to take place this Wednesday, Block is replacing Hess (HES), following Chevron’s (CVX) $53 billion acquisition of its smaller oil competitor.

Analysts at Jefferies wasted no time in raising their price target for Block, bumping it from $75 to $90 while maintaining their “buy” rating. The stock closed at approximately $78 as excitement swirled around its upcoming new status in the S&P 500. Analysts emphasized that despite its recent performance, the company has substantial growth opportunities ahead, particularly driven by the growth in gross payment volume—a key measure reflecting the overall health of Block’s payment processing ecosystem.

Continued progress in increasing user engagement on Cash App, Block’s popular peer-to-peer payment service, was noted as a potential catalyst for rising stock prices. Deutsche Bank also echoed similar sentiments with its own “buy” rating, anticipating re-acceleration in Cash App growth, suggesting that the upcoming quarter may reveal strong increases in gross payment volume.

With this Monday’s gain, the company’s year-to-date decline has narrowed to about 8%, which many investors see as a sign of a potential turnaround.

Arm Stock Rises as Wells Fargo Raises Price Target

Arm Holdings (ARM) experienced an influx of trading activity this Monday following an upgrade from Wells Fargo, which raised its price target from $145 to $175. The increase comes ahead of the company’s quarterly earnings report scheduled for next week. Shares climbed more than 3%, closing near $162, contributing to a surge of nearly 33% since the beginning of 2025.

As a leading designer of CPU architectures, Arm is well-positioned to capitalize on expanding opportunities in artificial intelligence and data center demands. Wells Fargo expressed optimism about Arm’s royalty business, even amidst tariff-related uncertainties, noting that growth in custom silicon designs could significantly boost revenue.

The tech world is eagerly awaiting Arm’s earnings announcement, which could provide further insights into its market positioning.

Cleveland-Cliffs Jumps as Steelmaker Trims Losses

Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF), a major player in the steel manufacturing sector, saw its shares soar by 12% after announcing that its losses had significantly narrowed. Cost-cutting measures, new tariffs, and support for domestic manufacturing helped the company to mitigate its losses. The second-quarter adjusted loss reported was down to $0.50 per share—nearly half of the earlier quarter’s losses and better than analyst expectations.

Despite a slight revenue drop of 3.1% to $4.93 billion, the company reported record steel shipments of 4.3 million net tons. CEO Lourenco Goncalves attributed these positive results to recently implemented footprint optimization initiatives, which have begun generating impactful results. He also highlighted the promising effect of tariffs supporting domestic industry, particularly regarding the automotive sector, where Cleveland-Cliffs is a major supplier.

As the company gears up for strong cost reductions going into the latter half of the year, investor sentiment remains positive.

Alphabet Levels to Watch Ahead of Earnings Wednesday

Shares of Alphabet (GOOGL) rose nearly 3% Monday as optimism builds around its upcoming quarterly earnings report, scheduled for release after Wednesday’s market close. Investors are particularly focused on the company’s cloud and advertising revenues, anticipating decent growth driven by robust enterprise demand and AI innovations.

Analysts from Jefferies predict that Alphabet’s cloud business will benefit from the ongoing demand for AI capabilities, while some Wall Street observers, like those at Wedbush, voice caution about the potential impact of generative AI on advertising revenue.

Entering Monday, Alphabet’s stock had been underperforming relative to its big tech peers, but with the recent uptick, it’s poised to regain some ground. The stock is currently positioned within a rising wedge chart pattern, implying it may test higher price levels leading up to the earnings announcement.

Why Opendoor Stock is Soaring Today

Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) caught the attention of retail investors this Monday, witnessing a staggering increase of approximately 50% in its stock price, buoyed by renewed enthusiasm around meme stock dynamics. The online home buying platform’s stock has been on a rollercoaster, even surging to near $5—a peak it hasn’t seen in nearly two years.

The trigger for this uptick was the announcement from EMJ Capital’s founder, Eric Jackson, indicating that his firm has taken a substantial position in Opendoor, suggesting the stock could yield returns of up to 100x over the next few years. Jackson likened Opendoor to Carvana (CVNA), which notably rebounded after drastic financial restructuring. He anticipates that Opendoor could report positive EBITDA for the first time in the coming month, possibly reigniting confidence among investors.

The stock recently faced near delisting due to trading below $1, but the current rally offers hope that it can meet the necessary Nasdaq listing standards as it continues to trade above this threshold.

Schwab Expands 24-Hour Trading to 1,100 Securities

Charles Schwab (SCHW) announced a significant expansion of its 24-hour trading capabilities, now including 1,100 securities, largely ETFs. This move aims to cater to a growing global investor base keen on accessing markets outside of standard business hours.

The broker first introduced after-hours trading options earlier this year, focusing on stocks listed in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Schwab’s announcement comes amidst heightened competition, as rivals like Robinhood and Intercontinental Exchange also explore extended trading hours to meet investor demand.

Schwab’s Managing Director James Kostulias emphasized that this expanded access is crucial for enabling investors to capitalize on market opportunities and manage risks that may arise from after-hours news and events.

Trump Media Assets in Bitcoin Holdings

Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) has reportedly accumulated around $2 billion in Bitcoin and related securities, with plans for further acquisitions targeting cryptocurrency assets. This aggressive strategy comes alongside the company’s ambitions to reshape cryptocurrency policy in America.

The media firm indicated a commitment to ongoing investments in Bitcoin, particularly through a $300 million options acquisition strategy. Impressively, Bitcoin and related holdings now constitute about two-thirds of Trump Media’s liquid assets.

The group is also venturing into the ETF space, planning to launch cryptocurrency ETFs that invest in Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital assets later this year, highlighting a significant shift in investment strategy.

Sarepta Falls as Company Rejects FDA Call to Withdraw Drug

Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) faced a drop in its stock price after publicly refusing the FDA’s request to halt the distribution of its Elevidys muscular dystrophy treatment. The FDA issued its call following a troubling report of a third patient dying due to complications possibly linked to a related gene therapy.

Sarepta has defended its decision to continue distributing Elevidys, asserting that data shows no significant safety signals within the ambulant patient population. Despite the recent FDA scrutiny, the company is committed to an ongoing dialogue with the regulatory body.

However, investors reacted negatively, leading to a nearly 4% drop in share price, with tokens of a turbulent year reflected in an almost 90% decline since January.

Tariffs Take a Bite Out of Stellantis Earnings

Stellantis (STLA) reported a hefty net loss of approximately 2.3 billion euros in the first half of the year, a stark contrast to the profit of 5.6 billion euros it posted during the same period last year. The automaker attributed its poor financial performance to tariffs, restructuring costs, and declining sales of its vehicular products.

In a preliminary announcement, Stellantis indicated that it had incurred around 300 million euros in costs directly related to US tariffs, which significantly interfered with planned production levels. Facing a 25% decrease in North American shipments and an overall 10% drop in sales, the company is under pressure moving forward.

New CEO Antonio Filosa must navigate these turbulent waters, especially as analysts predict ongoing cash flow challenges, with shares lingering down nearly 30% year-to-date.

Domino’s Same-Store Sales Top Estimates

Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) shares adjusted higher on Monday after the company announced impressive second-quarter same-store sales growth surpassing expectations. The chain reported a 3.4% increase in US same-store sales and a 2.4% increase internationally, leading to a steady revenue of $1.15 billion.

Despite a slight decline in earnings per share, CEO Russell Weiner expressed confidence in the company’s robust positioning, citing unit economics, marketing spend, and advancements in supply chain management. Recently, Domino’s partnered with DoorDash, expanding its delivery capabilities, which is expected to further boost sales.

Verizon Rises on Strong Earnings, Boosted Outlook

Verizon (VZ) shares jumped following the company’s second-quarter earnings report that exceeded analyst forecasts. With a reported adjusted EPS of $1.22 and revenue growth of 5.2% year-over-year, the telecommunications giant is feeling bullish about its future.

The firm added over 293,000 broadband Internet subscribers, complementing its stock price rise of about 4%. Overall, Verizon’s positive performance sets the stage for an exciting week in the telecommunications sector, with competitors like AT&T and T-Mobile soon to disclose their quarterly results.

Intel Levels to Watch Ahead of Earnings This Week

As Intel (INTC) prepares to announce its second-quarter results on Thursday, investors are eagerly watching the company’s stock after a 20% gain since last month’s lows. Anticipation surrounds Intel’s updates on its foundry business, particularly in light of recent leadership changes.

The stock has gained traction within a constructive trading pattern, although some apprehension remains as it approaches the earnings report. Crucial support levels on Intel’s chart include $22 and $19, with resistance pegged at $26 and $30.

In the lead-up to the earnings announcement, this volatile semiconductor stock remains a critical focus for market analysts and investors alike.

Stock Index Futures Slightly Higher

Futures connected to the three major U.S. stock indexes are slightly up by approximately 0.2% in ongoing trading. This positive movement sets a hopeful tone for the trading session, reflecting investor optimism ahead of pivotal corporate earnings reports this week.