McDonald's Option Alert: May 16 $285 Puts at the Bid: 5000 vs 64 OI; Earnings 4/29 Before Open [est] 

McDonald's Option Alert: May 16 $285 Puts at the Bid: 5000 @ $2.28 vs 64 OI; Earnings 4/29 Before Open [est] Ref=$306.47

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) Bolsa

MCDONALD'S CORP

McDonald's

McDonald's is the largest restaurant owner-operator in the world, with 2024 system sales of $131 billion across more than 43,000 stores and 115 markets. McDonald's pioneered the franchise model, building its footprint through partnerships with independent restaurant franchisees and master franchise partners around the globe. The firm earns roughly 60% of its revenue from franchise royalty fees and lease payments, with most of the remainder coming from company-operated stores across its three core segments: the United States, internationally operated markets, and international developmental/licensed markets.

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5 acciones en el foco este jueves: MCD, AMZN, MSFT, META y AAPL

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McDonald&#39;s revelará hoy sus resultados financieros del cuarto trimestre. Descubre las proyecciones y opiniones de analistas.

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As a fast-food icon, McDonald's Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) is structurally built for resisting recessionary conditions, offering nourishing meals and beverages conveniently and at relatively low prices. But even the Golden Arches couldn't overcome the unique <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45159157/mcdonalds-ceo-the-us-economy-is-dividedlow-income-traffic-down-10-while-rich-diners-continue-to-spend">pressures of the current economic paradigm</a>. Nevertheless, market demand for MCD stock remains hot, facilitating a possible contrarian bullish opportunity.
Last Thursday, McDonald's released its first-quarter earnings report, which revealed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/05/45177147/mcdonalds-stumbles-on-weak-traffic-despite-margin-gains-and-analyst-optimism">disappointing sales trends</a> in both U.S. and international markets. Domestically, revenue fell 3.6% for the three months through March 2025, primarily due to weaker traffic from lower and middle-income groups. It should be noted, though, that spending from upper-income households remained strong.
On the international front, operations face headwinds as the management attempts to deliver value offerings and expand market share. Predictably, anti-American sentiment has risen in parts of Northern Europe and Canada. That, combined with the economic <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/mcdonalds-global-sales-post-surprise-drop-tariff-chaos-hits-consumer-confidence-2025-05-01/">uncertainty</a> at home stemming from President Donald Trump's tariff policies, has taken a bite out of McDonald's financial performance.
Still, there are encouraging signs that shouldn't be ignored. Beyond the continued support of higher-income customers, McDonald's is seeing traction with its $5 meal deal, which will be extended through year-end.
On a much bigger level, President Trump — despite tough rhetoric — has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44886711/trump-expresses-reluctance-to-escalate-china-tariffs-hints-at-trade-deal">previously wavered on sustained, full-throttle tariffs</a>. This dynamic suggests that the White House is at least aware of the political consequences of a persistently downbeat economy. As such, it wouldn't be unreasonable to be contrarian on MCD stock in the hopes of cooler heads prevailing.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Betting On The Statistical Edge Of MCD Stock</h2>
Professional blackjack players often deploy a strategy called card counting. Basically, the idea is that in a standard, shuffled deck with no counting or manipulation, the house has a slight edge (typically around half-a-percent). However, under certain circumstances, the deck becomes hot — resulting in a higher proportion of high-value cards. This dynamic shifts the odds in the bettor's favor, incentivizing larger wagers.
Publicly traded securities often follow a similar logic. Under any given circumstances, a stock may have a baseline probability of long-side success. One can squabble over the details but for a typical blue chip, the odds a long position will be profitable in a week's time is about 51% to 52%. It's not nothing, but it's also not anything to get excited about.
That said, there are certain circumstances when the deck gets hot. When it does so, an incentive materializes to take an aggressive wager.
In the past 10 weeks, MCD stock printed a "6-4" sequence: six weeks of upside interspersed with four weeks of downside, with an overall net positive trajectory across the period. From a technical interpretation, MCD has shown a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/04/45113728/mcdonalds-technicals-show-appetite-for-more-gains-ahead-of-earnings">strong uptrend</a>, indicating robust momentum and buying strength.
What makes the demand sequence empirically significant, though, is that in 60.71% of the times the pattern flashes, MCD stock has popped higher in the following week. For context, MCD already favors long-side speculation, with the baseline one-week probability standing at around 56%.
With the deck being hot, traders have an opportunity to go against the implications of McDonald's disappointing first-quarter earnings report. It just might be the smarter move.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An Aggressive Strategy for a Stable Blue Chip</h2>
Based on historical trends following the 6-4 sequence, if the positive pathway materializes, MCD stock could hit a peak median price of over $323 over the next three weeks before tapering off. On the other end, should the bears win, MCD risks a gradual deflating until leveling off at around $313.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05144803/MCD-stock-10wk-forecast-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-902033" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05144803/MCD-stock-10wk-forecast-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05144803/MCD-stock-10wk-forecast-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05144803/MCD-stock-10wk-forecast-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05144803/MCD-stock-10wk-forecast.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by author</figcaption></figure>
Considering the higher statistical likelihood of upside, aggressive speculators may consider the 320/322.50 bull call spread expiring May 16. This transaction involves buying the $320 call and simultaneously selling the $322.50 call, for a net debit paid of $116. Should MCD stock rise through the short strike price of $322.50 at expiration, the maximum reward stands at $134, a payout of 115.52%.
What makes this trade so aggressive — and thus so rewarding — is the narrow window of profitability. Currently, the trade's breakeven price is $321.16, about 1.43% above the time-of-writing price. Therefore, MCD stock must hit the mark or exceed for speculators to win.
Of course, the idea here is that empirically, the 6-4 sequence puts the odds in favor of the bettor. It doesn't guarantee anything. However, this trade leverages market intelligence, facilitating more confidence in the decision-making process.
Read Next:
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Options Corner: McDonald's Signals A 'Hot Deck' For Aggressive Speculators

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>BMO Capital cut Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>) price target from $80 to $58. BMO Capital analyst Rufus Hone downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform. Block shares closed at $46.53 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XYZ/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Susquehanna raised the price target for eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) from $65 to $70. Susquehanna analyst Shyam Patil maintained a Neutral rating. eBay shares closed at $68.60 on Friday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EBAY/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo raised Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IR#NYSE">IR</a>) price target from $80 to $86. Wells Fargo analyst Joseph O&#8217;Dea maintained an Overweight rating. Ingersoll Rand shares closed at $76.73 on Friday. See how other <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IR/analyst-ratings">analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods slashed the price target for WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSBC#NASDAQ">WSBC</a>) from $43 to $40. Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Catherine Mealor maintained an Outperform rating. WesBanco shares closed at $30.42 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WSBC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>BMO Capital raised the price target for McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) from $340 to $345. BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik reiterated an Outperform rating. McDonald&#8217;s shares closed at $311.96 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Cantor Fitzgerald cut Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONTO#NYSE">ONTO</a>) price target from $250 to $135. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Prisco downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral. Onto Innovation shares settled at $127.10 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ONTO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan cut The Wendy&#8217;s Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) price target from $17 to $15. JP Morgan analyst John Ivankoe upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight. Wendy&#8217;s shares closed at $12.55 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WEN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Jefferies cut Parsons Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSN#NYSE">PSN</a>) price target from $75 to $65. Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Parsons shares closed at $62.81 on Friday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity raised the price target for Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOR#NYSE">WOR</a>) from $54 to $67. Canaccord Genuity analyst Brian McNamara upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Worthington shares settled at $51.99 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wor/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Rosenblatt cut Datadog, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>) price target from $160 to $150. Rosenblatt analyst Blair Abernethy maintained a Buy rating. Datadog shares closed at $105.00 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ddog/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying MCD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="564" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-1024x564.png" alt="" class="wp-image-901350" style="width:729px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-1024x564.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-300x165.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16-768x423.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05091125/image-2-16.png 1143w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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DDOG

EBAY

ONTO

WSBC

McDonald's To Rally More Than 10%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Monday

BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik reiterates McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $340 to $345.

Reiteration

BMO Capital Reiterates Outperform on McDonald's, Raises Price Target to $345

Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $353 to $364.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on McDonald's, Raises Price Target to $364

Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $347 to $355.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on McDonald's, Raises Price Target to $355

Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho on Thursday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/analyst-ratings">reiterated a Neutral</a> rating on the shares of McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) and raised the price forecast to $345.
McDonald&#8217;s shares dipped 1.9%, underperforming the S&amp;P 500 despite meeting earnings expectations due to disappointing sales trends in both U.S. and international markets.
McDonald&#8217;s U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45135213/mcdonalds-q1-revenue-decline-34-as-war-in-the-middle-east-bites-stock-dips">sales fell 3.6% in first-quarter</a>, below expectations, due to weaker traffic from lower and middle-income groups. Yet, upper-income spending remained strong.
The $5 meal deal is driving traffic and will be extended through year-end, although other value offers like Buy-One-Add-One-For-$1 are underperforming, noted the analyst.
Management expects first-quarter to be the year&#8217;s low point, with momentum building from promotions like the Minecraft Movie tie-in and upcoming menu additions including McCrispy strips and snack wraps.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45166629/wendys-q1-misses-revenue-estimate-lowers-2025-outlook-amid-us-sales-dip">Wendy&#8217;s Sizzles Abroad, But US Sales Leave Investors Cold</a>
McDonald's international operations continue to face headwinds, with a strategic focus on value offerings to maintain and grow market share.
The International Operated Markets (IOM) segment posted a 1.0% decline in same-store sales, falling short of analyst expectations. The company cited weak consumer traffic in France, Germany, and Australia, although it outperformed competitors in those regions.
France recorded its first market share gain in three years.
Meanwhile, the International Developmental Licensed Markets (IDLM) segment grew 3.5%, exceeding estimates. In the Middle East, Japan, and China, delivery expansion, affordable meal options, and chicken offerings drove results.
Management said global brand sentiment remains steady. Anti-American sentiment has reportedly risen in parts of Northern Europe and Canada. Chicago-based McDonald's hasn&#8217;t seen an impact in sales data.
McDonald's posted an operating margin of 45.6% for the quarter. That&#8217;s up 110 basis points year over year and matches analyst expectations.
This improvement was largely attributed to reduced SG&amp;A expenses, helped by delayed investments in digital and tech.
Price Action: McDonald&#8217;s shares traded lower by 0.47% at $312.17 at last check Friday.
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Restaurants

General

McDonald's Stumbles On Weak Traffic, Despite Margin Gains And Analyst Optimism

Piper Sandler analyst Brian Mullan maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $292 to $314.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on McDonald's, Raises Price Target to $314

Baird analyst David Tarantino maintains McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $300 to $315.

Baird Maintains Neutral on McDonald's, Raises Price Target to $315

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) is kicking off 2025 with a warning about a growing divide among U.S. consumers, noting a clear split along income lines.
What Happened: During its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45135213/mcdonalds-q1-revenue-decline-34-as-war-in-the-middle-east-bites-stock-dips">first quarter earnings</a> call on Thursday, McDonald&#8217;s CEO, Chris Kempczinski&#8217;s opening remarks centered around the declining foot traffic in the quick-service restaurant industry, especially from the low and middle income consumer cohort, both of which are down nearly 10% compared to the prior year quarter. 
However, traffic among high-income consumers remains strong, which Kempczinski said &#8220;illustrates the divided U.S. economy, where low- and middle-income consumers in particular are being weighed down,&#8221; by factors such as inflation and a bleak economic outlook.
During the Q&amp;A session, CFO Ian Borden noted that McDonald's customer base skews toward low- and middle-income consumers, prompting the company to double down on its commitment to &#8220;strong value&#8221; and &#8220;affordability&#8221; across its menu offerings.
Borden adds that this value-focused strategy helped McDonald's outperform its closest competitors on same-store guest counts during the first quarter.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45157434/reddit-says-40-of-comment-section-discussions-are-about-products-services-so-now-theyre-ad-space">Reddit Stock Spikes Over 6% After-hours After Earning Beat, Platform Considers Putting Ads In Comments To Monetize High &#8216;Engagement&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The company experienced a 3.6% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45135213/mcdonalds-q1-revenue-decline-34-as-war-in-the-middle-east-bites-stock-dips">year-over-year decline</a> in same-store sales during the quarter, which marks its steepest decline since 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, McDonald&#8217;s missed consensus estimates, with $2.67 in earnings per share, from $5.96 billion in revenue.
This coincides with the Consumer Sentiment Index crashing to <a href="https://benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44764554/consumer-sentiment-crashes-to-3-year-lows-as-inflation-expectations-spike-to-1981-highs">a three-year low</a> in April, at 50.4, down from 57 in March, with tariffs, inflation expectations, and market reactions taking their toll.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO Andy Jassy <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45158172/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-predicts-pandemic-like-consumer-shifts-says-company-is-maniacally-focused-on-keeping-prices-low">expressed similar concerns</a> during the company's first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, pointing to shifts in consumer behavior reminiscent of the pandemic. &#8220;There's maybe never been a more important time in recent memory than now to try to keep prices low,&#8221; he said.
Price Action: The stock was down 1.88% on Thursday, and is currently down 0.20% after hours following the company&#8217;s earnings release.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="133" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM-1024x133.png" alt="" class="wp-image-898322" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM-1024x133.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM-300x39.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM-768x99.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM-1536x199.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02013634/Screenshot-2025-05-02-at-11.05.21-AM.png 1606w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
McDonald&#8217;s has a favorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term, but how does it compare with peers and competitors? Sign up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge</a> for more insights.
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McDonald's CEO: 'The US Economy Is Divided' As Wealthy Customers Keep Coming While Regular Families Cut Back

Editor&#8217;s Note: The article has been udpated to correct the Stock Movers list.
Wall Street pushed higher in midday trading, with the S&amp;P 500 on track for its eighth consecutive gain — its longest winning streak since November 2023. The index rose about 1% to 5,560, fully recovering the losses sustained after former President Donald Trump announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">trade tariffs on April 2.</a>
Technology stocks led the rally, with the Nasdaq 100 climbing 1.5%. Strong and resilient corporate earnings continue to fuel investor appetite for risk, helping markets shrug off recent tariff concerns.
President Trump reassured investors, stating that progress on trade negotiations is going "very well" and that the timeline for the tax bill remains on schedule.
On the economic front, data continued to paint a weaker picture. After Wednesday's disappointing first-quarter GDP report, the ISM manufacturing PMI showed factory activity contracted for the second straight month in April. Meanwhile, price pressures surged at the fastest pace since June 2022, reflecting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45139383/us-manufacturing-activity-contracts-in-april-as-tariffs-push-input-prices-toward-3-year-highs">inflationary effects from tariffs.</a>
Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) was a standout gainer, soaring 8.60% after delivering a blowout quarter that beat expectations across the board, reinforcing its leadership in cloud and AI. The stock reached its highest level since late January.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) also topped estimates, with shares climbing more than 4%.
Sector-wise, technology outperformed, while health care lagged. Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) plunged over 9% after the pharmaceutical giant cut its 2025 guidance.
Crude oil erased early losses, rebounding to $58 per barrel after briefly dipping below $57. Gold slipped 2.2% to a two-week low.
The U.S. dollar strengthened to its highest level in over two weeks, bolstered by manufacturing surveys showing rising input costs tied to tariffs.
Treasury yields climbed for a second straight session, with the 10-year yield rising to 4.21%.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) surged past the $97,000 mark, hitting its highest level in over two months.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>% chg.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,853.70</td>
<td>+ 1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,614.89</td>
<td>+ 0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,971.76</td>
<td>+ 0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,802.25</td>
<td>+ 0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:55 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1% to $560.02.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.5% to $408.25.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.6% to $483.23.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.5% higher to $195.71.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 2.6%; the&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 2.3%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
Stocks reacting to earnings reports included: Microsoft Corporation: up 8.30% Meta Platforms, Inc.: up 4.29% Eli Lilly And Co&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>): &#8211; 9.88% Mastercard Incorporated&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>): -0.20% McDonald's Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>): -1.24% Linde plc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIN#NASDAQ">LIN</a>): -1.14% Qualcomm Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>): -8.28% KKR &amp; Co. Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>): up 1.19% The Southern Company&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>): up 0.22% Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICE#NYSE">ICE</a>): up 1.83% KLA Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>): -2.43% CVS Health Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>): up 6.23% Equinix, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>): -0.16% Parker-Hannifin Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PH#NYSE">PH</a>): up 0.70% Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APD#NYSE">APD</a>): -0.09% Howmet Aerospace Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>): up 7.44% Carrier Global Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CARR#NYSE">CARR</a>): up 11% Aflac Incorporated&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>): -4% Public Storage&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSA#NYSE">PSA</a>): -0.18% The Allstate Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>): -1.27% MetLife, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MET#NYSE">MET</a>): up 0.47% W.W. Grainger, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWW#NYSE">GWW</a>): Up 2.14% Becton, Dickinson and Company&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BDX#NYSE">BDX</a>): -15.73% Quanta Services, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PWR#NYSE">PWR</a>): up 10.10% Exelon Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXC#NASDAQ">EXC</a>): -0.33% Dominion Energy, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>): up 0.91%
Stocks slated to report earnings after the bell include Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AJG#NYSE">AJG</a>), Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), Atlassian Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>), Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSI#NYSE">MSI</a>), EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOG#NYSE">EOG</a>), American International Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>), Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ED#NYSE">ED</a>), Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IR#NYSE">IR</a>), DexCom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXCM#NASDAQ">DXCM</a>), Monolithic Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPWR#NASDAQ">MPWR</a>), Ameren Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEE#NYSE">AEE</a>), GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDDY#NYSE">GDDY</a>), Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTD#NYSE">MTD</a>), MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), Eversource Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ES#NYSE">ES</a>), Hologic Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOLX#NASDAQ">HOLX</a>), Mohawk Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MHK#NYSE">MHK</a>), Camden Property Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPT#NYSE">CPT</a>) and Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>).
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Economics

Tech

ETFs

$BTC

ABNB

AMGN

CARR

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

DXCM

EQIX

GDDY

HOLX

KLAC

MPWR

MSTR

QCOM

TEAM

Wall Street Eyes 8th Positive Day As S&P 500 Recoups Tariff-Led Losses, Bitcoin Rallies To $97,000: What's Driving Markets Thursday? (CORRECTED)

U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining over 300 points on Thursday.
The Dow traded up 0.84% to 41,009.52 while the NASDAQ climbed 2.31% to 17,849.38. The S&amp;P 500 also rose, gaining, 1.30% to 5,641.55.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45134238/top-2-real-estate-stocks-that-may-keep-you-up-at-night-in-may">Top 2 Real Estate Stocks That May Keep You Up At Night In May</a>
Leading and Lagging Sectors Information technology shares rose by 3.3% on Thursday.
In trading on Thursday, health care stocks dipped by 2%.
Top Headline
McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) posted weaker-than-expected revenue for its first quarter.
The company reported first-quarter revenue decline of 3.4% year-on-year to $5.96 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Adjusted EPS of $2.67 beat the consensus estimate of $2.66.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COMM#NASDAQ">COMM</a>) shares shot up 22% to $4.5650 following better-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Shares of Classover Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KIDZ#NASDAQ">KIDZ</a>)got a boost, surging 239% to $3.87 after the company announced it entered into an equity purchase facility agreement with Solana Strategies Holdings.</li>
<li>MediaAlpha, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAX#NYSE">MAX</a>) shares were also up, gaining 20% to $10.09 following strong quarterly sales.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Organon &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OGN#NYSE">OGN</a>) shares dropped 23% to $9.99 after the company reported first-quarter financial results and cut its quarterly dividend.</li>
<li>Shares of Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARVN#NASDAQ">ARVN</a>) were down 28% to $6.92 after the company posted first-quarter results.</li>
<li>Confluent, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFLT#NASDAQ">CFLT</a>) was down, falling 16% to $20.01 following first-quarter results.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 0.7% to $58.61 while gold traded down 2.9% at $3,224.10.
Silver traded down 0.6% to $32.640 on Thursday, while copper rose 0.9% to $4.6480.
Euro zone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.03%, while London's FTSE 100 rose 0.06%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed higher on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei gaining 1.13%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>U.S. construction spending fell by 0.5% month-over-month to an annual rate of $2,196.1 billion in March.</li>
<li>The ISM manufacturing PMI declined to 48.7 in April compared to 49.0 in March, above market estimates of 48.</li>
<li>U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 18,000 to 241,000 in the week ending April 26, compared to market estimates of 224,000.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45135511/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-apple-stock-ahead-of-q2-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From Apple Stock Ahead Of Q2 Earnings</a> </li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Eurozone

Commodities

ARVN

CFLT

COMM

KIDZ

Dow Surges Over 300 Points; McDonald's Posts Weak Revenue

Fast-food chain&nbsp;McDonald's Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) stock is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading lower in premarket</a> on Thursday after the company released its first-quarter FY25 earnings.
The company reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/n45129649/mcdonalds-reports-first-quarter-2025-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue decline</a> of 3.4% year-on-year to $5.96 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. Adjusted EPS of $2.67 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus</a> estimate of $2.66.
Global comparable sales decreased by 1%, while U.S. comparable sales slipped by 3.6%. Comparable sales for the International Operated Markets segment declined by 1%, and the International Developmental Licensed Markets segment improved by 3.5%.
Systemwide sales decreased&nbsp;1% (increased 1% in constant currencies).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/downgrades/25/04/45117074/starbucks-faces-brand-margin-headwinds-as-analysts-react-to-disappointing-q2" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Faces Brand, Margin Headwinds As Analysts React To Disappointing Q2</a>
"Consumers today are grappling with uncertainty, but they can always count on McDonald's for both exciting new menu items and delicious favorites for exceptional value, from a brand they love," said
The company's systemwide sales and revenue have continued to be negatively impacted by the war in the Middle East, primarily in the International Developmental Licensed Markets, where the majority of restaurants are under a developmental license or affiliate arrangement.
McDonald's is monitoring the evolving situation, which it expects to continue to have a negative impact on Systemwide sales and revenue until the war concludes and the macroeconomic conditions recover.&nbsp;
Sales by company-owned and operated restaurants fell 9% to $2.13 billion, while sales from franchised restaurants dropped 2% at $3.66 billion.
Systemwide sales through McDonald's loyalty programs exceeded $31 billion over the past twelve months, including $8 billion in the first quarter alone.
Total operating costs and expenses decreased 4% to $3.3 billion. Operating income for the quarter declined 3% to $2.64 billion, with an operating margin of 44.5% compared to 44.3% last year.
Price Action: MCD shares traded lower by 1.47% at $314.96 in premarket at last check Thursday.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo by sombat muycheen via Shutterstock

Movers

Middle-East Tensions And Consumer Uncertainty Bites McDonald's Q1 Revenue, Stock Slides

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>MSFT</li>
<li>AMZN</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>META</li>
<li>MCD</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>PLTR</li>
<li>GLD</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

BULL

NVDA

PLTR

TSLA

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of May 1, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

McDonald's CEO During Conf Call Reportedly Says Geopolitical Tensions Added To Economic Uncertainty, Dampening Consumer Sentiment More Than Expected; Not Immune To Industry Volatility Or Consumer Pressures

TD Securities analyst Andrew Charles reiterates McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) with a Hold and maintains $305 price target.

TD Securities Reiterates Hold on McDonald's, Maintains $305 Price Target

McDonald's Says 'The Company's Systemwide sales and revenue have continued to be negatively impacted by the war in the Middle East, primarily in the International Developmental Licensed Markets, where the majority of restaurants are under a developmental license or affiliate arrangement.'

WIIM

McDonald's shares are trading lower following a Q1 revenue miss.

McDonald's Says 'Comparable sales results were primarily driven by negative comparable guest counts.' In The US

McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $2.67 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.66 by 0.38 percent. This is a 1.11 percent decrease over earnings of $2.70 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $5.96 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $6.09 billion by 2.24 percent. This is a 3.45 percent decrease over sales of $6.17 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

McDonald's Q1 Adj. EPS $2.67 Beats $2.66 Estimate, Sales $5.96B Miss $6.09B Estimate

U.S. stock futures climbed early Thursday, buoyed by strong earnings reports from two of the "Magnificent 7" companies after Wednesday's market close.
While markets were rattled by the Commerce Department's report of a 0.3% GDP contraction, major indexes rebounded and ended the previous session in positive territory.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) both topped earnings and revenue expectations, rising 6.63% and 7.40% in pre-market trading, respectively. 
Meanwhile, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) slipped 0.54% in pre-market trading amid unverified rumors that the board was searching for a replacement for CEO Elon Musk — claims the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45126370/elon-musk-will-remain-tesla-ceo-for-at-least-5-years-says-dan-ives-as-company-calls-replacement-rumors-absolutely-false">has since dismissed as false. </a>
On Thursday, investors will be closely watching the earnings of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), and Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), with high expectations following a series of strong performances over the past couple of days.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45031652/trumps-ai-and-crypto-czar-david-sacks-says-musk-isnt-out-of-doge-just-rationing-his-time-at-the-department-as-tesla-stock-surges-24-in-the-past-five-days" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump's AI And Crypto Czar David Sacks Says Elon Musk Going To ‘Stay Involved' In DOGE, Calls Entrepreneur Rationing His Time Sensible</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/plus500-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/plus500-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
U.S. 10-Year Treasuries are at 4.15%, while the 2-Year Treasuries are at 3.60%. The CME Group's FedWatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a>&nbsp;shows the markets pricing a 95% likelihood of interest rates remaining unchanged during the FOMC meeting that is scheduled to take place the first week of May, which marks an increase from 92.4% on Wednesday.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Futures</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Dow Jones</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">S&amp;P 500</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nasdaq 100</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Russell 2000</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.46%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.04% on Monday, while the&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was down 0.013%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data.
Cues From Last Session:
Wednesday was a mixed bag for S&amp;P 500 sectors, with healthcare, industrials, and consumer staples posting good gains, while the energy segment dropped 2.70% on dropping crude oil prices and growing concerns of a recession following the latest GDP figures.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.35% during the day, while the Nasdaq Composite Index was down marginally, by 0.086%.
The markets were rattled by disappointing economic data during the session, particularly the GDP figures at -0.3%, down from 2.4% last year, and against a consensus estimate of 0.4%. Besides this, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index came in at 2.3%, ahead of estimates at 2.2%, thwarting any possibility of a rate cut in May.
As of Tuesday, the Nasdaq 100 index was down 11.93% from its previous high of 22,222.61 points. The S&amp;P 500 index was 9.40% lower, as compared to the last record high of 6,147.43 points. On the other hand, Dow Jones was down 9.77% from its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points.
The Dow Jones index jumped 141 points or 0.35% to 40,669.36, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index surged 0.15% to 5,569.06. Nasdaq Composite ended 0.086% lower at 17,446.34, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, was down 0.63%, trading at 1,964.12.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Index</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Performance (+/-)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.086%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">17,446.34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">S&amp;P 500</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.15%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5,569.06</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Dow Jones</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.35%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">40,669.36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Russell 2000</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.63%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1,964.12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
Ryan Detrick, a Chartered Market Technician, posted on X that markets shouldn&#8217;t be overly worried about the first-quarter GDP contraction, attributing the decline to companies front-loading imports to get ahead of upcoming tariffs.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Q1 GDP negative got the headlines this AM, but much of that was due to inventories and companies buying ahead of tariffs. Final Demand slowed, but was still fairly solid. Bottom line? Economy slowed ahead of tariffs, but isn&#39;t in a recession. <a href="https://twitter.com/sonusvarghese?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sonusvarghese</a> breaks it down. <a href="https://t.co/1mXl3edFGk">https://t.co/1mXl3edFGk</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1917678441484411033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Detrick notes that final demand has slowed, but is still &#8220;fairly solid.&#8221; The &#8220;Bottom Line,&#8221; he says, is that the economy slowed ahead of the tariffs, but this isn&#8217;t a recession.
Upcoming Economic Data:
Here&#8217;s what investors will be watching on Thursday:
<ul>
<li>The Initial Jobless Claims Report is set to be released by 8:30 AM ET. </li>
<li>The S&amp;P Final U.S. Manufacturing PMI for April will be released at 9:45 AM ET. </li>
<li>ISM Manufacturing and Construction Spending for April and March, respectively, will be released by 10:00 AM ET. </li>
<li>April Auto Sales figures will be announced during the day, with no time specified.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) will be announcing its second quarter results after markets close. The stock is down 1.10% pre-market, with analysts expecting the company to post $1.62 per share in earnings, from $94.6 billion in revenue. </li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is up 4.01% pre-market, as the company is expected to release its first quarter results on Thursday, after markets close. Analysts expect earnings at $1.36 per share, from $155.1 billion in revenue. </li>
<li>Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) is up 1.95% pre-market as investors wait in anticipation of the company&#8217;s first quarter results in the morning. Consensus estimates expect $3.46 per share in earnings, on $12.7 billion in revenue. </li>
<li>Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) will be releasing its first quarter results in a couple of hours, before markets open. The stock is up 0.31% pre-market, and analysts expect the company to post $3.56 per share in earnings, from $7.1 billion in revenue. </li>
<li>McDonald&#8217;s Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) will be announcing its first quarter results before markets open, with analysts expecting $2.67 per share in earnings, on $6.12 billion in revenue. The stock is down 1.51% pre-market.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures continue to touch new lows, with the commodity down 2.31% in the early New York session, trading at $56.91 per barrel, amid growing recession fears.
Gold Spot US Dollar is down yet again, by 2.56%, hovering around 3,223.74 per ounce, down from its record high of $3,500.33 per ounce last week. The U.S. Dollar Index is up 0.39%, trading at the 99.8543 level.
Asian markets are mixed on Thursday, with Japan&#8217;s Nikkei, India&#8217;s Nifty 50, and the Hang Seng Index ending the day in the green, while South Korea&#8217;s KOSPI and China&#8217;s Shanghai index are down for the day. Australia&#8217;s ASX 200 is up, along with New Zealand&#8217;s NZX 50.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45127052/el-erians-monthly-asset-performance-table-highlights-oils-20-loss-bitcoin-and-golds-gain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Gold Shine In April While Stocks, Oil Suffer— Mohamed El-Erian Flags Diverging Market Trends</a></li>
</ul>
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