S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today: Ford Stock Falters as Earnings Miss the Mark

Key Takeaways

• The S&P 500 added 0.2% on Tuesday, Oct. 29, as tech and communication stocks outperformed ahead of quarterly updates from some big names.
• Shares of Cadence Design Systems surged after the electronic design automation provider topped estimates, citing strong revenue from its AI portfolio.
• Stanley Black & Decker shares plunged as soft consumer and automotive demand weighed on the toolmaker's results.

Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed on Tuesday. The technology and communication sectors outperformed ahead of a wave of marquee earnings reports, but other sectors including energy and utilities lost ground.

The S&P 500 closed the session 0.2% higher. Tech sector strength helped the Nasdaq gain 0.8%, lifting the index to an all-time closing high. The Dow did not fare as well, slipping 0.4%.

Shares of Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) surged 12.5% on Tuesday to notch the top daily performance of any S&P 500 stock after the electronic design automation firm posted better-than-expected quarterly results and boosted its full-year guidance. Revenue from the company's Cadence.AI portfolio, which builds generative AI and big data analysis into design processes, more than tripled year-over-year.

Although Incyte (INCY) reported third-quarter profits that fell short of analysts' forecasts, the pharma company's revenue for the period exceeded expectations, and its shares jumped 12.0%. Incyte said both of its key products—cancer drug Jakafi and topical eczema treatment Opzelura—enjoyed strong demand and sales trends during the period.

Application delivery company F5 (FFIV) delivered a quarterly sales and profit beat for its fiscal fourth quarter, and its shares jumped 10.1%. F5's CEO touted the company's transformation from its focus on hardware into a provider of security and software solutions better geared toward the current hybrid and cloud-based technological environment.

Leidos Holdings (LDOS) shares added 9.5% after the IT services provider beat consensus estimates with its third-quarter sales and profit results. Strong bookings figures for the quarter also suggest that Leidos is poised for additional growth, and the company lifted its full-year outlook. Major U.S. defense contract wins contributed to the solid performance and upbeat forecast.

Shares of tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) tumbled 8.8%, the biggest drop in the S&P 500, in the wake of an underwhelming quarterly update. The company said weak demand from consumers and the auto industry pressured its performance, contributing to a quarterly sales and profit miss. Tuesday's decline sank Stanley Black & Decker into negative for 2024.

Ford Motor (F) shares skidded on Tuesday, dropping 8.4% after the carmaker reported lower-than-expected third-quarter profits. Following the earnings miss, JPMorgan and Bank of America trimmed their price targets on Ford stock. However, analysts pointed to some reasons for optimism, noting that high warranty expenses contributed to the profit shortfall and highlighting the potential of the Ford Pro division.

Homebuilder D.R. Horton (DHI) reported year-over-year declines in revenue and net income, falling short of estimates on the top and bottom lines. The company also issued lower-than-expected full-year sales guidance, indicating that it sees pressure from potential homebuyers holding out for lower mortgage rates. D.R. Horton shares fell 7.2%.

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