Dow Jones Falls 44.51 Points Amid Weakness in Tech Stocks
The major averages closed fractionally lower amid another wave of weakness hitting large-cap technology and semiconductor stocks. Of note, President Donald Trump in a social media post threatened a 100% tariff on European countries imposing a digital services tax on American companies.Outside of technology, falling oil prices are acting as a stabilizing force. Crude has moved toward multi-month lows as supply concerns continue easing, helping reduce some inflation pressure and potentially improving the broader economic outlook.Meanwhile, President Trump said on Truth Social that Iran shot "at least four" drones at ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, with the president saying the U.S. "knocked down" three drones, while one of the drones "solidly" hit the upper deck of a large cargo ship. The drone attacks were "a foolish violation" of the countries' ceasefire agreement, he added.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:On SemiSynapticsin a $7B all-stock transactionFedEx FreightreportedOpenAI is leaning toward waiting until next year for its IPO,Troy Rohrbaugh has become the leading contender to succeed Jamie Dimon as CEO of JPMorgan,Qualcommexecutive vice president Durga Malladithat the company plans to use the new chip technology it created for data centers in smartphones2. WALL STREET CALLS:KeyBancNikeon longer than expected turnaroundCrocsto Overweight at Piper SandlerRobinhoodwith a Buy at BTIGAMHto Outperform at BMO CapitalVisteonto Neutral at Baird3. AROUND THE WEB:Boeinghas secured a $3.62B order from China Southern Airlines for freighter aircraft, including two 777F and five 777-8F models, along with options for three additional 777-8Fs, Bloomberg reportsUnileveris exploring a bid for Thorne, the supplements maker valued at up to $4B, and is among several bidders circling the brand, which has been put up for sale by its private equity owner L Catterton, FT reportsMetais working to replace human moderation with generative AI, FT saysGoogleis asking publishers that test new AI features in Google News to grant it broad rights to their content, including to potentially train AI models, The Information reportsVolkswagenCEO Oliver Blume is targeting a major restructuring that could include cutting up to 100,000 jobs, closing four German plants, and reducing planned five-year investment by about 15% to just over EUR130B, Reuters reports4. MOVERS:FuelCellincreased after Jefferiesthe stock to BuyAcadia Pharmaceuticalsgained after announcing Daybu wasin the EU by CHMPInfleqtionwas higher after Wedbushcoverage of the stock with an Outperform ratingBraksemwas lower in New York after filing for anCapricorfell afterfrom its HOPE-2 open-label extension study and announcing the FDA is planning to convene an advisory committee meeting to discuss the company's BLA for Deramiocel5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Beyond Airand narrowed its guidance for FY26American Outdoor Brands, with CEO Brian Murphy commenting, "we are encouraged by the strength of our brands and the favorable consumer demand reflected in our POS results"Wisereportedand provided guidance for FY27Cineverse, with EPS and revenue higher year-over-yearApogee Enterprises, with CEO Donald Nolan commenting, "Our results for the quarter reflect solid execution as our team effectively navigated a dynamic operating environment"INDEXES:The Dow fell 44.51, or 0.086%, to 51,876.11, the Nasdaq lost 60.99, or 0.24%, to 25,297.62, and the S&P 500 declined 3.47, or 0.047%, to 7,354.02.
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- Earnings Release Date: Boeing will announce its Q2 2026 financial results on July 28, 2026, which is expected to provide critical insights into the company's performance and outlook, aiding investors in assessing financial health.
- Executive Call Details: CEO Kelly Ortberg and CFO Jay Malave will hold a conference call at 10:30 a.m. ET to discuss the results and company outlook, enhancing transparency and boosting investor confidence.
- Webcast Information: The event will be webcasted via the Events and Presentations section of Boeing's investor website, ensuring that investors can access real-time updates and fostering engagement with the investor community.
- Material Access Reminder: Participants are encouraged to verify their access to the webcast and related materials prior to the event, ensuring smooth information retrieval and enhancing investor participation and satisfaction.
- Growth Potential of AST SpaceMobile: AST SpaceMobile aims to develop the first satellite-based mobile broadband network, reporting nearly $70.9 million in revenue for FY 2025, a staggering 1,505.2% increase year-over-year, despite a net loss of approximately $341.9 million, highlighting its high-risk, high-reward potential in technology development.
- Stability of Boeing: Boeing achieved nearly $89.5 billion in revenue for FY 2025, a 34.5% year-over-year increase, generating a net income of about $2.2 billion with a net margin of 2.5%, marking a return to profitability after years of losses, showcasing its strong foundation in the aerospace sector.
- Risks and Challenges: AST SpaceMobile faces multiple risks including high capital requirements, intense competition, and reliance on regulatory licenses, while Boeing must navigate production challenges and strict FAA quality standards, with its defense business vulnerable to fixed-price contract losses.
- Valuation Comparison: AST SpaceMobile's forward P/E stands at 65.7x, significantly higher than Boeing's 52.8x, reflecting market expectations for future growth but also indicating higher investment risk, necessitating investors to align choices with their risk tolerance.
- Commercial Agreements: AST SpaceMobile has secured definitive commercial agreements with major mobile network operators like AT&T and Verizon, targeting a global market of nearly 3 billion subscribers, which significantly enhances its market penetration but also increases risks associated with customer concentration.
- Significant Revenue Growth: In FY 2025, AST SpaceMobile reported nearly $70.9 million in revenue, representing a staggering growth of approximately 1,505.2%, despite a net loss of about $341.9 million, indicating high investment in satellite infrastructure and potential market opportunities.
- Boeing's Financial Recovery: Boeing achieved nearly $89.5 billion in revenue for FY 2025, a year-over-year increase of about 34.5%, with a net income of nearly $2.2 billion, marking a return to profitability after several years of significant losses, thereby strengthening its market position in the aerospace sector.
- Capital Needs and Risks: AST SpaceMobile requires substantial additional capital to expand its satellite constellation, with potential operational jeopardy if financing fails, while Boeing faces production challenges and strict FAA quality standards, highlighting the differing risks and opportunities at various stages of development for both companies.
- Significant Revenue Increase: Trump's 2025 financial disclosure shows at least $2.2 billion in revenue, a substantial rise from $622 million in 2024, indicating the success of his investment strategies amid a bullish market.
- Notable Cryptocurrency Earnings: Approximately $1.2 billion of his income is attributed to cryptocurrency-related earnings, particularly $580 million linked to World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Trump's family, highlighting his potential in emerging markets.
- Frequent Stock Trading Activity: The financial report reveals that Trump engaged in stock transactions worth up to $25 million, with some trades occurring around significant company news, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
- White House Response to Criticism: A White House spokesperson asserted that neither Trump nor his family has engaged in conflicts of interest, emphasizing Trump's role in making the U.S. the crypto capital of the world through supportive legislation, aiming to quell concerns regarding his financial management.
- Defense Spending Increase: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an additional £15 billion ($19.9 billion) in defense spending over the next four years, raising annual spending to £79.1 billion by 2029, which represents 2.7% of GDP, aimed at enhancing military capabilities and technical investments.
- Positive Industry Reaction: This announcement has led to a nearly 5% rise in the FTSE 350 Aerospace & Defense index since Tuesday's open, with companies like BAE Systems, Babcock, and Chemring performing well, reflecting market optimism regarding defense spending.
- Long-term Growth Potential: BAE Systems is expected to benefit significantly from the DIP, particularly with £8.6 billion allocated for the development of the sixth-generation fighter jet Tempest, highlighting the company's crucial role in future defense projects.
- Fiscal Risk Warning: Despite the increase in defense spending, analysts caution that the UK's high borrowing costs may limit spending growth, and fiscal constraints could impact future defense projects, adding uncertainty to the market.
- Defense Budget Growth: European NATO core defense spending has doubled since 2019 and is projected to reach approximately €800 billion ($912 billion) by 2030, indicating a significant commitment to defense capabilities, yet the execution remains uncertain.
- Procurement Delays: Germany's cancellation of the multi-billion euro F126 frigate program in favor of eight smaller Meko A-200 frigates illustrates a reassessment of procurement costs and delivery timelines, potentially undermining investor confidence in the sector.
- Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Many European defense suppliers are small businesses with limited ability to raise capital, leading to bottlenecks for larger contractors; S&P Global Ratings noted that despite increased defense spending, equipment stocks remain below 2021 levels, hampering overall production capacity.
- Strategic Autonomy Challenges: While defense investment has surged, Europe struggles to ensure strategic autonomy, with about half of defense spending flowing to external suppliers like the U.S., highlighting the continent's reliance on foreign military equipment.











