Nasdaq Rises 1.09% as Nvidia Earnings Report Draws Attention

The major averages were broadly higher for the second day in a row, with tech stocks leading the way as markets trade with a cautiously optimistic tone mid-week and investors position ahead of a pivotal earnings catalyst. At the center of attention is Nvidia's quarterly earnings report, which dominates market narratives and beta positioning. Nvidia's stock edged up in morning trading as investors look for strong data-center revenue growth and robust AI demand.Looking to commodities, gold was fractionally higher as the "safe haven" asset remains firmly above the $5,000 mark. Oil was fractionally lower though still near its year-to-date high following the release of crude inventory data.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Workdayreportedbut provided a guidance that prompted downgrades and price target cutsLowe'sreportedbut provided a FY26 revenue outlook that missed consensus at its mid-pointHP Inc.reportedand reiterated its FY26 guidance, but pointed toward the lower-endTJXreported, announced plans to raise its quarterly dividend, and announced a new $3B stock repurchase program authorizationto Whirlpool'sboard over its "unnecessary dilution"2. WALL STREET CALLS:OppenheimerOracleto Outperform after pullbackUBSIBMto Neutral on more balanced risk/rewardFox Corp.to Underperform from Buy at BofA on risk from upcoming NFL renewalMolson Coorsto Underperform at BofAWorkdayat TD Cowen and Evercore ISI after earnings3. AROUND THE WEB:CoreWeaveis seeking an $8.5B loan from banks, backed by a contract Metasigned last year to pay CoreWeave up to $14.2B for its services, and a separate agreement valued at more than $5B, Bloomberg reportsDeutsche Bankand General Dynamicsare looking to AI to bolster trading surveillance and track potential misconduct, Bloomberg saysMichael Weaver, the chief communications officer of Wynn Resorts, said in an email Tuesday that the company learned that "an unauthorized third party acquired certain employee data," and that the company launched an investigation and brought in external cybersecurity experts, Reuters reportsNewmontplans to invest approximately $800M in Argentina's Cerro Negro mine, the country's Economy Minister, Luis Caputo, said, Reuters saysAfter Blue Owlannounced it was selling $1.4B in loans to give money back to investors in certain funds and ending quarterly redemptions in one of its funds, the firm's shares and those of other private-credit lenders slid, WSJ says4. MOVERS:Acadia Healthcareincreases afterand providing guidance for FY26CCC Intelligentgains afterand providing guidance for Q1 and FY26Clear Secureand Evolent Healthhigher in New York afterIntuitive Machinesfalls after announcing aby investorsAllotlower in New York afterand providing guidance for FY265. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Centuriand provided guidance for FY26Newmark, with EPS beating consensusOddityand gave an outlook that prompted a downgrade of its shares at JefferiesValens Semiconductorand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Hayward, with CEO Kevin Holleran commenting, "Hayward delivered a strong fourth quarter, outperforming expectations and building on our momentum"INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.52%, or 256.27, to 49,430.77, the Nasdaq was up 1.09%, or 248.57, to 23,112.25, and the S&P 500 was up 0.70%, or 48.25, to 6,938.32.