A number of stocks fell in the morning session as the broader market tumbled in the morning session after a surprisingly weak U.S. jobs report and the announcement of new, widespread tariffs on imported goods. The U.S. economy added only 73,000 jobs in July, falling far short of the 109,000 forecast. Compounding the issue, job gains for May and June were revised down by a combined 258,000, signaling what some see as “increasing signs of fragility” in the labor market. Simultaneously, the White House announced new tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41%, on goods from 92 countries. This “double whammy” of negative news has intensified fears that ongoing trade wars are damaging the U.S. economy. The combination of a weaker labor market and new trade barriers has rattled investor confidence, fueling expectations that the Federal Reserve may be forced to cut interest rates to support the economy.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after reports pointed to a broad-based weakening of consumer health, highlighted by rising loan delinquencies and falling spending intentions.
Retailers are overhauling their operations as technology redefines the shopping experience. But many seem to be moving too slowly as their demand is lagging, causing the industry to underperform the market -
over the past six months, retail stocks have shed 5.8%. This performance is a noticeable divergence from the S&P 500’s 5.8% return.
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Petco (NASDAQ:WOOF) and the best and worst performers in the specialty retail industry.
Let’s dig into the relative performance of National Vision (NASDAQ:EYE) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 specialty retail earnings season.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after the Trump administration announced intentions to impose a 35% tariff on many goods imported from Canada.
Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions.
While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.
The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential.
However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after the major indices pulled back (Nasdaq -1.3%, S&P 500 -1.1%) as Israel carried out significant strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, dramatically escalating fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. This development has sent crude oil prices surging, as investors fear potential disruptions to global oil supply and a wider regional conflict.
Wall Street has set ambitious price targets for the stocks in this article.
While this suggests attractive upside potential, it’s important to remain skeptical because analysts face institutional pressures that can sometimes lead to overly optimistic forecasts.
Shares of pet-focused retailer Petco (NASDAQ:WOOF)
fell 24.1% in the afternoon session after the company reported weak first-quarter 2025 results, as both its revenue and EBITDA guidance for the next quarter missed Wall Street's estimates. The underwhelming sales outlook implied low-single-digit decline in second-quarter, signaling limited demand recovery.
Let's have a look at what is happening on the US markets one hour before the close of the markets on Friday. Below you can find the top gainers and losers in today's session.
Wondering how the US markets performed in the middle of the day on Friday? Discover the movers and shakers of today's session in our comprehensive analysis.
Petco's stock plummeted after the company reported weaker-than-expected sales and a cautious outlook. Lingering concerns over weak consumer demand and competition drove the shares sharply lower.
