Thursday’s trading session will be shaped by a slate of key economic data releases, a wave of bank dividend hikes and fresh earnings from major names. The day begins with the 8:30 a.m. ET “Squawk Box” data marathon, featuring the consensus estimate of 223,000 initial jobless claims, a projected 4% decline in durable‑goods orders and a third‑quarter GDP reading expected to hit 1.7%. The personal‑consumption‑expenditures price index is forecast to rise 0.5% month‑over‑month and 4.1% year‑over‑year, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said rates should return to 3% by year‑end.
Earnings activity kicks off with Darden Restaurants, whose shares have risen more than 6% over the past three months. Pre‑market reports are expected from McCormick, which has fallen over 8% in three months and is 39% below its June 2025 peak. Morning results are also due from Winnebago, whose stock is down about 22% in the same span.
After the bell, BlackBerry (now a software firm) will post results. The stock is up roughly 167% in three months, though it remains about 20% below the high set on June 4. FedEx Freight will also report, with shares off roughly 20% from the May 28 peak.
Technology earnings continue with Micron, which beat estimates on Wednesday and saw its stock jump 16% in extended trading and about 40% in the past month. Qualcomm, meanwhile, is up 13% after hours following an investor day that raised its non‑handset revenue target to $40 billion for 2029.
Bank dividend increases are a major theme. Goldman Sachs will lift its dividend to $5 from $4.50, Morgan Stanley will raise its to $1.15 from $1, Wells Fargo to 50 cents from 45 cents, and JPMorgan will boost its dividend to $1.65 from $1.50 while announcing a $50 billion share‑repurchase program. The respective share performances vary, with Goldman up ~30% in three months, Morgan Stanley up ~33% and both off about 4% from recent highs.
CNBC will provide live coverage from the Cboe options pit at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET, while CNBC TV’s Pippa Stevens reports from Idaho National Laboratory on a new reactor. Nuclear‑sector stocks have been under pressure, with Vistra down 26% from its September high, Constellation Energy off 35% from its October peak and the Global X Uranium ETF (URA) down 28% from January’s level.
