Stock Markets August 5, 2026 07:53 AM

Premarket: Shopify surges as chip names stumble after mixed earnings; carriers hit by SpaceX plans

Futures rise on easing Strait of Hormuz tensions while investor reactions to quarterly reports split tech and healthcare movers

By Priya Menon
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U.S. stock index futures were higher in early trading as tentative progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz offered cautious optimism. Gains in some technology and healthcare names were offset by sharp premarket declines in semiconductor shares and concerns after SpaceX disclosed its exclusive use of Nvidia chips. Shopify led big upside after a strong quarter, while a string of earnings reports produced notable winners and losers across multiple sectors.

Premarket: Shopify surges as chip names stumble after mixed earnings; carriers hit by SpaceX plans
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Key Points

  • Futures rose modestly by 05:49 ET (09:49 GMT): Dow futures +142 points (0.3%), S&P 500 futures +23 points (0.3%), Nasdaq 100 futures little changed due to semiconductor weakness.
  • Shopify surged 26% after beating revenue and adjusted EPS estimates; gross merchandise volume rose 32% year over year and free cash flow reached $654 million.
  • Advanced Micro Devices fell 8.8% after a revenue outlook failed to convince investors, and SpaceX's announcement to use Nvidia chips exclusively highlighted competitive pressures in the AI hardware market.

U.S. equity futures opened broadly higher on Wednesday as markets reacted to mixed newsflow. By 05:49 ET (09:49 GMT), Dow futures were up 142 points, or 0.3%, and S&P 500 futures had gained 23 points, or 0.3%. Nasdaq 100 futures were largely unchanged as weakness among semiconductor companies offset gains in other parts of the technology complex.

Investors were encouraged by signs that negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz may be making headway, lending a degree of cautious optimism to risk appetite. That sentiment, however, was tempered by disappointing investor responses to results and guidance from Advanced Micro Devices and by a policy announcement from privately held SpaceX about its data-center hardware choices.


Semiconductor and tech pressure

Advanced Micro Devices slid 8.8% in premarket trading after the company offered a revenue outlook that investors judged insufficient to demonstrate that the multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence spending cycle would translate into faster growth for the chipmaker. The stock faced additional headwinds after SpaceX said it would build its computing infrastructure exclusively on Nvidia chips, an announcement that underscores the competitive challenge AMD faces in securing high-profile AI customers.


Big winners: Shopify, healthcare and software names

Among the day's most notable risers, Shopify jumped 26% after reporting second-quarter revenue of $3.58 billion, topping analyst expectations of $3.45 billion. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 also exceeded estimates. The company reported gross merchandise volume up 32% year over year and free cash flow of $654 million, figures that reinforced investor confidence in an accelerating growth trajectory for the e-commerce platform.

Healthcare-related names were strong. Eli Lilly advanced 5.7% after another quarterly earnings beat and an upward revision to its full-year revenue guidance, supported by ongoing demand for its diabetes and obesity treatments. GE HealthCare rallied 12.3% after surpassing Wall Street estimates on both revenue and profit for the second quarter.

Software and digital-adjacent companies also produced outsized moves. Dynatrace climbed 12% after first-quarter fiscal 2027 results topped expectations and prompted several brokerages to raise price targets. Stride rose 10.6% following a stronger-than-expected quarterly report and a reaffirmation of its long-term financial objectives. Digital Turbine surged 28.2% after reporting sharply higher quarterly revenue and profit and raising its full-year guidance. Disney gained 4.7% after delivering a strong profit beat and announcing plans to repurchase $9 billion of shares during fiscal 2026.


Notable decliners and profit-path concerns

Some companies recorded steep declines despite revenue strength or other encouraging top-line metrics. Eos Energy Enterprises fell 18.2% after confirming a return to losses even as it reported record quarterly revenue, reviving investor concern about its trajectory to profitability. Vishay Precision Group slid 19.4% after a sharp GAAP earnings miss and weaker-than-expected third-quarter revenue guidance, which overshadowed a modest adjusted earnings beat.

Consumer-facing and ad-supported businesses also saw selling pressure. Pinterest dropped 9% after a third-quarter revenue outlook signaled slower growth despite a quarterly beat. Match Group fell 10.2% following weaker-than-expected revenue and a forecast for another decline in paying users. Taboola lost 16.9% after a quarterly report that failed to meet investor expectations; the company did not immediately provide detail on the drivers of the market reaction.


Wireless carriers under scrutiny

Wireless carriers came under pressure after SpaceX outlined plans to build a nationwide mobile service using spectrum it acquired from EchoStar, prompting investor concern that Starlink could eventually pose direct competition to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. In premarket trading, Verizon and AT&T each fell more than 2%, while T-Mobile slipped 1.3%.


The premarket session displayed a clear split between names rewarded for clear revenue beats and guidance upgrades, and firms punished for disappointing outlooks or operational setbacks. With futures modestly higher but the Nasdaq held back by chip weakness, the session suggested investors remain selective, rewarding companies that demonstrate accelerating cash generation or improved top-line momentum while penalizing those whose results raise questions about profitability and customer traction.

Risks

  • Semiconductor-sector sensitivity: AMD's weak reaction highlights the risk that AI spending may not translate into immediate revenue acceleration for all chipmakers, potentially weighing on technology and semiconductor stocks.
  • Wireless competition risk: SpaceX's plan to build a nationwide mobile service using EchoStar spectrum raises uncertainty for wireless carriers, evidenced by premarket declines in Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
  • Profitability and guidance concerns: Companies such as Eos Energy Enterprises and Vishay Precision Group saw sharp declines after results or guidance raised questions about paths to sustained profitability, underscoring execution risk in clean-energy and industrial suppliers.

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