Chicago, IL – May 30, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Costco COST, The Gap GAP, Dell Technologies DELL, Marvell Technology MRVL and Ulta Beauty ULTA.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Markets Stay on Green Most of Thursday; Earnings from COST, DELL & More
Markets spent almost all day in the green Thursday, save for a brief scare mid-day from the U.S. Court of Appeals, which ruled President Trump’s tariffs could be reinstated after a federal court ruled early that morning that the administration did not have the authority to install them. But the major indexes regained their footing on the session.
The Dow finished the day up +108 points, +0.26%, while the S&P 500 rose +0.40%. The Nasdaq did basically as well, +0,39% on the session, while the small-cap Russell 2000 grew +0.33%. Bond yields retreated through the course of the day, with the 10-year at +4.42%, the 2-year +3.94% and the 30-year +4.92%.
Pending Home Sales Posts Second-Worst April on Record
Home sales under contract, Pending Home Sales, sank -6.3% month over month for April in a report released earlier Thursday. Expectations were for a drop of -1.0%, and followed a healthy +5.5% the previous month. The index came in at +71.3 overall, with the biggest monthly drops in the West (-8.9%) and the South (-7.7%). The Midwest and the Northeast also posted losses (-5.0% and -0.6%, respectively). Recall last week, New Home Sales for April surprised to the upside.
Quarterly Reports After the Closing Bell: COST, GAP, DELL & More
Discount club warehouse giant Costco posted slight beats on both top and bottom lines for its fiscal Q3 report after Thursday’s close. Earnings of $4.28 per share outperformed expectations by a solid nickel, on $63.2 billion in revenues which came in ahead of the $63.14 billion in the Zacks consensus, +8% year over year.
The company had a novel take on the tariff situation, which has wreaked havoc on many a retailer’s guidance. Costco said it may be in a position to benefit from tariffs, as the company provides goods in bulk orders. Costco bounced back from a fiscal Q2 miss in yesterday’s print, and has now met or outperformed on earnings in eight of its last nine quarters. (You can see the full Zacks Earnings Calendar here.)
Shares of The Gap are tumbling -17% following its Q1 earnings report after the bell. The San Francisco-based retailer outpaced estimates on both top and bottom lines: 51 cents per share versus 40 cents expected, on $3.5 billion in revenues which surpassed the $3.42 billion analysts were expecting. Athleta posted a disappointing -8% growth year over year, and the parent company said that tariffs could cost the company $100-150 million, even after mitigating risk.
Dell Technologies saw a positive reaction to its Q1 report Thursday afternoon, despite missing on the bottom line. Earnings of $1.55 per share came up short of the $1.72 in the Zacks consensus, but still represented +17% growth from a year ago. Infrastructure Solutions was up +12% from the prior-year quarter, and the company raised full-year guidance. The stock has now swung to positive year-to-date.
Marvell Technology narrowly outperformed on top and bottom lines yesterday after the close, with earnings of 62 cents per share beating by a penny, on $1.89 billion in revenues — a new record high — from the expected $1.88 billion. Marvell also boosted next-quarter guidance, as its Data Center grew +76% in the quarter. Shares pushed slightly higher in after-hours.
Ulta Beauty follows e.l.f.’s earnings report Wednesday with a strong beat on its bottom line: earnings of $6.70 per share versus expectations of $5.77, ands swinging to a positive year over year’s $6.47 per share. Revenues of $2.85 billion outpaced the $2.80 billion expected. The beauty supply giant also guided above consensus, despite uncertainty regarding consumer demand. Shares blossomed +8% in late trading.
Questions or comments about this article and/or author? Click here>>
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
