market movers: Stocks Making Headlines Before the bell – February 3, 2026
New York, NY – As the trading day begins, several companies are experiencing significant pre-market movement following earnings reports and outlook revisions. Here’s a breakdown of the key players grabbing investor attention:
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) is leading the charge, surging over 11% in early trading. The AI-powered software provider exceeded fourth-quarter earnings expectations, reporting adjusted earnings of 25 cents per share against a consensus estimate of 23 cents, as compiled by LSEG. Revenue also impressed, coming in at $1.41 billion, surpassing the anticipated $1.33 billion. This strong performance underscores the growing demand for Palantir’s data analytics solutions.
merck (MRK) is facing a slight dip, with shares down approximately 1% after the pharmaceutical giant offered a conservative outlook for 2026. The projected revenue range of $65.5 to $67 billion falls short of the $67.6 billion expected by LSEG analysts,as the company braces for patent expirations and increased generic competition.
PepsiCo (PEP), a staple in the snack and beverage industry, demonstrated resilience with a beat on both fourth-quarter earnings and revenue. Despite this positive result, the stock is experiencing a modest 1% decline as the company anticipates declining sales volumes.
Pfizer (PFE) is down 1% despite reaffirming a cautious outlook. The market appears to be focusing on the conservative guidance, overshadowing the better-than-expected quarterly results.
A significant shakeup is occurring at PayPal (PYPL), where shares have plummeted by more than 16%. This decline stems from both an earnings and revenue miss, coupled with the announcement of a new CEO. Enrique Lores will assume the roles of President and CEO on March 1st, replacing Alex Chriss, following board concerns about the pace of improvement and execution in recent years. This leadership change reflects a deeper need for revitalization, as PayPal’s stock has shed over 40% of its value in the past year.
Woodward (WOD) is a standout performer, jumping more than 15% after a first-quarter earnings release that exceeded expectations. The aerospace and industrial products manufacturer reported earnings of $2.17 per share on revenues of $996 million, considerably surpassing analyst projections of $1.65 per share and $893 million in revenue, respectively. A strong EBITDA margin of 20.9%, exceeding the estimated 18.9%, further fueled investor confidence.
NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) experienced a 5% drop despite meeting earnings and revenue forecasts. Weaker-than-anticipated automotive revenue of $1.88 billion, compared to the $1.89 billion expected by StreetAccount,and a non-GAAP gross margin of 57.4% – falling short of the 57.5% consensus – weighed on the stock.
Rambus (RMBS) saw a decline of around 9% after posting fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 68 cents per share, in line with LSEG expectations. However, revenue of $190 million slightly exceeded the forecasted $188 million.
DaVita (DVA) is rallying,with gains of over 11%. The healthcare provider specializing in kidney care delivered fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that surpassed analyst estimates. adjusted earnings reached $3.40 per share, exceeding the consensus expectation of $3.24, while revenue totaled $3.62 billion, surpassing the anticipated $3.51 billion.
Disclaimer: this article provides a snapshot of pre-market activity and is based on facts available as of February 3, 2026. Market conditions are subject to change. Always conduct thorough research before making investment decisions.
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