Thursday’s market action is poised for dynamism, driven by the lingering effects of a tame consumer inflation report and a host of corporate earnings and economic data releases. Data center stocks are gaining traction with analysts, while key reports on jobless claims and the producer price index loom. Major companies like Applied Materials, Cerebras, and Cisco are navigating post-earnings volatility, alongside significant news from Apple and SK Hynix, and the continued rally of financial and cybersecurity giants.
Welcome to Stocks @ Night, your essential daily briefing for a comprehensive look at today's market action and a preview of tomorrow's potential movers. Sign up for our free newsletter to get these insights delivered directly to your inbox!
Following a surprisingly tame consumer inflation report that buoyed the S&P 500, CNBC TV's producers are keenly watching several sectors and companies expected to influence the next trading session.
Data Center Stocks: A Growing Nugget of Wisdom
Jim Cramer of "Mad Money" highlighted data center stocks as a sector to watch. His insight: "As long as rates stay tamed, I think we can expect more and more analysts pounding the table on the data center stocks." This sector has seen mixed but generally positive August performance after some earlier dips:
- Vertiv (VRT): Down 24% from its May 14 high, but up almost 20% in August.
- Iron Mountain (IRM): Off 7.6% from its June 24 high.
- Equinix (EQIX): Down 5% from its April 24 high, yet up almost 5% in August.
- iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF (IDGT): Down 8% from its June 2 high, but showing an 8% gain in August.
- Global X Data Center & Digital Infrastructure (DTCR): Off 12.5% from its June 3 high, with a 4.5% rise in August.
- Digital Realty Trust (DLR): Down 5% from its April 24 high, up 4.5% in August.
- Pacer Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF (SRVR): Off 10% from its May high, up 4% in August.
We'll be closely tracking these movements throughout Thursday.
Big Data: Economic Reports on Deck
"Squawk Box" will be dissecting critical economic data Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET:
- Jobless Claims: The consensus estimate stands at 204,000 claims. Intriguingly, 24% of participants on Kalshi predict it will exceed the 205,000 mark.
- Producer Price Index (PPI): Also released at 8:30 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones consensus anticipates a modest 0.2% uptick.
Applied Materials (AMAT) Reports After Hours
Semiconductor equipment giant Applied Materials is set to report earnings after Thursday's closing bell on 'Closing Bell: Overtime'. The stock has seen a significant run, up 27% in the last three months, though it's currently off 26% from its June 30 high.
SK Hynix: A South Korean Spending Spree
CNBC will feature a special report on SK Hynix, focusing on a massive $729 billion spending surge visible across South Korea. U.S.-traded shares of SK Hynix were listed on the Nasdaq on July 10, hitting a high of $194.80 on July 14. Shares are now down 21% from that peak. Coverage begins on "Morning Call" at 5 a.m. with Morgan Brennan.
Apple (AAPL) Deep in the Heart of Texas
Apple continues its substantial investment in U.S. manufacturing with a new center slated to open in Houston on Thursday. This is part of the company's $600 billion commitment to American production. Despite this, the stock is off 12% from its July 29 high, although it remains up 11% year-to-date in 2026.
Hitting New Highs: Financials and Cybersecurity Shine
Wednesday saw several companies reach all-time highs:
- Charles Schwab (SCHW): Up 21% in three months.
- US Bancorp (USB): Up 19% in three months.
- Palo Alto Networks (PANW): Soared 6% in three days and nearly 80% in three months.
Post-Market Reactions: Cerebras, StubHub, and Cisco
- Cerebras (CBRS): The AI chipmaker missed revenue expectations in its latest quarter but offered an optimistic full-year guidance. Shares reacted negatively, dropping 16% after hours. Having closed at $311.07 on its first trading day (May 14), the stock is now down 35% since its opening. CEO Andrew Feldman is scheduled to appear on "Squawk on the Street" with Sara Eisen and Carl Quintanilla in the 11 a.m. hour on Thursday.
- StubHub: Despite hopes for a World Cup revenue boost, the company failed to turn a profit. While revenue beat expectations, earnings fell short, leading to a 13% drop after hours. The stock is significantly off its 52-week high from last September, down 70%.
- Cisco (CSCO): The networking giant surpassed earnings expectations and provided guidance that exceeded analyst estimates. However, shares still dipped 4% after hours. Cisco, which hit a high on June 4, is down just 5% from that mark as of Wednesday night. CEO Chuck Robbins will join Carl Quintanilla, David Faber, and Jim Cramer on the 9 a.m. hour of "Squawk on the Street" on Thursday.
