Earnings guidance, analyst calls, and commodity moves drive sharp stock reactions
U.S. stocks delivered a mixed performance Tuesday as investors digested a flurry of company-specific news spanning healthcare, crypto, airlines, energy, and consumer goods. The sharpest move came from Pfizer, whose shares fell more than 4% after the pharmaceutical giant issued disappointing guidance for 2026. Pfizer forecast adjusted earnings of $2.80 to $3.00 per share, below the $3.05 analysts expected, according to LSEG. Revenue is projected to range between $59.5 billion and $62.5 billion, essentially flat compared with the company’s $62 billion sales outlook for 2025. The guidance reinforced concerns that Pfizer is still struggling to offset declining demand for its COVID-era products.
In contrast, Circle Internet Group surged more than 8% after Visa announced that U.S. issuer and acquirer partners can now settle transactions using Circle’s USDC stablecoin. The development represents a major step toward broader institutional adoption of blockchain-based payments. Visa shares were little changed, but the endorsement significantly boosted sentiment around Circle’s role in the evolving digital payments ecosystem.
Elanco Animal Health also attracted investor optimism, with shares rising more than 3% after regulatory filings revealed that CEO Jeffrey Simmons and CFO Robert VanHimbergen had purchased company stock. Insider buying is often interpreted as a signal of management’s confidence in future performance.
Southwest Airlines climbed over 2% and reached a new 52-week high following an upgrade from Barclays to overweight from equal weight. The firm cited a “material upgrade in commercial strategy” and labeled Southwest a top investment idea for 2026.
Energy stocks, however, came under pressure as oil prices slid. U.S. crude fell to its lowest level since 2021, with West Texas Intermediate dropping to around $54.98 per barrel amid oversupply concerns and easing geopolitical risk. Halliburton shares fell 5%, while APA declined 4.7%.
Rounding out the session, Estee Lauder gained 3% after Bank of America added the cosmetics maker to its US 1 List, naming it a top beauty pick for 2026.
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