Shares of health coverage company Centene (NYSE:CNC)
fell 3% in the morning session after the company was downgraded by Cantor Fitzgerald, which also lowered its price target on the stock. The downgrade from Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Sarah James added to a period of negative sentiment surrounding the health insurer. The negative outlook stemmed from Centene's recent withdrawal of its 2025 financial guidance. The company pulled its forecast after an independent report revealed that its Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans had slower-than-expected membership growth and higher-than-anticipated morbidity, which is the rate of disease or illness. This resulted in a significant $1.8 billion downward revision in expected revenue.
Shares of pool products retailer Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) jumped 11.9% in the morning session after the stock continued a strong rally amid signs of a potential short squeeze. The stock had already been on a multi-day winning streak, and reports indicated that as of July 25, 2025, it had a high short sale ratio of 32.11%. A short squeeze is a market event that can occur when a heavily shorted stock's price rises, forcing short sellers to buy shares to cover their positions. This buying pressure, in turn, pushed the price even higher. The move on Monday extended a significant run for the stock, which had risen more than 51% since a pivot point on July 17, 2025. This rally also coincided with reports of a broader trend where other highly shorted consumer stocks experienced strong gains.
Shares of e-commerce florist and gift retailer 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ:FLWS) jumped 6.9% in the morning session after the stock continued its rally as it was caught up in a broader 'meme stock' trend, fueled by its high short interest.
Shares of business automation software provider Upland Software (NASDAQ: UPLD)
jumped 20.2% in the morning session after the company announced it had successfully refinanced its debt. The AI-powered software provider entered into an agreement with Sound Point Capital for a new six-year, $240 million term loan, which extended its debt maturity to 2031. The deal also included a $30 million revolving credit facility that further enhanced the company's financial liquidity. Investors reacted positively to the news because the refinancing improved Upland's financial flexibility. The company stated this allowed for further investment into its AI-powered knowledge and content management solutions, signaling a focus on future growth and long-term value.
Shares of language-learning app Duolingo (NASDAQ:DUOL)
fell 6.9% in the morning session after JMP Securities lowered its price target on the stock, citing concerns about slowing user engagement ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report.
Shares of regional banking institution Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH) fell 4.5% in the morning session after the company reported mixed second-quarter financial results where a significant revenue miss overshadowed an earnings per share beat. The bank posted diluted earnings per share of $1.06, which came in slightly ahead of analyst expectations. However, investors appeared to focus on the company's top-line performance. Bank of Hawaii's net interest income for the quarter was $129.7 million, which fell considerably short of estimates. The market's reaction suggested that concerns over the revenue shortfall overshadowed the otherwise positive aspects of the report.
Shares of plant-based protein company Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND)
fell 3.9% in the morning session after the recent "meme stock" rally that had propelled its shares higher appeared to lose momentum. The stock had previously surged more than 20% in the prior week as part of a broader "meme stock" rally, where retail investors targeted highly shorted companies. However, that momentum appeared to reverse, bringing the company's fundamental challenges back into focus. Beyond Meat had been struggling with significant revenue declines, negative gross profit margins, and a heavy debt burden. Analysts had maintained a bearish outlook, with a consensus "Moderate Sell" rating on the stock.
Shares of healthcare company Surgery Partners (NASDAQ:SGRY) jumped 4.3% in the morning session after Bank of America Securities resumed coverage on the stock with a 'Buy' rating and a $28 price target.
Shares of department store chain Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS)
fell 5% in the morning session after analyst commentary from JPMorgan Chase & Co. highlighted significant downside risk, puncturing momentum from a recent meme-stock rally.
Shares of young adult apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) jumped 6.1% in the morning session after analysts at JPMorgan raised their price target on the stock.
Shares of athletic apparel brand Nike (NYSE:NKE)
jumped 4.3% in the morning session after J.P. Morgan upgraded the stock to Overweight from a Neutral rating, citing a potential multi-year recovery.
Shares of action camera company GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO)
fell 6.6% in the morning session after the recent speculative rally, fueled by its newfound status as a 'meme stock,' appeared to lose momentum. This decline followed a period of intense volatility for the action-camera maker. The stock had been labeled a 'meme stock'—a term for shares that gained popularity with retail investors, leading to price movements often disconnected from a company's financial performance. In the days prior, GoPro's stock had surged by as much as 98% in just four trading days, a rally that occurred without any positive company-specific news. Reports noted this frenzy had pushed the stock into 'overbought' territory, signaling a potential pullback was likely as the speculative momentum waned. This volatility stood in contrast to the company's underlying business challenges, including a history of declining revenues.
Shares of department store chain Macy’s (NYSE:M)
jumped 4.3% in the morning session after the company announced positive early results for its cash tender offer and upsized the deal.
Shares of aerospace and defense company Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB)
fell 4.6% in the morning session after investment firm Craig-Hallum initiated coverage with a "Hold" rating.
Shares of natural food company Hain Celestial (NASDAQ:HAIN)
fell 4.3% in the morning session after an analyst at Mizuho lowered the company's price target, signaling a more cautious outlook on the stock's valuation. The analyst, John Baumgartner, reduced the price objective on Hain Celestial's stock to $2.50 from the previous target of $3.00. While the price target was cut, Mizuho maintained its "Neutral" rating on the shares. This adjustment, however, represented a nearly 17% decrease in the analyst's forecast for the stock's future price. A downward revision from a Wall Street firm often prompted investors to reassess their own expectations, which contributed to the selling pressure on the stock during the session.
High prices continue to put a drag on Indian gold jewelry sales even as investment buying surges. India ranks as the second-largest gold market globally behind China.
The company also stated that it has begun field deployment of OPTIS, a customizable, AI-powered lidar platform that enables real-time 3D perception, targeting smart infrastructure and mobility markets.
CEO Chris Lai said that the company stands to benefit from the expansion of AI chip production as graphite and graphene play a crucial role in semiconductor manufacturing.
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology remain two prominent, long-term growth themes, with several stocks offering investors niche exposure.
In this video, Ira Epstein provides an overview of the financial markets, mentioning muted reactions in the Dow, Nasdaq, and metal markets, and highlights upcoming economic reports and meetings like the FOMC and jobs report as key factors to watch.
