Key Takeaways
- IBM (IBM) surpassed Q3 FY25 earnings and revenue expectations, reporting $2.65 EPS and $16.33 billion in revenue, and projecting FY25 revenue growth to be above +5% at constant currency.
- The U.S. is preparing "substantial and powerful" new sanctions against Russia, with Treasury Secretary Bessent seeking broader support from G7 allies, Canada, and Australia, ahead of a planned meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at APEC.
- OpenAI, in collaboration with Oracle (ORCL) and Vantage Data Centers, announced a $15 billion "Stargate" data center campus in Wisconsin, expected to generate over 4,000 construction jobs and 1,000 long-term positions.
- Tesla (TSLA) recorded Q3 profits that fell short of Wall Street estimates despite achieving record electric-vehicle sales, citing pressures from shifting federal policies and rising costs.
- Honeywell (HON) unveiled a new business structure as it proceeds with its Aerospace spin-off, slated for the second half of 2026, aiming to focus on three core business segments.
Geopolitical Developments and Economic Policy
The global stage is set for significant diplomatic and economic maneuvers, with the U.S. preparing to unveil "substantial and powerful" new sanctions against Russia. Treasury Secretary Bessent confirmed these impending measures and indicated that Washington is actively pressing G7 allies, Canada, and Australia to join the sanctions effort. Concurrently, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are slated to hold a "pull-aside" meeting in South Korea during the APEC summit. Bessent is also heading to Malaysia for discussions with Chinese officials regarding China’s rare-earth licensing system, which the U.S. deems "unworkable and unacceptable".
Domestically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to enforce compliance with its voluntary "Product of USA" meat and poultry label from January 1, 2026. This regulation will require that products bearing the label be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within the United States. Additionally, the USDA and the Interior Department will assess expanding cattle grazing on federal lands, a move aimed at rebuilding the domestic herd.
In the UK, London stocks experienced a climb following inflation data that fueled expectations for interest rate cuts. Barclays (BARC) saw gains after announcing a share buyback. UK inflation for September landed at 3.8%, falling below the Bank of England's 4% forecast, leading traders to increase bets on a December rate cut. Meanwhile, the Bank of England’s top regulator criticized the banking industry's push for favorable treatment of government bonds in his final Mansion House address.
Corporate Earnings and Strategic Shifts
Technology giant IBM (IBM) reported a strong third quarter for fiscal year 2025, with EPS of $2.65 significantly beating analyst estimates of $2.41. Revenue also surpassed expectations, reaching $16.33 billion against an estimated $16.1 billion. Software revenue was in line at $7.21 billion, while consulting revenue of $5.32 billion beat estimates. The company’s Free Cash Flow came in at $2.37 billion, exceeding the $2.21 billion estimate, and it now expects FY25 revenue growth (at constant FX) to be above +5%.
In contrast, Tesla (TSLA) posted third-quarter profits that fell short of Wall Street's expectations, despite achieving record electric-vehicle sales. The automaker reported EPS of $0.50, missing the $0.56 estimate, attributed to aggressive price cuts and the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Revenue, however, reached $28.1 billion, surpassing analysts' forecasts.
German software giant SAP (SAP) reported Q3 FY25 Non-IFRS Total Revenue of €9.08 billion, largely in line with estimates. However, Non-IFRS Cloud & Software Revenue at €8.02 billion and Non-IFRS Cloud Revenue at €5.29 billion were slightly below expectations. The company's FY25 Cloud Revenue Outlook is set between €21.6 billion and €21.9 billion, guiding towards the lower end of the range.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) updated its guidance, anticipating FY 2025 capacity to increase by approximately 1.5% year-over-year. The airline projects Q4 CASM-X (excluding fuel & special items) to be up 1.5%–2.5% and expects Q4 RASM to rise by 1%–3%, with ASM up around 6%. The company reaffirmed its FY 2025 EBIT guidance (excluding special items) and foresees meaningful margin expansion.
Industrial conglomerate Honeywell (HON) announced a new business structure as its Aerospace spin-off remains on track for the second half of 2026. Post-separation, the company plans to concentrate on three core business segments, with Billal Hammoud continuing as President & CEO of Building Automation.
In a significant development for artificial intelligence infrastructure, OpenAI, Oracle (ORCL), and Vantage Data Centers unveiled plans for a "Stargate Data Center Site" in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Vantage is set to invest over $15 billion in the campus, which is expected to create over 4,000 skilled construction jobs and more than 1,000 long-term jobs, alongside thousands of indirect positions.
Finally, Amazon (AMZN) is defending its ambitious AI strategy, which internal documents suggest could prevent the hiring of 600,000 future employees by 2033 through automation. The e-commerce giant aims to automate 75% of its operations, signaling a profound shift in its workforce management.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.