{"id":65142,"date":"2026-07-21T07:38:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T07:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T11:38:25","slug":"earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/","title":{"rendered":"Earnings Surge and Geopolitical Tensions Drive Pre-Market Volatility"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Industrial_and_Automotive_Leaders_Raise_Guidance\" >Industrial and Automotive Leaders Raise Guidance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Gaming_and_Consumer_Staples_Outperform\" >Gaming and Consumer Staples Outperform<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Housing_and_Healthcare_Face_Headwinds\" >Housing and Healthcare Face Headwinds<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Geopolitical_Tensions_Impact_Energy_and_Infrastructure\" >Geopolitical Tensions Impact Energy and Infrastructure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/earnings-surge-and-geopolitical-tensions-drive-pre-market-volatility\/65142\/#Financial_Services_and_Tech_Movers\" >Financial Services and Tech Movers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>3M (<a href=\"\/stock\/MMM\">MMM<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>General Motors (<a href=\"\/stock\/GM\">GM<\/a>)<\/strong> shares climbed in <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/movers\/premarket\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Premarket Movers\">pre-market trading<\/a> after both industrial giants delivered significant earnings beats and raised their full-year 2026 profit guidance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hasbro (<a href=\"\/stock\/HAS\">HAS<\/a>)<\/strong> reported record-breaking performance from its &quot;Magic: The Gathering&quot; franchise, leading to a top-and-bottom-line beat and an improved financial outlook for the year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geopolitical instability<\/strong> escalated as <strong>Kuwait<\/strong> reported a fourth consecutive day of Iranian attacks on critical power and water desalination plants, while <strong>Kazakhstan<\/strong> suspended oil exports through the Black Sea following drone strikes on tankers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>D.R. Horton (<a href=\"\/stock\/DHI\">DHI<\/a>)<\/strong> beat third-quarter earnings estimates but lowered its full-year revenue and home-closing guidance, citing persistent affordability constraints and cautious consumer sentiment.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/NVDA\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"15\" title=\"stock: NVDA\">Nvidia<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/NVDA\">NVDA<\/a>)<\/strong> disclosed a 9.3% passive stake in <strong>Nano-X Imaging (<a href=\"\/stock\/NBIS\">NBIS<\/a>)<\/strong>, sending the latter&#39;s shares up 6.5% pre-market as investors reacted to the chipmaker&#39;s expanded investment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Industrial_and_Automotive_Leaders_Raise_Guidance\"><\/span>Industrial and Automotive Leaders Raise Guidance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Industrial conglomerate 3M (<a href=\"\/stock\/MMM\">MMM<\/a>) saw its shares rise over <strong>5.5%<\/strong> after reporting adjusted second-quarter earnings of <strong>$2.40 per share<\/strong>, comfortably beating the analyst estimate of <strong>$2.25<\/strong>. The company\u2019s adjusted operating margin reached <strong>24.9%<\/strong>, driven by aggressive cost optimization and strategic expansion into AI infrastructure. Consequently, 3M raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a range of <strong>$8.80 to $8.95<\/strong>, up from its previous forecast of $8.50 to $8.70.<\/p>\n<p>General Motors (<a href=\"\/stock\/GM\">GM<\/a>) also demonstrated robust operational momentum, with second-quarter revenue hitting <strong>$48.03 billion<\/strong> against the <strong>$46.61 billion<\/strong> expected. The automaker reported an adjusted EPS of <strong>$3.57<\/strong>, significantly higher than the <strong>$3.19<\/strong> consensus. GM raised its full-year 2026 EBIT-adjusted guidance for the second time this year, now expecting between <strong>$14 billion and $16 billion<\/strong>, while declaring a quarterly dividend of <strong>$0.18 per share<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gaming_and_Consumer_Staples_Outperform\"><\/span>Gaming and Consumer Staples Outperform<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Hasbro (<a href=\"\/stock\/HAS\">HAS<\/a>) reported a <strong>16%<\/strong> surge in second-quarter revenue to <strong>$1.14 billion<\/strong>, fueled by the Wizards of the Coast division. The &quot;Magic: The Gathering&quot; brand surpassed <strong>$500 million<\/strong> in quarterly revenue for the first time in its history, aided by the successful &quot;Marvel Super Heroes&quot; release. The company now expects full-year revenue to grow <strong>5% to 7%<\/strong>, an increase from its prior 3% to 5% projection.<\/p>\n<p>Genuine Parts (<a href=\"\/stock\/GPC\">GPC<\/a>) shares rose over <strong>3%<\/strong> pre-market after the company posted adjusted EPS of <strong>$2.15<\/strong>, beating the <strong>$2.07<\/strong> estimate. Revenue grew <strong>6% year-over-year<\/strong> to <strong>$6.5 billion<\/strong>, supported by strong performance in its Industrial and International Automotive segments. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS outlook of <strong>$7.50 to $8.00<\/strong> and remains on track for its planned business separation in early 2027.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Housing_and_Healthcare_Face_Headwinds\"><\/span>Housing and Healthcare Face Headwinds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite a third-quarter earnings beat of <strong>$3.20 per share<\/strong> vs. the <strong>$2.98<\/strong> expected, D.R. Horton (<a href=\"\/stock\/DHI\">DHI<\/a>) issued a cautious outlook that weighed on sentiment. The homebuilder cut its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to <strong>$32.5B\u2013$33.0B<\/strong> (down from $33.5B\u2013$34.5B) and lowered its home-closing target to <strong>83,800\u201384,300 units<\/strong>. Executive Chairman David Auld noted that <em>elevated sales incentives<\/em> are likely to persist as consumers grapple with mortgage rates and affordability.<\/p>\n<p>In the healthcare sector, Danaher (<a href=\"\/stock\/DHR\">DHR<\/a>) shares tumbled <strong>11%<\/strong> in pre-market trading. The sell-off followed the company&#39;s decision to cut its full-year adjusted revenue growth outlook, signaling potential softening in demand for its life sciences and diagnostic products.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Tensions_Impact_Energy_and_Infrastructure\"><\/span>Geopolitical Tensions Impact Energy and Infrastructure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Global energy markets are on edge following a series of attacks in the Middle East and the Black Sea. <strong>Kuwait\u2019s<\/strong> Ministry of Electricity and Water confirmed that Iranian strikes targeted power and desalination plants for a fourth straight day, threatening the water supply of a nation that relies on desalination for <strong>90%<\/strong> of its drinking water.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, <strong>Kazakhstan<\/strong> has halted oil piping to the Black Sea via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after a fourth tanker, the <em>NELSA<\/em>, was struck by a drone. These disruptions threaten approximately <strong>1.5 million barrels per day<\/strong> of crude exports, further tightening global supplies as European refineries seek alternatives to Middle Eastern barrels.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Financial_Services_and_Tech_Movers\"><\/span>Financial Services and Tech Movers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Marsh McLennan (<a href=\"\/stock\/MRSH\">MRSH<\/a>) reported solid second-quarter results with adjusted EPS of <strong>$2.96<\/strong>, beating the <strong>$2.90<\/strong> consensus. Revenue rose <strong>6%<\/strong> to <strong>$7.4 billion<\/strong>, led by a <strong>10%<\/strong> jump in its Consulting segment. The firm also increased its quarterly dividend by <strong>10%<\/strong> to <strong>$0.99 per share<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In the semiconductor space, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (<a href=\"\/stock\/TSM\">TSM<\/a>) rose <strong>3.6%<\/strong> pre-market following reports that the company plans to raise prices for both advanced and mature chip production services by up to <strong>10%<\/strong> in 2027. Meanwhile, Crown Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/CCK\">CCK<\/a>) gained <strong>3.6%<\/strong> after beating quarterly estimates and lifting its fiscal 2026 outlook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways 3M (MMM) and General Motors (GM) shares climbed in pre-market trading after both industrial giants delivered significant earnings [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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