Thursday, February nineteenth, 2026
We’ve got an honest quantity of grist for the inventory market mill this morning, with key earnings reviews becoming a member of key financial information. Pre-market indexes have slid into the pink from early-morning highs, however are leveling off at present: the Dow is -133 factors, -0.27%, the S&P 500 -19, -0.28%, the Nasdaq -92, -0.37% and the small-cap Russell 2000 -10, -0.39%.
Jobless Claims Stay Traditionally Low
Thursday morning Weekly Jobless Claims are out once more forward of at present’s open, with an Preliminary Jobless Claims headline of 206K beneath the 223K anticipated and the marginally upwardly revised 229K from the earlier week. At the moment’s headline is the bottom tally since early January, which was the latest time we submerged beneath 200K new jobless claims.
Persevering with Claims ratcheted up barely from the prior week (Persevering with Claims are reported per week in arrears from Preliminary Claims) to 1.869 million — nonetheless an traditionally low quantity, however larger than the downwardly revised 1.852 million the earlier week. Be mindful we have been in a spread between 1.90-1.98 million longer-term jobless claims for many of 2025.
U.S. Commerce Deficit Deepens Unexpectedly
Additionally this morning, the U.S. Commerce Deficit was up to date. This headline sank to -$70.3 billion, a lot decrease than the -$56.0 billion analysts have been searching for — although nonetheless roughly half of the place we have been again in March of final yr, straight forward of tariff initiatives. The near-term low on the deficit was -$28.75 billion again in October, which was the slimmest headline in 16 years.
Relatedly, Retail Inventories got here in flat for December , down from the +0.1% analysts have been anticipating however up from the -0.5% reported for the prior months. Wholesale Inventories, in the meantime, reached expectations of +0.2%, which was the place we have been within the November print, as nicely. Be mindful, these figures are from far sufficient in the past we can not disregard holiday-season distortions.
Philly Fed Posts Two-Straight Up-Months
In the meantime, the regional manufacturing survey in and round Philadelphia, higher often called Philly Fed, reached 16.3 for the month of February. That is roughly double expectations and the very best we’d seen since September of final yr. Over the previous six months, we’ve seen three in constructive territory and three destructive, with the primary back-to-back Philly Fed beneficial properties since March of 2025.
Earnings Replace, at a Look: Walmart, Deere & Etsy
Walmart WMT misplaced its title of America’s High Retailer this morning (to Amazon.com) however nonetheless posted delicate beats on high and backside traces in its This fall report this morning. Earnings of 74 cents beat by a stable penny, whereas revenues of $190.66 billion have been up yr over yr and beat expectations by +0.32%.
The corporate, reporting for the primary time below CEO John Furner, did categorical issues about tariff prices going ahead, however shares are up +1% in early buying and selling, including to the +13.7% beneficial properties yr to this point. For extra on WMT’s earnings, click on right here.
John Deere & Co. DE posted robust surprises in its fiscal Q1 report this morning, with earnings of $2.42 per share on $8 billion in quarterly revenues outpacing estimates by +26% and +5.2%, respectively. Full-year steerage was additionally raised for the heavy equipment producer, with its inventory shifting up one other +6% forward of at present’s open, including to its +27.4% development yr to this point. For extra on DE’s earnings, click on right here.
Craft e-commerce staple Etsy ETSY carried out nicely in its This fall report this morning, beating on earnings by 4 cents to 92 cents per share on revenues of $881.64 million a smidge forward of expectations. Shares have rocketed up +21.23% in early buying and selling, pushing the inventory into constructive territory yr to this point, after having bought off -20.6% to date in 2026. For extra on ETSY’s earnings, click on right here.
Questions or feedback about this text and/or creator? Click on right here>>
Zacks’ Analysis Chief Names “Inventory Most Prone to Double”
Our staff of specialists has simply launched the 5 shares with the best likelihood of gaining +100% or extra within the coming months. Of these 5, Director of Analysis Sheraz Mian highlights the one inventory set to climb highest.
This high choose is a little-known satellite-based communications agency. Area is projected to develop into a trillion greenback business, and this firm’s buyer base is rising quick. Analysts have forecasted a serious income breakout in 2025. After all, all our elite picks aren’t winners however this one may far surpass earlier Zacks’ Shares Set to Double like Hims & Hers Well being, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our High Inventory And 4 Runners Up
Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
Deere & Firm (DE) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
Etsy, Inc. (ETSY) : Free Inventory Evaluation Report
This text initially revealed on Zacks Funding Analysis (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the creator and don’t essentially replicate these of Nasdaq, Inc.
