Stocks to Watch Today: HPQ and BBY Soar, CRM Stumbles
In a mixed day for the market, three major players—HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), and Salesforce (NYSE: CRM)—experienced significant stock price movements following their respective earnings reports. While HPQ and BBY saw double-digit gains, CRM faced a sharp decline due to disappointing results and guidance.
HPQ Surges on PC Business Growth
HP Inc.’s stock surged by 17.01% to $38.38, with a market cap of $37.54 billion, after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
HP’s revenue of $12.8 billion slightly exceeded the anticipated $12.6 billion, and its adjusted EPS of $0.82 surpassed the forecast of $0.81. The company’s PC business grew for the first time in eight quarters, driven by commercial sales.
HP’s strategic focus on AI-powered PCs and the ongoing refresh cycle for personal tech were highlighted as key factors driving future growth.
BBY Rises Despite Declining Sales
Best Buy’s stock rose by 10.96% to $79.79, with a market cap of $17.26 billion, after the company reported higher-than-expected profits despite declining sales.
Best Buy’s fiscal first-quarter revenue was $8.85 billion, down from $9.47 billion in the previous year. However, the company’s GAAP diluted EPS of $1.13 and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.20 exceeded analysts’ expectations of $1.08.
Best Buy’s focus on cost management and profitability, along with an increase in gross profit rates from services and membership offerings, contributed to the positive market reaction.
CRM Stumbles on Weak Guidance
Salesforce’s stock dropped by 20.57% to $215.76, with a market cap of $209.45 billion, after the company provided weak guidance for the upcoming quarter and year.
Salesforce reported first-quarter revenue of $9.13 billion, slightly below analysts’ expectations. The company’s current revenue guidance for the next quarter fell short of analysts’ estimates, contributing to the stock’s decline.
The market reacted negatively to concerns about weak AI revenue contributions and the company’s ability to compete effectively in the AI-driven tech landscape.
Do you think HP can make a comeback this year? Let us know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article.
About the author
Tim Fries is the cofounder of The Tokenist. He has a B. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tim served as a Senior Associate on the investment team at RW Baird’s US Private Equity division, and is also the co-founder of Protective Technologies Capital, an investment firm specializing in sensing, protection and control solutions.
