5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens Thursday

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

Nvidia blew past Wall Street’s earnings and revenue expectations last night, also providing a stronger-than-expected forecast for the current quarter. If futures trading is any indication, the results convinced investors that their concerns around the health of the artificial intelligence trade can be put to rest.

Here’s what to know:

• The chipmaker said revenue topped $57 billion for the third quarter and expects sales to rise to around about $65 billion in the current three-month period. This impressive guidance underscores the sustained demand for its data center GPUs, driven by the ongoing AI boom.
• CEO Jensen Huang described sales for Nvidia’s Blackwell chips as “off the charts,” signaling robust adoption of the next-generation architecture designed for computationally intensive AI workloads. Analysts note that Blackwell’s performance advantages are particularly compelling for large language model training and inference.
• Huang also brushed off concerns of an AI bubble, saying the company sees “something very different.” His argument centers on the tangible and growing demand for AI across various industries, from autonomous vehicles to drug discovery, distinguishing it from speculative asset bubbles. However, some analysts remain cautious, pointing to the concentration of growth in a few key players and the potential for overinvestment in AI infrastructure.
• The comments are significant as Nvidia is somewhat of a linchpin in the AI trade: It counts Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle as customers, as well as most major AI developers. Nvidia’s vertically integrated strategy, encompassing hardware, software, and developer tools, has solidified its position as the leading AI platform.
• Yet despite announcing a $100 billion investment in OpenAI two months ago, Nvidia said there was “no assurance” of a final agreement with the ChatGPT maker. This uncertainty highlights the competitive dynamics within the AI landscape and the complex negotiations surrounding access to cutting-edge AI technologies. The potential impact of this deal (or lack thereof) on Nvidia’s long-term AI strategy remains a key point of observation.
• Shares of Nvidia climbed 5% overnight, igniting a broader rebound in futures this morning. This surge reflects the market’s confidence in Nvidia’s ability to capitalize on the AI opportunity and deliver sustained growth. However, valuation concerns persist, with some analysts questioning whether Nvidia’s current stock price fully reflects the potential risks and uncertainties associated with the rapidly evolving AI market.
• Fellow chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom, as well as power infrastructure names including Eaton, also jumped as the report restored faith in the AI trade. This broad-based rally underscores the interconnectedness of the AI ecosystem, where growth in AI computing infrastructure is driving demand across various sectors.

Walmart beat analysts’ expectations on both lines this morning and raised its outlook for the second straight quarter, boosted by strength in its e-commerce business and new customers.

CFO John David Rainey told CNBC that Walmart won over “value-seeking” customers from varying income brackets. While the company saw an impact from the SNAP pause during the government shutdown, Rainey said the retailer is seeing a “rebound” as funds begin to be distributed again.

CNBC reported yesterday that Walmart is in talks to acquire R&A Data, an Israeli startup that monitors online marketplaces for scams and counterfeits. This potential acquisition signals Walmart’s commitment to enhancing trust and safety on its marketplace platform and combating the proliferation of counterfeit goods. Two months ago, a CNBC investigation found Walmart over time loosened its controls for vetting online sellers and products to better compete with Amazon. The acquisition of R&A Data could be a strategic move to address this issue and regain consumer confidence in its marketplace offerings.

Federal Reserve officials were divided over whether to cut interest rates at last month’s policy meeting, minutes released yesterday showed. The report also threw cold water on hopes for another rate cut at the central bank’s December meeting: “Many” of the officials, according to the minutes, said no more cuts are needed this year.

Meanwhile, Trump once again took aim at Fed Chair Jerome Powell yesterday, saying “I’d love to fire his ass.” The president urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “work on” Powell to lower rates.

We’re awaiting September’s jobs report due out this morning after it was delayed by the government shutdown. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said yesterday that October’s nonfarm payrolls won’t include an employment rate because the data “could not be collected” during the shutdown.

President Donald Trump said last night that he signed a bill ordering the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill gives Attorney General Pam Bondi 30 days to publicly release unclassified records tied to Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

The legislation has exceptions to what can be released, such as information that personally identifies victims or materials tied to child sexual abuse. Records that would “jeopardize” an ongoing federal investigation or prosecution are also excluded from the order.

Home buyers are seeing their strongest market in more than a decade, according to a report from Redfin. But there’s a catch: You have to be able to afford one.

The firm found there were over 36% more sellers than buyers last month, the biggest gap since 2013. But Redfin researchers noted that many Americans have been “priced out” of the housing market as affordability has cratered. “It’s only a buyer’s market for those who can afford to buy,” they said.

New data out yesterday also showed mortgage rates rose for a third straight week, causing a slide in demand from both current and and potential homeowners.

Semrush shares surged 74% yesterday after Adobe said it reached a deal to acquire the search engine marketing firm for $1.9 billion. This acquisition will bolsters Adobe’s capabilities in search engine optimization, particularly with the integration of Semrush’s robust competitive analysis tools. The deal is expected to enhance Adobe’s ability to deliver data-driven insights and improve marketing campaign performance for its customers.