The second-quarter earnings season delivered a jolt to markets Monday as two industrial titans—Verizon ( VZ ) and Cleveland-Cliffs ( CLF )—posted results that surpassed expectations. Verizon surged more than 4% after delivering its best revenue growth in nearly four years, while Cleveland-Cliffs jumped 12% following a dramatic improvement in profitability and a bullish forecast. For investors, the results highlight the strength of these legacy companies in navigating a volatile economic and competitive environment.   Verizon Delivers Record EBITDA, Raises 2025 Outlook Amid AI and Wireless Momentum Verizon reported adjusted earnings of $1.22 per share, topping analyst expectations, but the bigger story was its revenue. At $34.5 billion, sales climbed more than 5% year-over-year—the strongest growth Verizon has posted in nearly four years. The result was driven by gains in both service and equipment sales, with wireless equipment revenue alone soaring more than 25%. Operational perfo...

Domino’s Pizza ( DPZ ) posted a mixed set of results for the second quarter, with solid revenue growth and market share gains offset by a slight earnings miss. Yet the company’s strategic moves—including new menu offerings, aggregator partnerships, and carryout strength—helped fuel optimism, pushing shares modestly higher following the report. Same-Store Sales Rebound in the U.S. with Help from Stuffed Crust and Aggregator Partnerships Domino’s delivered a 3.4% increase in U.S. same-store sales in the second quarter, marking a clear turnaround from the 0.5% decline in the previous quarter. That acceleration came despite tough year-over-year comparisons and was driven by robust 5.8% growth in carryout sales, while delivery inched up by 1.5%. The launch of the Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza—a long-awaited addition to the menu—proved a success, lifting both transaction volumes and average order value. CEO Russell Weiner called it one of the company’s most successful product launches, helpin...

Block Inc. ( XYZ ), the Jack Dorsey-led digital payments firm, is riding a wave of investor enthusiasm after being tapped to join the S&P 500.  The announcement sent shares soaring nearly 10% in premarket trading, marking a key milestone in the company’s evolution from disruptor to institutional mainstay. Index Debut Sends Shares Higher as Block Replaces Hess Block will officially join the S&P 500 on Wednesday, replacing Hess Corporation ( HES ) following the latter’s acquisition by Chevron. The move immediately boosts Block’s visibility—and demand for its stock—among mutual funds and ETFs that track the index. According to estimates from J.P. Morgan, index-tracking funds are expected to buy more than 54 million shares of Block to align their portfolios, injecting considerable liquidity into the stock. With a market value approaching $45 billion, Block’s inclusion signals that the fintech industry has carved out a lasting role in the American economy. The company’s shares, ...

3M ( MMM ) delivered better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter, lifted by consistent growth across all segments and strong cost discipline.  The company also raised its full-year guidance, signaling confidence despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges and a softer consumer backdrop. However, shares slipped after an early uptick, reflecting investor caution about forward growth.   Earnings Beat Expectations as All Segments Deliver Growth In the second quarter, 3M posted adjusted earnings of $2.16 per share on revenue of $6.2 billion, topping Wall Street expectations of $2.01 per share and $6.1 billion in revenue. This marked a 12% jump in earnings compared to the same period last year and a modest 1.5% uptick in comparable sales—continuing a three-quarter streak of organic growth. CEO William Brown credited the strong performance to better execution and strategic alignment. “We delivered strong results in the second quarter, posting positive organic sales growth and do...

American Express ( AXP ) delivered another impressive quarter marked by record cardholder spending and higher-than-expected earnings.  Yet, despite the upbeat numbers, shares slid as investors reacted to the company’s decision to stick with existing full-year guidance rather than raise expectations. Record Cardholder Spending and Robust Earnings Underscore Premium Strength In the second quarter, American Express posted adjusted earnings per share of $4.08, handily beating analyst expectations of $3.89. Total revenue rose 9% year-over-year to $17.86 billion—setting a new high for the company. The quarter’s standout figure: $416.3 billion in billed business, up 7% from a year ago. Spending gains were broad-based, with growth in both goods and services and travel and entertainment (T&E). While T&E growth cooled to 5% after last year’s surge, it remained at healthy levels, especially among international cardholders. Net interest income climbed 12% to $4.19 billion, nearly matc...

Netflix ( NFLX ) reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised its full-year revenue forecast, but that wasn’t enough to appease investors with high hopes.  Shares slipped nearly 5% in Friday trading, as Wall Street parsed the earnings report for signs of true operational strength—and not just favorable foreign exchange effects. Earnings Beat and Record Revenue Fail to Excite Overheated Market Netflix posted revenue of $11.08 billion for the second quarter, up nearly 17% from a year ago and above its own guidance. Earnings came in at $7.19 per share, also beating expectations. The streaming leader raised its full-year revenue forecast to between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion, citing both healthy business momentum and a weaker U.S. dollar. Still, shares dropped as investors reacted less to the beat and more to how it was achieved. A significant portion of the upward guidance came from currency tailwinds. With Netflix deriving more than half its revenue from outsi...

PepsiCo ( PEP ) shares surged nearly 7% Thursday morning after the global food and beverage leader topped earnings estimates and reaffirmed its full-year outlook.  The strong quarterly performance, driven by better execution and international momentum, arrives just as rival Coca-Cola ( KO ) faces political and consumer pressure to change how it sweetens its flagship products. PepsiCo Beats the Street, Reaffirms Outlook PepsiCo reported adjusted earnings of $2.12 per share for the second quarter, comfortably ahead of the $2.03 consensus estimate. Revenue held steady at $22.73 billion, surpassing forecasts by roughly $400 million. The results offered reassurance after the company trimmed its guidance just three months ago—a rare move for the traditionally steady performer. CEO Ramon Laguarta credited improved pricing strategies and a focus on more affordable, smaller packages for resonating with cost-conscious consumers. “Our international business momentum continued, while our North...

United Airlines ( UAL ) shares jumped over 5% Thursday morning as investors responded positively to improving demand trends, despite the carrier trimming its full-year profit forecast. While the airline’s second-quarter results were a mixed bag, the narrative around United is shifting toward optimism—driven by recovering business travel, easing macro uncertainties, and stabilizing operations at key hubs. Mixed Q2 Results Reflect Resilience Amid Disruption In the second quarter of 2025, United Airlines reported adjusted earnings of $3.87 per share, beating analyst expectations of $3.81. However, revenue came in slightly below forecasts at $15.24 billion, representing modest year-over-year growth of 1.7%. Margins also took a hit, with operating margin falling to 8.7%, down sharply from 12.9% a year ago. The results were weighed down by severe disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport—a major hub for United—which cost the airline an estimated $218 million and trimmed Q2 margins ...

Meta Platforms ( META ) is taking its boldest leap yet into the artificial intelligence arms race.  CEO Mark Zuckerberg is committing to an unprecedented level of spending on infrastructure and talent, unveiling plans to build massive data centers and poach some of the brightest minds in the AI space. The company’s vision isn’t just to compete—it’s to dominate the next era of intelligent computing. But with profit margins under pressure and investor expectations running high, Meta’s high-stakes transformation is drawing scrutiny on Wall Street. Giant Bets on AI Infrastructure and Talent Meta’s AI ambitions are no longer speculative. In a recent Threads post, Zuckerberg detailed an aggressive infrastructure strategy that includes building a series of hyperscale data centers, with the first—dubbed Prometheus—slated to come online in 2026. A second, called Hyperion, is even more ambitious, eventually expected to handle up to 5 gigawatts of power, the equivalent of energy usage in near...

Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares jumped 5% Wednesday after the healthcare giant reported a robust second-quarter performance and lifted its full-year guidance. The better-than-expected results were driven by healthy gains in both its pharmaceutical and medical technology divisions, even as the company navigates biosimilar competition for its blockbuster drug Stelara. Revenue rose 5.8% year over year to $23.74 billion, with adjusted earnings per share coming in well above estimates. Importantly, the company raised its full-year EPS and revenue guidance, projecting a stronger second half as new product launches gain traction and pipeline momentum builds. Innovative Medicine Holds Ground Despite Stelara Pressure Sales in the Innovative Medicine segment, formerly known as Pharma, grew 4.9% to $15.2 billion—marking the first time the division has topped the $15 billion mark in a quarter. While Stelara, which treats autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and Crohn’s disease, is facing comp...

Wall Street's major banks posted stronger-than-expected second-quarter results this week, underscoring how volatile markets and cautious optimism are shaping the post-tariff earnings season.  Goldman Sachs ( GS ) stole the spotlight with a blockbuster performance, while Morgan Stanley ( MS ) and Bank of America ( BAC ) also rode a trading tailwind despite mixed results in dealmaking. Goldman Sachs: A Return to Form Goldman Sachs delivered a standout quarter, with net earnings rising 22% year-over-year to $3.7 billion—well above analyst expectations. Revenue hit $14.58 billion, marking a 15% gain, fueled by a surge in both trading and advisory services. The bank’s equities division had its best quarter ever, with trading revenue up 36% to $4.3 billion. Investment banking fees also rose sharply, climbing 26% to $2.19 billion, thanks to a rebound in mergers and acquisitions activity. CEO David Solomon pointed to a “remarkably resilient” dealmaking environment and growing CEO confidenc...