Aerospace and Technology Sector Movements

In midday trading, Rocket Lab saw a notable stock increase of 3% after being designated as a launch provider by the U.S. Space Force. This recognition puts the aerospace manufacturer in a competitive position within the sector.

Also making headlines, cloud software company Braze’s stock surged by 6% following a robust earnings report. The company reported adjusted earnings of 12 cents per share, greatly exceeding the anticipated 5 cents, with fourth-quarter revenues hitting $160.4 million compared to the $155.7 million forecasted by analysts.

Consumer Retail Challenges

Lululemon’s stock experienced a significant decline, dropping over 14%. The athleticwear company shared disappointing guidance for 2025, attributing reduced consumer spending to economic and inflationary pressures, which have resulted in lower foot traffic both within its stores and among competitors.

Similarly, Oxford Industries faced a setback, with its shares falling more than 3%. The clothing retailer’s revenue forecast for the fiscal year was between $1.49 billion and $1.53 billion, which fell short of analyst expectations of $1.54 billion, primarily due to increasing consumer uncertainty.

Insurance and Healthcare Sector Developments

W.R. Berkley stock rose by 8% after announcing that Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance of Japan would purchase 15% of its common shares. This agreement not only bolsters Berkley’s financial standing but could potentially introduce a new board member as part of the deal.

In the healthcare sector, Bausch + Lomb’s shares dropped 5% as the company initiated a voluntary recall of certain implantable eye lenses following reports of complications. This situation led Wells Fargo to downgrade the stock from “overweight” to “equal weight.”

Other Notable Stock Movements

AppLovin’s shares increased by 7% on Friday, recovering slightly after a more than 20% fall the previous day due to allegations of its ad practices violating app store regulations by short seller Muddy Waters.

In an impressive turn of events, Argan’s stock surged nearly 24% after it reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.22 per share on revenues of $232.5 million, far exceeding analysts’ predictions of $1.15 per share and $197.5 million, respectively.

Conversely, Infinity Natural Resources saw its stock retract nearly 3% after disclosing a fourth-quarter loss of $5.5 million, starkly contrasted against analyst expectations of a $23.3 million profit.