Major Averages Close Little Changed as Oil Prices Pull Back
The major averages closed little changed as markets traded with a more constructive tone in concert with oil prices pulling back. Oil prices, which had surged above $100 and briefly approached $120 per barrel during the escalation of the Iran conflict, are now coming back in after comments from Donald Trump suggesting the military operation could conclude sooner than previously expected. Meanwhile, CBS News' Jennifer Jacobs reported that there are indications Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz.In other commodity news, gold prices continue their surge amid market volatility. Despite having an up-and-down 2026, the commodity is climbing towards record highs once again.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiaand Thinking Machines Lab announced a gigawatt-scale strategic partnershipBioNTechannounced plans for anto be established and led by BioNTech co-founders Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., and Prof. Ozlem Tureci, M.D.HP Enterprisereportedand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Kohl'sreportedbut guided for a decrease in Q1 comp salesVail Resortsreportedand cut its FY26 resort reported EBITDA view2. WALL STREET CALLS:Qualcommat Underperform at BofACrowdStriketo Overweight at Morgan StanleyRivianto Buy at TD Cowen into R2 launchNovo Nordiskto Hold at TD CowenB. RileyStrategywith Buy on "unmatched scale"3. AROUND THE WEB:Boeingwill delay deliveries of some e737 MAX planes amid wiring flaws, WSJ reportsExxon Mobilis planning to move its legal home to Texas from New Jersey in a move meant to protect the company from shareholder "abuse," WSJ saysRio Tintois in talks with Mongolia over financial terms at the massive Oyu Tolgoi copper mine, with the government seeking lower loan interest costs and the removal of Rio's annual management fee, WSJ reportsAppleincreased its iPhone production in India by 53% last year and now makes a total of 25% of its devices there, Bloomberg saysAmazon'secommerce business has requested a large group of engineers to meet on Tuesday for a "deep dive" into the influx of outages, with the company stating there has been a "trend of incidents" characterized by a "high blast radius" and "Gen-AI assisted changes," FT reports4. MOVERS:Zevra Therapeuticsgains after, with EPS and revenue beating consensusCapricorincreases after announcing the establishment of a new PDUFANiohigher in New York afterand providing guidance for Q1Centenefalls afterand announcing its ACA enrollment is "still in line" with expectations"Crispr Therapeuticslower after announcing a5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:ABM, with CEO Scott Salmirs commenting, "ABM is off to a solid start to FY26"Custom Truck One Source, with EPS beating consensusUnited Natural Foodsand provided guidance for FY26UWM Holdingsraised itsPriority Technologyand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow fell 34.29, or 0.072%, to 47,706.51, the Nasdaq gained 1.16, or 0.0051%, to 22,697.10, and the S&P 500 advanced 14.51, or 0.21%, to 6,781.48.
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- Production Line Expansion: Boeing has launched a fourth 737 MAX assembly line at its Everett, Washington factory to meet strong global demand for jets, which is expected to significantly enhance production capacity.
- Output Increase Plan: Boeing plans to ramp up its monthly 737 production from 42 to 47 jets, although the new assembly line is not expected to contribute to output increases until 2027, laying the groundwork for future growth.
- Factory Scale Advantage: The Everett plant, the largest building in the world by volume, previously housed production for the 747, 767, 777, and 787 models, and the available factory space provides a favorable condition for the expansion of 737 production.
- Long-term Strategic Layout: Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the new North Line is a replication of the existing three final assembly lines for the 737, reflecting the company's strategic intent to continuously enhance production capabilities in the coming years.
- NATO Summit Context: Leaders of NATO nations are set to meet in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday and Wednesday, amidst unprecedented tensions under President Trump, which include disputes over defense spending quotas and military commitments.
- U.S. Military Adjustments: The U.S. has announced the withdrawal of 5,000 active-duty troops from Germany and the cancellation of scheduled air and naval deployments, indicating a potential reduction in support for NATO and impacting European security dynamics.
- Defense Investment Commitments: Should the summit proceed positively, a joint declaration from European nations and Canada is expected to emphasize increased core defense investments and greater responsibility for NATO security, ensuring a fair deal for the U.S.
- Turkey's F-35 Program Status: Turkey may finally gain U.S. approval to rejoin the F-35 stealth fighter program, although negotiations regarding its Russian S-400 air defense system will be crucial, affecting NATO's overall military capabilities.
- Surge in Defense Contracts: The US government is increasing contracts with defense manufacturers due to depleted stockpiles, which is expected to boost defense stocks significantly, especially after President Trump urged defense CEOs to ramp up production, enhancing market confidence in these companies.
- AI Technology Integration: As AI's critical role on the battlefield becomes more pronounced, defense companies are accelerating the development of AI-powered drones and autonomous weapon systems, which not only enhance decision-making speed but could also reshape the future of warfare, presenting new growth opportunities for related firms.
- Involvement of Major Manufacturers: Traditional automakers like GM and Ford are also engaging in defense agreements with the US and Europe, indicating a trend of cross-industry collaboration that will further drive the overall growth of the defense sector.
- Emerging Companies in Focus: Beyond traditional defense giants, emerging firms like Anduril, recently valued at $61 billion and focused on autonomous weapon systems, are attracting investor interest, signaling that innovation and competition in the defense sector will intensify.
- Valuation Restructuring: Panmure Liberum strategist Joachim Klement highlights that the rapid evolution of modern warfare prompts investors to rethink valuations in the defense sector, particularly regarding the choice between government spending commitments and the flow of funds into emerging technologies.
- Procurement Risks and Fiscal Pressures: Klement emphasizes that while the geopolitical environment supports a long-term bull case for defense, procurement risks and fiscal pressures are making investors more selective, especially in their investments between legacy platforms and AI-enabled systems.
- Rise of Electronic Warfare Technology: Klement notes that electronic warfare is a tech phenomenon, suggesting that companies in this space should be traded like tech firms, which implies that some defense stocks could warrant much higher valuations than conventional arms manufacturers.
- Shifts in Investor Liquidity: Despite massive gains in defense stocks over the past five years, Klement points out that recent weakness reflects a rotation into AI trades rather than a deterioration in defense fundamentals, particularly as Germany and Poland continue to ramp up defense spending.
- Extended Flight Seasons: American Airlines has initiated flights from New York to Edinburgh starting in March, while United Airlines will extend its nonstop service to Palermo through December, reflecting airlines' proactive response to off-peak demand aimed at boosting overall revenue.
- High-End Market Appeal: International flights typically offer more premium seating, with some business-class fares reaching $10,000, and airlines plan to expand these options further to attract high-spending customers and enhance profit margins.
- Maintenance Schedule Adjustments: With the increase in shoulder season and off-peak travel, Delta Airlines is rethinking its maintenance and crew scheduling to ensure aircraft availability during the peak fall season, thereby optimizing operational efficiency.
- Shifting Market Demand: Flexible work policies among younger generations are leading more consumers to travel during non-traditional seasons, prompting airlines to adjust flight schedules to accommodate this trend and capture spending opportunities from high-net-worth travelers.
- Supply Chain Risk Mitigation: Vertical Aerospace's long-term agreement with Astronics for power distribution systems significantly reduces supply chain risks for its Valo eVTOL, although substantial dilution risk remains due to ongoing cash needs.
- Production Capacity Enhancement: This deal is expected to accelerate development and production, bolstering the company's competitive position in the eVTOL market, despite projections indicating earnings won't materialize until 2032, leading to cautious optimism from the market.
- Enhanced Financing Capability: The company has secured access to up to $850 million in financing, which, while requiring equity issuance to raise cash, provides at least 12 months of financial runway for its operations.
- Shareholder Dilution Risk: Projections indicate that Vertical's share count will rise from 157 million in 2026 to 373 million by 2032, highlighting significant dilution risks for existing shareholders as the company executes its orders.











