DOW Futures seek a definitive trajectory as corporate earnings and trade tensions dominate the landscape. Tesla’s profits have not met expectations in the third quarter, resulting in a decline in the shares of the electric vehicle manufacturer during after-hours trading. Chipmaker Intel is set to be a prominent feature in the daily array of corporate results, whereas Beyond Meat experiences a decline in after-hours trading following a volatile session driven by meme stock investors.

DOW Futures indicated a mixed opening on Thursday, as investors focused on a series of corporate earnings reports and anticipated trade agreements between the United States and China. By 02:55, the Dow futures contract had decreased by 36 points, representing a decline of 0.1%. In contrast, S&P 500 futures experienced an increase of 11 points, equivalent to a rise of 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures saw an uptick of 66 points, or 0.3%. The primary indices experienced a decline on Wednesday. Shares of Netflix weighed on equities, declining by over 10% following a quarterly operating margin figure that sparked concerns regarding the sustainability of its valuation. Analog chipmaker Texas Instruments has presented a lackluster forecast for revenue and profit, resulting in a decline of 5.6% in its stock value. Despite the relatively bleak figures, the emerging third-quarter earnings season has generally indicated resilience, with approximately 86% of companies that have reported thus far exceeding analysts’ expectations. According to data, earnings growth for the S&P 500 during this period is projected to increase by 9.3% compared to the same time last year, on an aggregate basis. Markets were monitoring developments in the U.S.-China trade dispute. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he anticipates securing agreements with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their potential meeting in South Korea next week.

Tesla shares experienced a decline of over 3% in after-hours trading following the release of earnings that did not meet expectations. While sales increased, they were counterbalanced by escalating costs, coinciding with the electric vehicle manufacturer’s preparation for a potential slowdown in demand in the U.S. after the EV tax credit’s expiration. In the third quarter, Tesla disclosed adjusted earnings per share of $0.5 alongside revenue of $28.1 billion, falling short of the anticipated $0.54 per share and $26.22 billion in revenue. Total deliveries for the third quarter increased by 7% to 497,098 compared to the same period a year prior. Sales experienced an uptick due to a surge in consumers eager to obtain a $7,500 EV tax credit that lapsed at the end of last month. However, an increase in sales was counterbalanced by elevated operating expenses. Gross margins excluding credits, a key indicator, registered at 17%, remaining relatively stable compared to the previous year. “[I]t’s evident that margins have experienced a significant impact from tariffs — both directly via increased material costs and indirectly by necessitating more ad-hoc inventory management, which has historically been one of Tesla’s strengths,” stated Thomas Monteiro.

On Thursday, the earnings calendar will feature Intel, which is anticipated to release its report following the closing bell. The beleaguered chipmaker has seen its stock price increase in recent weeks, buoyed by a series of capital infusions from prominent players, including the AI-focused Nvidia and the Japanese investment powerhouse SoftBank. In August, Trump declared that the U.S. would acquire a 10% interest in the business, despite having previously suggested that Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan should resign due to potential conflicts of interest. Despite Tan’s endeavors to secure partnerships aimed at revitalizing Intel’s fortunes, the company’s near-term outlook remains uncertain. Intel has consistently faced challenges in maintaining competitiveness in the artificial intelligence sector, lagging behind competitors such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. Meanwhile, its contract chip manufacturing division, which has attracted significant investment, continues to operate at a disadvantage compared to the global leader TSMC. Intel is expected to report approximately break-even income for the third quarter, as challenges in its data center and AI division are projected to lead to a 1.2% decrease in sales, totaling $13.12 billion.

In other developments, Beyond Meat’s shares experienced a decline of more than 11% in after-hours trading, marking a reversal after a significant increase of over 450% in this heavily shorted stock earlier in the week. The stock concluded the day 1.1% down at $3.58 after a volatile trading session on Wednesday. Earlier in the session, it experienced a significant increase primarily driven by a surge of purchasing activity from retail traders focused on meme stocks. Approximately two billion shares were traded throughout the day. Just last week, Beyond Meat, recognized for its plant-based patties, experienced a decline to approximately $0.52, influenced by the company’s announcement of a notes exchange offer aimed at preventing imminent default. However, an announcement on Tuesday regarding Walmart’s decision to expand the distribution of Beyond Meat’s products across thousands of its stores led to a significant increase in the stock price. Throughout the majority of the previous year, Beyond Meat has fluctuated within the $2 to $4 range, as investor sentiment has declined regarding a company contending with sluggish sales, workforce reductions, and debt obligations.

Trump has declared sanctions against Russia’s largest oil firms, Lukoil and Rosneft, with his administration referencing Moscow’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the companies financed “the Kremlin’s war machine,” and indicated that the Treasury was ready to implement further measures against Moscow. This represents a shift in Trump’s position regarding Russia, as he has opted not to implement any direct sanctions against the nation during his second term. The sanctions are poised to obstruct a significant portion of global oil supplies, thereby alleviating apprehensions regarding an impending supply glut. This led to significant increases in the benchmark oil contracts, along with share price increases for Europe’s major energy corporations. Brent futures increased by 3.3% to $64.67 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures saw a rise of 3.5% to $60.50 per barrel.