Breakfast News: ASML Pops 5%, Boosts Nasdaq Futures
January 28, 2026
| Tuesday's Markets |
|---|
| S&P 500 6,979 (+0.41%) |
| Nasdaq 23,817 (+0.91%) |
| Dow 49,003 (-0.83%) |
| Bitcoin $89,108 (+1.47%) |
Source: Image created by Jester AI.
1. ASML Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
ASML Holding (ASML +2.92%) gained over 5% this morning, after recording bookings of $15.8 billion in the fourth quarter – well ahead of the $7.57 billion analysts had been expecting. The company intends to lift its full-year dividend 17% from last year, with a new buyback program of up to $10.4 billion. ASML is beating the S&P 500 by 88% since May 2022's Stock Advisor recommendation.
- "More robust expectations of the sustainability of AI-related demand": CEO Christophe Fouquet spoke of customer optimism, "reflected in a marked step-up in their medium-term capacity plans." Separately, the company announced 1,700 job layoffs – 3.8% of its workforce.
- "ASML ... 'does not expect 2026 total net sales to be below 2025'": Fool contributing analyst Dan Caplinger had been unimpressed by ASML's guidance at Q3 time – but the company now expects an increase of between 4% and 19%. The results helped boost Nasdaq futures around 0.9% this morning.
2. Report: SpaceX Plans June IPO
SpaceX could be set for a mid-June IPO – lining up with a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on June 8 to 9, and Elon Musk's birthday on June 28 – reports the Financial Times. The FT previously said Bank of America (BAC +0.29%), Goldman Sachs (GS 0.23%), JPMorgan Chase (JPM 0.24%), and Morgan Stanley (MS +0.43%) are lining up to take part.
- $1.5 trillion valuation: The deal reportedly aims to raise up to $50 billion, exceeding Saudi Aramco's $29 billion in 2019 – and making it the biggest IPO ever.
- "The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride": In other Musk-related news, Tesla (TSLA 0.99%) will post Q4 results after today's close, as the CEO enthuses over its Full Self-Drive service.
3. This Morning's Key Results From SA Recs
- Starbucks (SBUX 0.61%) is due to post Q1 results before today's opening bell, as analysts expect another revenue rise this quarter. Recommended by Team Hidden Gems, Starbucks is following a previous positive quarter.
- Corning (GLW +15.58%), a Team Rule Breakers selection, reported rises in Q4 core sales and earnings of 14% and 26% respectively, and “expects YoY growth to accelerate” in Q1. Down more than 4% in pre-market trading after releasing the results, it follows an earnings per share jump of 24% in the last quarter.
- Progressive (PGR +0.04%) will post Q4 earnings this morning. The comprehensive insurance provider saw premium growth in Q3, but suffered a profit fall after a one-off Florida regulatory charge.
4. Next Up: Mag 7 Start to Report, Fed Decision
Tesla is joined by fellow Magnificent Seven stocks Microsoft (MSFT +2.19%) and Meta (META +0.09%) today, scheduled to post their latest results after market close. AI progress will be at the fore, as Alphabet (GOOG +0.40%) – reporting next week – is widely seen as setting the pace.
- "2025 was supposed to be the year of the AI "Agent"": Watch for more news of Microsoft's next-generation AI chip, Maia 200, designed to give the company added in-house flexibility. Fool analyst Seth Jayson, however, remains skeptical of rapid AI progress.
- "My expectation is they're signaling a pause": Investors are looking beyond today's Federal Reserve rate decision – with no change expected – as former Kansas City Federal Reserve CEO Esther George earlier suggested a "hold for a while."
5. Your Take
If you could only add to one of your existing holdings, which company would you double down on?
Debate with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying!
