As the US markets prepare to open, several key stocks are making notable moves in pre-market trading. Here’s a breakdown of what’s driving the early action:

Market Overview

• S&P 500 (ES): +0.4%
• Nasdaq (NQ): +0.4%
• Russell 2000 (RTY): +0.7%

The indices are showing positive momentum ahead of the opening bell, signaling a potentially strong start to the trading day.

Salesforce ($CRM) +5%

Salesforce is leading the pre-market gains with a 5% surge. The customer relationship management giant beat Wall Street’s expectations on both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue. The company’s full-year profit outlook also impressed investors. However, Salesforce announced that President and CFO Amy Weaver will be stepping down, a development that will be closely watched by the market.

CrowdStrike ($CRWD) -1%

CrowdStrike shares are down 1% after the company’s next-quarter and full-year outlook fell short of analyst expectations. Despite this, the cloud security firm did beat EPS and revenue estimates for the current quarter. The company also noted that a recent cyber incident had a “significant impact” on the final two weeks of the quarter, which may have weighed on its future guidance.

Dollar General ($DG) -25%

Dollar General is experiencing a steep 25% drop after a disappointing earnings report. The discount retailer missed expectations on EPS, revenue, same-store sales (SSS), and gross margins (GMs). The company also issued poor full-year guidance, further dampening investor sentiment. The sharp decline highlights the ongoing challenges in the retail sector, particularly among companies catering to budget-conscious consumers.

Best Buy ($BBY) +15%

Best Buy is another big mover, with shares jumping 15% in pre-market trading. The electronics retailer beat expectations on EPS, revenue, and comparable store sales. Additionally, Best Buy announced plans to spend $500 million on share buybacks during fiscal year 2025, a move likely to boost investor confidence.

Affirm ($AFRM) +25%

Shares of Affirm are soaring 25% after the company reported a shallower loss per share than expected. Additionally, Affirm’s gross merchandise volume (GMV) guidance impressed investors, signaling strong demand for its buy-now-pay-later services.

HP Inc. ($HPQ) -4%

HP Inc. is down 4% in pre-market trading despite reporting a revenue beat. The company missed profit expectations but raised its share buyback program to $10 billion, which may provide some support to the stock moving forward.

Tesla ($TSLA) +1.5%

Tesla is up 1.5% as it seeks to negotiate a reduction in Canada’s newly imposed 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla is hoping to secure a tariff rate similar to what it received in the European Union, which could positively impact its cost structure in Canada.

Apple ($AAPL) +1.7%

Apple shares are up 1.7% on news that the company plans to produce 88-90 million AI-equipped iPhones, surpassing last year’s orders of 80 million units. This move highlights Apple’s commitment to integrating advanced technology into its products, which could drive further growth in the coming quarters.

As the US market gears up for another trading day, these pre-market movers are set to play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment. From strong earnings reports to disappointing outlooks, the stories behind these stocks offer a glimpse into the broader market dynamics at play. Keep an eye on these key players as the trading day unfolds.