Pre-market trading climbs as investors await NVIDIA's earnings report

Market Update: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

As the mid-week trading session begins, pre-market futures are climbing once again, building on yesterday’s gains of over 0.75%. The market’s momentum remains mixed in 2026: the Dow Jones is the only major index showing a loss for the week so far, while the Nasdaq is the sole index in negative territory for the year.

No significant economic data releases are scheduled for this morning. However, investors will be paying attention to remarks from Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid, and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem throughout the day. The spotlight, however, is on NVIDIA (NVDA), which is set to announce its fourth-quarter earnings after the market closes.

NVIDIA, a leader in AI infrastructure, has reached a record-breaking market cap of $4.65 trillion. Over the past year, its share price has surged by 53.5%, and the stock is trading higher in pre-market activity today. Analysts anticipate remarkable growth for the company, with earnings expected to jump 70.8% for Q4 and nearly double in Q1. Revenue for the quarter is projected to rise 66.7% to $65.56 billion, contributing to an estimated $213.2 billion for the full fiscal year.

Before the opening bell, CAVA Group, a Mediterranean fast-casual chain inspired by the Chipotle model, is seeing its shares rise 11% following a strong Q4 report released yesterday. The company’s double-digit revenue growth has pushed its stock to the highest point since last summer.

Earnings Highlights: Lowe’s and TJX Companies

While NVIDIA’s results are highly anticipated, several other companies are also reporting earnings today. Lowe’s exceeded profit forecasts by three cents, posting $1.98 per share. However, its cautious outlook is weighing on the stock, which is down 3.7% in early trading.

The TJX Companies, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods, reported earnings that surpassed estimates by four cents, reaching $1.43 per share, alongside stronger-than-expected revenue. Despite this, the stock is down 1% today and has remained flat for 2026. With a market cap of $175 billion, TJX is larger than Target, Macy’s, Dollar General, and Ross Stores combined.

Today’s Market Outlook

Beyond NVIDIA, several other notable companies are set to release their quarterly results, including Salesforce and Urban Outfitters. Both are projected to deliver robust growth, with Salesforce expected to post a 9% increase in earnings and 11.7% growth in revenue, while Urban Outfitters is forecasted to achieve 19.2% earnings growth and a 9.25% rise in revenue. Notably, each company has missed earnings expectations only once in the past twelve quarters.

Zacks’ Top Semiconductor Pick

A lesser-known semiconductor firm is gaining attention for producing specialized chips that industry giants like NVIDIA do not manufacture. Positioned to capitalize on the next wave of industry expansion, this company is just starting to attract investor interest.

With impressive earnings growth and a growing customer base, it is well-placed to meet the surging demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things. The global semiconductor market is forecasted to soar from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.

Additional Resources

• Want the latest picks from Zacks Investment Research? Download the 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days today.
• Salesforce, Inc. (CRM): Free Stock Analysis Report
• The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX): Free Stock Analysis Report
• Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW): Free Stock Analysis Report
• NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report
• Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN): Free Stock Analysis Report
• CAVA Group, Inc. (CAVA): Free Stock Analysis Report