Daily Market Coverage Feb. 26, 2026 9AM-11AM (ET) | Yahoo Finance

Why It Matters

The mixed earnings highlight growing uncertainty around AI’s long‑term growth and its impact on tech valuations, while the macro data will shape expectations for interest‑rate moves that affect all sectors.

Key Takeaways

• Nvidia earnings beat expectations but shares dropped 2%
• Lack of China revenue guidance fuels AI demand doubts
• Salesforce miss triggers 4% sell‑off amid AI concerns
• Stellantis reports $26 billion loss after EV charge
• Investors await jobless claims and wholesale inflation data

Pulse Analysis

Nvidia’s latest quarterly report delivered headline‑grabbing revenue and profit beats, yet the market reacted negatively. Analysts pointed to the company’s omission of any China‑related revenue outlook, a region that historically contributes a sizable share of its AI chip sales. This silence amplified concerns that the AI boom may be more fragile than anticipated, prompting a cautious stance among investors who fear a potential bubble in high‑growth tech stocks.

The AI narrative also weighed on other tech names, most notably Salesforce, which fell about 4% after its revenue forecast missed consensus. The sell‑off underscores a broader shift: investors are now scrutinizing not just growth rates but the quality of earnings and the competitive landscape, especially as legacy software firms scramble to integrate generative AI. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq’s dip reflects a market recalibrating expectations for AI‑driven earnings momentum across the sector.

Beyond the tech sphere, macroeconomic indicators will be pivotal. Upcoming weekly jobless‑claims figures and the January wholesale inflation report are set to inform market participants about the health of the labor market and the trajectory of price pressures. These data points will feed into the Federal Reserve’s rate‑cut calculus, influencing equity valuations across the board. In this environment, the interplay between AI‑centric earnings and broader economic signals will dictate the market’s direction in the weeks ahead.

Original Description

Daily Market Coverage Feb. 26, 2026 9AM-11AM (ET) | Yahoo Finance

US stocks split at the opening bell on Thursday as Nvidia's (NVDA) stellar earnings failed to wow investors and left Wall Street juggling growing worries over AI's potential for payoff and disruption.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) moved up roughly 0.4%, following solid wins for stocks more broadly on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the tech-exposed Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) lost 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.

Nvidia shares fell over 2% near the open, as the chip giant received a lukewarm response from investors despite big beats on quarterly revenue and profit, and guidance that also came in above expectations. But a lack of detail on drivers for the outlook — which doesn't include potential revenue out of China — left some on Wall Street asking questions about competitive threats and the staying power of AI buildout demand.

Fears of a AI bubble and the "AI scare trade" have buffeted stocks in recent weeks, with the technology's challenge to sectors such as legacy software coming to the fore. Salesforce (CRM) shares fell about 4% to continue an AI-driven sell-off after its revenue forecast fell short of estimates.

Elsewhere in earnings, Big Three automaker Stellantis (STLA) posted a massive $26.billion full-year loss after an EV-related charge, but a better showing in the second half suggested the Jeep maker's turnaround bid is taking hold. Quarterly reports from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Dell Technologies (DELL), and CoreWeave (CRWV) are also on Thursday's docket.

On the macro front, a weekly update on jobless claims due later provides a health check on the labor market, as investors wait for the January wholesale inflation reading on Friday to help evaluate the odds of an interest-rate cut.

#stockmarket #livemarketanalysis #nvidia #nvidiaearnings #salesforce #anthropic

Chapters

0:00 - Morning Brief

0:55 - Nvidia Earnings: Top Takeaways

8:26 - Salesforce Earnings

12:47 - Trending Tickers

14:18 - Nvidia Stock & AI

22:53 - Opening Bid

25:07 - Nvidia/Salesforce Panel

37:30 - C3 AI CEO

45:27 - Market Catalysts

54: 13 - Nvidia Outlook

1:02:02 - Software stocks sell off

1:13:30 - Trending Tickers

1:20:05 - 2026 IPO Market

1:26:15 - Lumen CFO, Anthropic & The Pentagon

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