Friday’s session featured a slate of notable moves in the S&P 500, led by big gains in healthcare and consumer brands as investors weighed strong results against tariff and policy headlines.
Gilead Sciences was the standout, climbing about 8.3% after the biopharma company reported better-than-expected second-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings per share. Growth was driven in part by Descovy, its HIV treatment used as pre-exposure prophylaxis, which helped lift sales through higher demand and selling prices.
Gen Digital, the antivirus and identity-protection provider, rose about 7.7% after beating quarterly sales and profit expectations and lifting its full-year outlook. Investors cited robust demand for its AI-powered security solutions amid a rise in AI-related scams.
Monster Beverage also posted solid results, with shares gaining roughly 6.4% after a record quarterly revenue beat and favorable commentary on the expanding market for energy drinks and new zero-sugar product lines.
Apple shares also advanced, rising more than 4% in a third straight day of gains following coordinated remarks at the White House by President Trump and CEO Tim Cook about a $100 billion investment in U.S. production and discussions on tariffs exemptions for chips.
On the downside, The Trade Desk fell about 38.6% after reporting a mixed quarter and signaling that tariff pressures are weighing on ad spend. The company also revealed a CFO transition, with Alex Kayyal stepping into the role while Laura Schenkein winds down her tenure.
GoDaddy beat sales and profit expectations for the quarter and lifted full-year revenue guidance, supported by demand for AI tools to boost digital presence. However, the company also announced it would stop operating as a registry for the .CO domain in late 2025, a shift that could dampen bookings and revenue later in the year, sending shares down around 11%.
Warner Bros. Discovery closed about 8% lower after posting quarterly results. While the studio division showed year-over-year revenue growth thanks to strong box office, the global linear networks segment declined, underscoring ongoing challenges in traditional TV.
SoundHound AI surged about 26% after posting a record second quarter with revenue of $42.68 million, a 217% year-over-year jump that beat expectations. The company raised its full-year revenue forecast and highlighted a major win in China for its voice assistant technology integrated into a vehicle program with multiple languages.
In the currency of tariffs and global trade, the gold market experienced volatility as tariff headlines swirled around Swiss bullion. The day saw gold futures briefly sneak above record levels before retreating, with U.S. futures trading at elevated levels yet not far from the highs hit during the session.
Under Armour faced pressure, with shares down roughly 18% after reporting a quarterly loss that fell short of expectations and outlining a cautious outlook as tariffs and demand mix weigh on profitability. The company indicated that profits for the full year could be significantly lower than a year ago as it restructures and navigates a tougher demand environment.
Firefly Aerospace also gave back some of its IPO gains, trading about 18% lower after a much-anticipated debut that had seen a strong first day, as investors weighed the long-term prospects of a space sector revival.
Expedia Group benefited from stronger-than-expected results and an improved outlook, with shares up around 5% after the company posted Q2 earnings per share of $4.24 on revenue of $3.79 billion and raised its guidance for international demand. Bookings and regional performance remained positive across multiple geographies.
Intel’s chief executive Lip-Bu Tan asserted he has the board’s backing in the face of public calls for resignation from Washington. In a letter to employees, Tan stressed his commitment to ethical leadership and to steering Intel through ongoing national security and technology concerns that have drawn political scrutiny.
Looking at the week, the Nasdaq was pacing for its best week since June, up roughly 2.9% heading into Friday’s session. The S&P 500 and Dow each trailed behind, with gains for the week around 1.6% and 1.1%, respectively. Through 2025, the Nasdaq had risen about 10%, with the S&P 500 up around 7.8% and the Dow up about 3.4%.
What to watch next
– AI and cybersecurity names remain in focus as demand for next-generation security solutions continues to grow, potentially supporting further upside for players like Gen Digital and SoundHound AI.
– Tariff developments and policy signals could continue to drive volatility, particularly in consumer-facing and technology-linked stocks.
– Earnings and guidance updates from travel, e-commerce, and infrastructure-oriented companies (like Expedia and Apple) will be key to assessing how the broader market digestion of this earnings season plays out.
Summary
Friday showcased a broad spectrum of market movers, with solid gains in healthcare, AI-enabled security, and consumer brands, balanced by notable declines in advertising tech and certain tech-adjacent names amid tariff concerns and strategic shifts. The session underscored both resilience in growth sectors and the ongoing sensitivity of markets to tariff and policy headlines, setting a cautiously optimistic tone for the week ahead. Positive momentum in AI-driven and healthcare-related equities signals continued investor interest in secular growth themes.