4 Stocks to Watch Before the Weekend 👀

US benchmarks swung lower on Thursday after January PPI data showed inflation remain stubborn. The Nasdaq lost 1.7%, and the S&P 500 fell 1.3%. The Dow was down 1.3%, and the small-cap Russell 2K declined 0.9%.

Futures are pointing to more losses at the opening bell. S&P 500 contracts are down 0.7% in early-morning trading.

💸 January PPI. Yesterday's January PPI report showed YoY inflation of 6.0%. The number was higher than some economists had hoped. Combined with a better-than-expected unemployment report, it was enough to send the market lower on Thursday.

HubSpot's latest earnings report is boosting its shares today.

The cloud-based CRM company reported its Q4 earnings after Thursday's closing bell, and the results were better than expected.

HubSpot's earnings nearly doubled from the year-earlier quarter to $1.11 per diluted share, which easily beat the Street's $0.82 EPS estimate.

Revenues of $469.7 million also topped last year's number and beat the consensus estimate of $446 million.

HubSpot also posted full-year 2023 non-GAAP EPS guidance that was more than double the Street's expectation.

HUBS is one of today's top movers with an 11.9% gain.

My Take: HUBS has been locked into a sideways pattern lately, but today's rally could help it breakthrough. This stock looks promising.

A strong earnings report is lifting shares of Universal Security today.

The security device company reported its fiscal Q3 results late Thursday, and shares began to climb following the release.

Universal reported EPS of $0.15 for the quarter, marking a YoY increase of 650%. Revenues grew 8.27% to $5.76 million for the quarter.

Consensus estimates weren't available for this tiny stock, but shares are moving high on the Universal's impressive YoY revenue and earnings growth.

UUU is riding an 11.5% gain in the wake of the strong earnings report.

My Take: UUU is a very tiny, low-float stock, but it's beginning to exhibit some positive trends. In 2022, this stock traded for $4 per share, so there could be significant upside if it can maintain its momentum.

Nogin just announced a new deal, and its shares are trending.

The eCommerce company announced an agreement with Seychelles Imports, owner of two LA-based footwear brands, Seychelles and BC Footwear.

Under the terms of the deal, Seychelles will plug into Nogin's Intelligent Commerce platform and utilize many other proprietary services.

Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed, but the stock is making big gains on the news.

NOGN is up 42.6% on active premarket trading volume.

My Take: This rally is already running out of steam. Shares were up as high as 77% earlier, so NOGN might already be on its way back to Earth.

iBio is skyrocketing in the premarket after a regulatory filing.

The biotech firm filed its Form 8-K after yesterday's close, and share prices are soaring in the premarket.

iBio's 8-K included an announcement that the company would receive a minimum of $2.1 million from auctioning equipment from one of its facilities.

Also last night, the company announced its oncology research will begin targeting a protein often found in ovarian tumors called MUC16.

It's unclear which news sparked this morning's big rally, but IBIO is up 131.9% on active trading volume in the premarket.

My Take: This could be a short squeeze. IBIO had a 12.18% short percentage as of Jan. 31st, and this news doesn't seem like enough to justify such a big move.

Deere & Company [DE] ... AM
Ppl Corporation [PPL] ... AM
Centerpoint Energy, Inc (Holding Co) [CNP] ... AM
Liberty Broadband Corporation [LBRDA] ... AM
Corebridge Financial Inc. [CRBG] ...AM
Autonation, Inc. [AN] ... AM
Arbor Realty Trust Reit [ABR] ... AM
Barnes Group, Inc. [B] ... AM
Marcus & Millichap, Inc. [MMI] ... AM
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. [MD] ... AM