US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Edge Higher amid Fed Rate Cut Hopes

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Monday, Dec, 8 2025

US stock futures are edging higher this morning, with a key benchmark for the S&P 500 up about 0.2 percent as investors weigh steady but not yet tame inflation against a looming Federal Reserve decision. The Fed’s preferred inflation scorecard, the PCE index, is running at 2.8 percent year over year, which means the cost of living is easing but still above the central bank’s comfort zone. At the same time, personal spending rose 0.3 percent in September, showing households are still opening their wallets. The big question is whether this mix keeps rate cut hopes alive and what it means for rate sensitive sectors like banks, utilities and smaller US companies.

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Top Movers

• Ulta Beauty (ULTA) jumped 12.65 percent after strong sales, raised full year guidance and buyback progress.
• Samsara (IOT) climbed 11.08 percent as earnings turned profitable and management guided to robust revenue growth.
• EchoStar (SATS) surged 10.07 percent.

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Top Losers

• SoFi Technologies (SOFI) fell 6.15 percent after completing a $1.5 billion follow on equity offering.
• W. R. Berkley (WRB) slipped 5.86 percent despite announcing an additional $1.00 per share special dividend.
• Nu Holdings (NU) declined 5.38 percent.

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On The Radar

Software and specialty retail earnings will steer stock specific moves as traders brace for the Fed decision next week.

• AutoZone (AZO) posts Q1 2026 results before the market opens on Tuesday, spotlighting DIY demand, commercial growth and margin resilience.
• Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) reports Q1 2026 early Tuesday, updating on construction exposure, pricing power and cash returns.
• Adobe (ADBE) reports Q4 2025 after the close on Wednesday, with focus on Digital Media growth and GenAI monetization.
• Oracle (ORCL) delivers Q2 2026 earnings Wednesday after hours, gauging cloud infrastructure momentum and AI workload wins.
• Synopsys (SNPS) posts Q4 2025 on Wednesday afternoon, offering a read on chip design demand and licensing growth.

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Look past the headline moves and focus where smart money is quietly positioning before the next Fed pivot. These windows do not stay open for long, and our research on undervalued stocks based on cash flows reveals a select group of mispriced cash generators that combine resilient balance sheets with catalysts that could unlock value sooner than most investors expect.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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