Stock futures inched higher in the premarket hours of Wednesday, driven by increasing optimism about the imminent end of the federal government shutdown. Investors responded positively ahead of a critical House vote on the Senate-approved funding bill, with notable gains in sectors considered more defensive as markets awaited further clarity.
Here are some of Wednesday’s biggest stock movers:
Biggest stock gainers
- AMD (AMD) +5% – Shares jumped after the chipmaker used its first analyst day since 2022 to project continued strength in AI spending and sharply raise its long-term outlook. CEO Lisa Su said the company now sees the total addressable AI data center market reaching $1T by 2030, double its prior estimate. AMD expects gross margins of 55–58% and sees a path to “tens of billions” in data center revenue by 2027, driven by its MI450 and Helios platforms. Su forecasts 35%+ annual revenue growth over the next three to five years, underpinned by AI demand and major design wins worth $45B across aerospace, defense, and communications. AMD also highlighted that its Instinct GPUs are now used by seven of the top 10 AI companies and that its data center CPUs account for 40% of segment revenue.
- Alcon (ALC) +5% – Shares soared after the company reported mixed Q3 results that exceeded earnings expectations. CEO David J. Endicott said growth was driven by strong acceleration in equipment, with Unity VCS gaining traction across key markets and new products like PanOptix Pro and Tryptyr showing strong potential. Alcon reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, projecting revenue of $10.3B–$10.4B (vs. consensus $10.38B) and non-GAAP EPS of $3.05–$3.15 (vs. consensus $3.09). The company also expects a $100M tariff impact on the cost of sales, which it plans to offset through foreign exchange and operational efficiencies.
Biggest stock losers
- Stereotaxis (STXS) -10% – Shares tumbled after the company missed Q3 expectations, with sales falling about 19%. It expects Q4 revenue to exceed $9M (vs. consensus $9.20M), including $3M in system revenue and over $6M in recurring revenue, supporting full-year growth of more than 20%, in line with prior guidance for double-digit 2025 growth.
- Biohaven (BHVN) -8% – Shares declined after the company launched a $150M underwritten public offering of common shares, with a 30-day option for underwriters to buy up to an additional $22.5M. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.