Stock index futures rose on Friday, as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge came inline. Here are four stocks to watch on the day:
Meta Platforms (META) shares were largely unchanged in premarket trade as the firm said it will soon launch paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in the U.K., which will remove advertising from both social media platforms. Meta has set the subscription for no ads cost at £2.99/month on the web or £3.99/month on iOS and Android for the first Meta account.
Costco (COST) stock was down 0.7% in extended trading after its comparable sales in the U.S. were slightly below expectations and overall company comp sales decelerated from the previous quarter. The development was unexpected given the lingering inflationary and tariff environment that favors value positioning among consumers. However, the firm beat its top and bottom line estimates in the fourth quarter.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) shares rose 0.9% in premarket trade as the firm said that the U.S. FDA approved a label expansion for its anti-cholesterol agent Evkeeza, marketed globally with Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals. Accordingly, the injectable, first approved in 2021 for adults and adolescents with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia ((HoFH)), will also be available for U.S. children aged 1–5 years with the rare disorder when added to diet and exercise and other lipid-lowering agents.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) stock hugged the flat line before the opening bell as the firm is said to have doubled the number of traders working in the U.K. over the past two years, as the oil and gas major aims to profit more from its global energy infrastructure. The energy giant now has about 300 traders, analysts, and support staff operating in London and continues to recruit to build out its network globally.